Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 11/01/2021 PreS-Gr 2—Mina is a bookish little mouse whose peaceful solitude is often interrupted by her irrepressible father, who has a habit of bringing home "surprises from the outside world." When he brings home a truly shocking surprise, Mina can only respond with, "I don't think that's a squirrel." It is clearly a cat. As Mina's unease about cohabitating with a cat grows, her father brushes off her concerns. It is only after bringing home two more "squirrels," and seeking the advice of a doctor because they will not eat the proffered acorns, that the simmering tension boils over. Forsythe (Pokko and the Drum) delivers a wickedly humorous cat and mouse tale. Many young readers will identify with Mina, who is so obviously correct and so unjustly dismissed. Mina's father does not come off as cruel, simply too stubbornly optimistic to give credence to worry. Forsythe's wry, concise text is enhanced by stylized and whimsical illustrations in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil. Mina and her father are drawn in a slightly abstract, minimalist style, which has the effect of making the more richly detailed cats seem all the more threatening. One indelible page pairs the text, "That night Mina couldn't sleep," with the image of a wide-eyed Mina and her sanguine father in their brightly lit bedroom, while the massive face of the smug cat looms over their beds, its dark body extending into the adjoining page, seemingly draining the light and color from around it. The visual storytelling is exquisite, drawing readers in to search for the small details, such as the direction of a character's gaze, that tell the real story. The book as a whole is engaging, perfectly paced and full of controlled suspense and biting humor. VERDICT This expertly crafted and delightfully quirky picture book is recommended for first purchase.—Elizabeth Lovsin, Deerfield P. L., IL - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 01/01/2022 *Starred Review* Mina the mouse has a comfortable existence in the woods, happily unbothered by her eccentric father’s exploits. She doesn’t mind his harebrained schemes, reading calmly on as he rigs up noisy inventions or covers their walls with postage-stamp art. She can even handle him bringing home strays, including stick insects who stole all of her books. “We got you more books,” her father says with a shrug. But when he announces that he has a big surprise, Mina knows that it can’t be good. She warily steps out of their house to investigate his latest acquisition, and though he insists that it’s a squirrel, Mina is pretty confident that it’s actually an enormous cat. Her father welcomes the new friend into their home and maintains that everything will be fine, and Mina has to admit that it is. Well, at least for a time, until he appears with two more “squirrels” and high jinks ensue. It’s an unpredictable and uproarious tale, a pleasing blend of Forsythe’s (Pokko and the Drum, 2019) trademark dry wit and obvious affection. The soft watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil illustrations conjure a cozy, colorful world of snug burrows, clever details, and terrific expressions. Marvelous mouse-sized mischief for all ages. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.