Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/01/2025 PreS-Gr 2—This endearing early reader features a cast of fairy friends with brown skin celebrating their magical gifts in nature. Lily is a young fairy anxiously awaiting the growth of her wings. When she finds her gift, her wings will get bigger and more colorful. Though all her fairy friends have obvious gifts, Lily believes hers is hard to find. Her human friend, Willow, thinks otherwise and helps Lily believe in herself and discover just what she has to offer. Digitally rendered watercolor-style illustrations depicting fairies with a variety of body types fill the pages and help bring the story to life. Young readers will be drawn to the bright colors and highlights that resemble sparkles. These elements, combined with forest animals throughout, add to the magical feel of the whole story. The text is large and appropriate for an early reader. Most sentences are simple, and words are repeated throughout the story. There are some more challenging words, but these won't dissuade new readers. While the diversity of skin tones and body types is encouraging and needed in early reader sections, the fairies depicted are all still hyperfeminized. This book will appeal to young readers who are drawn to bright colors, fairies, and woodland animals. VERDICT A recommended purchase for libraries expanding their early reader sections.—Jessica Trafton - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.