Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 01/01/2023 K-Gr 2—Young elephant Elijah loves to spend time with Grandma Eleanor, especially when the two of them share a crossword puzzle. She always seems to know all the answers, and she patiently teaches him the pronunciations and meanings of unfamiliar words. She also serves as a beloved storyteller for friends and neighbors on Saturdays in her yard. The entire community is deeply saddened when Grandma Eleanor's famed memory begins to fade (a partially glimpsed newspaper story contains a subtle reference to Alzheimer's disease). At first she has difficulty recalling a word here and there, but then she begins forgetting the cherished weekly story sessions. One day, she leaves her house and cannot find her way back. Fortunately, Elijah devises a clever system of signs painted with familiar words and images to serve as trail markers to guide her home. From then on, these signs remain in place as a helpful reminder on her walks through the town. When Grandma Eleanor finally dies, Elijah keeps her memory alive by telling the stories and sharing her treasured words with all who will listen. The author's empathetic writing style is well-suited to the tender story of family and loss. Long eschews backgrounds, opting instead for vignettes on expanses of white, which gives the art a curiously unfinished feel. However, the characters themselves, rendered in richly textured gouache and colored pencil, display a touching emotional depth. VERDICT This sweet and sensitive story will hold particular resonance for children and families with elderly relatives in their lives.—Jonah Dragan - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 02/01/2023 Elijah the elephant loves being with his Grandma Eleanor. She is wonderful at puzzles and teaches him expressive vocabulary. She also knows almost everyone in town and enjoys introducing her friends to Elijah. The whole community gathers each week to hear her stories. Gradually, the family realizes that Eleanor is becoming more absentminded. She may have trouble solving a crossword or forget when it is storytime. One day, Eleanor goes for a walk and cannot remember how to get home. Elijah devises an effective plan, painting signs and taking them to his and Eleanor’s favorite places. Each sign reminds her of another point along the road home. The author notes that memory loss can affect people in different ways but that reminders such as these are helpful to some. The gouache-and-colored-pencil illustrations are gently serious, not too lighthearted but appropriate to the audience by not being too sad or scary, either. Eventually Grandma Eleanor passes away, though Elijah carries on her tradition by telling her special stories himself. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

Booklist - 02/15/2023 Elijah the elephant loves being with his Grandma Eleanor. She is wonderful at puzzles and teaches him expressive vocabulary. She also knows almost everyone in town and enjoys introducing her friends to Elijah. The whole community gathers each week to hear her stories. Gradually, the family realizes that Eleanor is becoming more absentminded. She may have trouble solving a crossword or forget when it is storytime. One day, Eleanor goes for a walk and cannot remember how to get home. Elijah devises an effective plan, painting signs and taking them to his and Eleanor’s favorite places. Each sign reminds her of another point along the road home. The author notes that memory loss can affect people in different ways but that reminders such as these are helpful to some. The gouache-and-colored-pencil illustrations are gently serious, not too lighthearted but appropriate to the audience by not being too sad or scary, either. Eventually Grandma Eleanor passes away, though Elijah carries on her tradition by telling her special stories himself. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.