Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 06/01/2020 PreS-Gr 3—A little girl and her friends have a unique museum experience in this clever wordless book that literally brings the art to life. The pigtailed protagonist climbs the steps to an art museum, joining several children and an adult guide. As they traverse the museum, various paintings interact with them. Van Gogh hands the girl his straw hat, a Cezanne painting drops its fruit to the floor, a musician hands the girl his ukelele, and Degas's little dancer leaps off her pedestal. At the tour's conclusion, everything returns to normal, with the protagonist and the security guard sharing a wink. The art has a cartoonish style, portraying people with large, dotted eyes and small, sharp noses. Lozano maximizes his space, using full-bleed spreads, spot art and panels to effectively move the story forward. The story is entertaining and clever, with a diverse cast of children and adults experiencing new joy as the art comes to life. The simple plot is effective and arresting. Some images lack continuity, including a left page depicting only half a painting. Finally, all information about the art appears in tiny text on the copyright page, where it is likely to be missed. VERDICT This is an appealing title, and libraries looking for wordless or art picture books might enjoy this additional purchase.—Amy Lilien-Harper, Wilton Lib., CT - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 06/01/2020 On a visit to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, a young girl and her classmates listen carefully as their teacher explains the paintings they see. Then, one of Renoir's Two Young Girls at the Piano turns to stick out her tongue. Later, Van Gogh's self-portrait offers his straw hat to the girl, and soon the entire class is parading through the museum carrying Monet's sunflowers and munching on Cézanne's apples, with one child wearing the collection's Stechhelm (Helm for the Joust of Peace). To their credit, the teacher and museum guard join in the fun, and the tour concludes with everyone back to normal at Degas' The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer. Lozano's digitally enhanced artwork carries this wordless tale with vivid color, lots of action (the kids march joyfully through the halls), and a cheeky attitude. The illustrations are varied, and many break the fourth wall. A sign at the entrance stresses No Touching the Art, but by the end, it reads, The Art Touches You. An entertaining introduction to art whether at the Met or another museum. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.