Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/01/2017 PreS-Gr 2—A badger wakes to find a rabbit friend already up and waiting patiently… for something. The story, told entirely in dialogue between the two characters, and the day play out in a series of questions and answers as the badger, along with readers and listeners, tries to solve the mystery. ("Is it scary?" "I've seen it be scary." "Is it quiet?" "Very quiet.") On sepia-tone paper, the playful, soft lines and earthy colors of the pencil and pastel art bring the setting and the two characters to life. Shown from a variety of perspectives in spot art and full-page spreads, the rabbit and badger explore the natural world around them as they wait, and their observations prompt the badger's questions. When they examine a butterfly, the badger wonders if they are waiting for something with wings; a many-ringed tree trunk suggests that they are awaiting something old. When the sun sets, the badger worries about accidentally falling asleep and missing the much-anticipated thing. Fortunately, the rabbit keeps watch for them both, and when the moment comes, the page orientation changes with a 90-degree turn and there is a breathtaking image of the glorious thing. "WOW! It's everything you said it was." As the tired pair head home, the frame of the illustration gets smaller and smaller on the page, closing out the rewarding day with the promise of something new to wait for tomorrow. VERDICTThis gentle guessing-game tale is layered with meaning for readers of all ages, and the words and pictures work fluidly together to create a rewarding read-aloud for sharing one-on-one or with a group. A first purchase.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.