Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 04/01/2019 Gr 1–5—This debut collection of subversive and wacky poems for kids is bursting with color and silly words. In the style of Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky, poems range from kids' everyday experiences to nonsensical situations. Two poems, "Stinky-Mouth You" and "Rock Star Dad," seem to be derived from Miller's own family experience, but most address more common childhood experiences: angry Little League dads, not wanting to go to bed, and unfinished homework. Other poems like "This Bathtub's Too Small" and "The Wise Man" tell over-the-top tales. Each spread features a different poem while expressive artwork of the characters and scenes capture the mood, along with illustrated titles. For example, "My Device" uses a pixel font for the title and dark, muted lighting on two characters looking at their devices, their backs facing the reader. Some readers may find the lack of punctuation jarring, but the musicality of the loosely metered lines make this collection work best as a read-aloud. While all of the poems use end rhyme, some of the cleverest rhymes are internal: "I don't have a name for my potty karate" from "My Secret Karate" and "Nose hairs are gross hairs" and "Ear hairs are weird hairs" from "Hairs." VERDICT Overall, this collection with its pleasingly eccentric illustrations and sense of humor will be well received by many kids. Add to larger poetry collections.-Erica Ruscio, Madison Public Library, WI - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.