Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 03/15/2018 In this quiet collection of haiku, the poems feature horses observed within nature, but also in relation to the people who care for them and ride them. Divided into three sections, “In the Field,” “At the Barn,” and “In Saddle,” the selections often engage the senses—most often sight (“dappled gray mare stoops / to graze, the dappled gray dawn / her saddle blanket”), but sometimes hearing or touch (“above the fence rails / felt-soft muzzle, snuffled puffs— / lips flutter your palm). Rosen’s previous books of poetry include The Cuckoo’s Haiku and Other Birding Poems (2009), The Hound Dog’s Haiku and Other Poems for Dog Lovers (2011), and The Maine Coon’s Haiku (2015). Full of light and shadows, the impressionistic watercolor-and-pencil illustrations capture the reflective tone of the verse. Occasionally they also clarify the literal meaning of a poem, enhancing the experience for young readers. This handsome volume of verse will resonate with poetry lovers who dream of horses. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2018 Gr 2–5—Rosen pens contemplative reflections on horses in this book, organized into three sections: "In the Field," "At the Barn," and "In Saddle." "In the Field" begins with a horse's birth, and the haiku is told from a horse's point of view, while "At the Barn" and "In Saddle" reflect on human experiences with horses and use a second-person viewpoint. This added perspective is a nice touch and complements the theme of the relationship between people and nature: "daybreak, low tide—flash/of sunbeams between saddle/and posting rider." All of the haiku holds to the syllabic pattern, which is reminiscent of a horse's gait and works well with the overall theme. Fellows's watercolor illustrations reflect seasonal and time changes and depict a lot of movement and expression effortlessly. The artwork even conveys more dramatic moments with ease such as a horse leaping over a hedge. The poems all work together but can also stand alone. VERDICT A beautifully illustrated collection of haiku for fans of horses and poetry.—Ellen Conlin, Naperville Public Library, IL - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.