Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/01/2025 K-Gr 4—An adorable, funny, educational, and gorgeously illustrated picture book that will have teachers and children over the moon. This clever story posits what would happen if the moon took a vacation to move in next door to the lonely Stella. The two strike up a friendship that often finds them out in the garden, where the Moon loves tending to its plants. However, the Moon's absence has serious consequences for the natural world, and it's up to Stella to convince it to return to its rightful place in the sky. In lush, detailed, and whimsical illustrations, the book delivers a strong dose of fun and facts about the importance of the moon to Earth's tides, plants, and animals. VERDICT Perfect for a bedtime story or as a companion to a unit on the moon, this book is a must-purchase.—Maria Bohan - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Other - 08/11/2025 Soltis brings a playfully serious sensibility to this whimsical tale about the chaos that ensues after the moon takes up residence on Earth. Young Stella, portrayed with dark hair and pale skin, longs for a playmate to move in next door; when the moon arrives in search of space to garden, the pair strike up a neighborly friendship. After planetary problems multiply, though, Stella raises the possibility that her celestial friend should return home, highlighting the plights of sea snails, doodlebugs, and dung beetles all left adrift without the orb. Saturated coloring and chalk-like markings lend S?nchez’s digital renderings an otherworldly vibrancy. Persuaded of its relevance, the lunar protagonist again climbs aloft, leaving behind a garden that eventually attracts a more down-to-earth pal for Stella, making for a conclusion that cleverly underscores the moon as an essential partner to Earth. Facts conclude. Ages 3-5. (July) - Copyright 2025