Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 10/04/2024 PreS-Gr 2—It's finally Christmas Eve! In the house on the corner, Hugo the mouse and his family are deeply engrossed in decorating their upstairs home for the holiday. They're busy cutting out paper snowflakes and stringing various items for the garland to decorate the family tree. Meanwhile, the downstairs is very quiet. William, the man who lives downstairs, is all alone because a nasty blizzard is keeping his family from visiting. Hugo has heard so much about the beautiful tree that William always has, but he's never seen it. He knows he shouldn't, but he sneaks downstairs for a peek. He's shocked to see the tree is bare! There are no colorful lights, beautiful garland, or even a bright star on top. This scene strikes a sympathetic chord in Hugo. He wants to help the man, but how? For a small mouse, Hugo has a big heart. He knows what he has to do to make things better for his human friend. This story demonstrates how different types of characters can get along in any situation. The soft painted illustrations are eye-catching, with the combination of bold and muted colors giving a warm feeling to the pages. The characters are animated and full of expression. Text is strategically placed so as not to draw attention away from the pictures. VERDICT This story teaches a positive lesson about working together to complete a task and spread holiday cheer. A lovely choice for holiday shelves.—Barbara Spiri - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

School Library Journal - 10/04/2024 PreS-Gr 2—It's finally Christmas Eve! In the house on the corner, Hugo the mouse and his family are deeply engrossed in decorating their upstairs home for the holiday. They're busy cutting out paper snowflakes and stringing various items for the garland to decorate the family tree. Meanwhile, the downstairs is very quiet. William, the man who lives downstairs, is all alone because a nasty blizzard is keeping his family from visiting. Hugo has heard so much about the beautiful tree that William always has, but he's never seen it. He knows he shouldn't, but he sneaks downstairs for a peek. He's shocked to see the tree is bare! There are no colorful lights, beautiful garland, or even a bright star on top. This scene strikes a sympathetic chord in Hugo. He wants to help the man, but how? For a small mouse, Hugo has a big heart. He knows what he has to do to make things better for his human friend. This story demonstrates how different types of characters can get along in any situation. The soft painted illustrations are eye-catching, with the combination of bold and muted colors giving a warm feeling to the pages. The characters are animated and full of expression. Text is strategically placed so as not to draw attention away from the pictures. VERDICT This story teaches a positive lesson about working together to complete a task and spread holiday cheer. A lovely choice for holiday shelves.—Barbara Spiri - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.