Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/01/2020 Young bunny Ogilvy’s just arrived in town, and is excited to play with other bunnies. But even before Ogilvy joins in, one bunny asks what Ogilvy’s wearing, because here, “bunnies in dresses play ball and knit socks, / and bunnies in sweaters make art and climb rocks,” but no bunny can explain the reasoning. So, each day, Ogilvy, wearing the same attire, says it’s one or the other in order to participate in every activity, which soon irks the bunnies, who finally confront Ogilvy. Ogilvy, though, speaks up: “Why are you all so absurdly obsessed? / Why do you care so much how we are dressed?” This gives the other bunnies pause, but it also gives them a new perspective and, happily, opens opportunities to all. Bouncy, lilting rhymes, incorporating gender-neutral pronouns throughout, are paired with simply rendered cartoon bunnies who are generally undifferentiated, save for their multicolored, photorealistically textured Photoshopped knitwear. Together, the words and images genially make the story’s points—without pushiness, particularly—that it’s not what you wear, or your gender, but being inclusive and being yourself that matters. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.