Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 11/15/2019 Rivka’s preparations for the Passover season are nearly complete—she has cleaned, swept, and gathered the last bit of leavened food, or chometz. In accordance with tradition, she has piled the remaining chometz on the table to be burned in the morning; but the next day, upon waking, she’s horrified to discover a mouse happily snacking on the baked goods. She shoos him from the dwelling, but the mouse heads for another nearby house, still armed with his snack. The neighbors are also horrified—the mouse will track in chometz and undo weeks of hard work! As the high jinks continue, the entire village is thrown into chaos until the people come together to avert this near-disaster. The heartwarming and humorous story, based on a passage in the Talmud, is accompanied by cheerful illustrations that bring the village and its residents to life. Jewish readers will recognize familiar concepts, non-Jewish children will receive a delightful introduction to the Passover season, and all readers will learn the beauty of community and compassion. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/01/2020 PreS-Gr 2—This clever story, inspired by a discussion in the Talmud, celebrates community and friendship. Lonely Rivka is busily cleaning her house of bread and preparing for Passover, when a mouse appears and grabs a piece of bread from the pile. Now there might be bread missed in her house! The mouse runs into another house, and soon there are two mice and a cat unaccounted for, and a lot of unhappy people who might need to re-clean their houses. After consulting with the rabbi, they prepare to re-clean, but it is so much work. The rabbi's son convinces the villagers to pitch in. Ultimately, instead of being alone, Rivka makes her Passover meal for a houseful of helpful guests, and everyone is happy. The clear text has a folkloric feel, seamlessly including facts about the holiday and a repetitive refrain that encourages participation. The message of kindness and generous giving, as the characters move from anger to friendship, is both ancient and relevant today. The art has a rustic, old-fashioned look, despite the cartoon characters. The town is full of small, wood buildings, and the largely brown-and-green coloring is slightly splotchy, as if done with wood block or paint on wood. The women are clothed in dresses and kerchiefs, and the mice and cat are mischievously appealing. The whole comes together beautifully, celebrating the Passover spirit in an appealing package. VERDICT A welcome addition to any library serving Jewish patrons.—Amy Lilien-Harper, Wilton Library, CT - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.