Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/01/2024 Gr 4–8—A captivating and awesome volume on world mythology that won't stay on shelves for long. The work is organized by power, ability, or theme, such as Creation, Love, and War. The author tries to forgo the usual suspects from Greek and Roman mythology and explores gods and goddesses from Inuit, Korean, Hawaiian, Hindu, Finnish, and other cultures. The art is amazing; it captures the splendor of each immortal, a perfect reminder as to why these deities were worshipped in the first place. The border patterns in the book are inspired by elements from each culture—the kuba and mudcloth fabrics in Africa, ancient Mesoamerican textile patterns, the Trinity knot for Celtic, and others. Along the border of each profile, readers will learn the approximate dates of when each god was worshipped; some continue to be honored in the present day. Tidbits of information float throughout. "In Modern Times" factoids often include mention of Marvel movies or even Rick Riordan's series, adding a layer of relevance to young readers. Back and front matter feature a glossary, further reading, bibliography, author and illustrator's notes, and index. VERDICT There could never be enough mythology books, but this one is gorgeous, informative, accessible, and overall, fun. Shelve alongside D'Aulaires's mythology books and pair with the countless fictional myth retellings.—Shelley M. Diaz - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.