Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/27/2022 Gr 2–6—Fond memories of summer vacation at home in Brooklyn are the backbone of this vivid picture book memoir. Woodson describes what it was like to leave school and have an extended period of free time without a great deal of adult supervision. She describes the games the kids would play, how disputes would be solved, how the bigger kids would take care of the younger kids, and how the kids would take care of each other. Some young readers will have a hard time believing that children used to be allowed to play outside for long periods of time with only one another to direct activities and solve problems when the need arose. Woodson's evocative use of language will bring readers right into the hot Brooklyn streets. The illustrations are perfect for this story, with a 1970s retro vibe. The joyful portrayal of many different kinds of kids in the expressive text is echoed in the striking art work. This will make an excellent conversation starter for families about how kids used to play. It would also serve as a wonderful mentor text to model how to write a vacation experience. VERDICT A gorgeous depiction of summer vacation in Brooklyn in the 1970s that could work in writing classes as well. Don't miss this one.—Debbie Tanner - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2022 *Starred Review* In this joyful and nostalgic celebration of young Black girlhood, multi-award-winning author Woodson remembers fondly how, not so long ago in Brooklyn, when school ended for the summer, the neighborhood kids headed outdoors to play, “free as air, free as sun.” Moms might shout, “Don’t get your school clothes wet!” but kids still ran through the fire hydrants, shooting water at each other. Wet hair would spring back into natural coils, because “even hair had the right to be free!” Every day, all summer long, kids played in the street—drawing chalk games on the sidewalk, building forts out of boxes, spinning tops, and skipping rope. Jumping, running, or playing, they felt the whole world belonged to them, and anything seemed possible: their friends could grow up to be ball players, singers, writers, or anything. Voices call out in Spanish, English, Polish, and other languages as chidren play until the streetlights come on. Brightly colored illustrations jam-packed with joyful details fill every page in this positive endorsement of unstructured play. At the end, readers can join in dreaming along with the child who now sits on her front stoop, excited about the many tomorrows to come—not just in Brooklyn, not just for the summer, but everywhere and always. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.