Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/28/2025 K-Gr 3—A little girl is traveling to visit her father's homeland for the first time, and she is a little nervous. Will she be able to communicate with her family without knowing a lot of Spanish? As soon as they arrive, they are greeted by family members: tíos picking them up at the airport and at a family auto shop; a tío who grows coffee beans on a beautiful mountain; a lovely tía who laughs and spreads laughter to others; and lots of primos! The last visit is to a home that is immediately welcoming: Abuela's house. When they all come together to celebrate, the small girl finds that they understand each other more than she thought they would, and that communicating with her loved ones comes easily and naturally. Vibrant illustrations spread the love of the family across the pages, with readers immediately immersed in the world and the happiness of them all. The text is fast-paced and filled with excitement as father and daughter visit one family member and then the next, with Spanish words appearing as the young girl has different conversations with relatives. Readers will spot special words, such as famila, amor, and te quiero. VERDICT A beautiful picture book about the love that connects families, even across distance and language barriers, this would be an excellent addition to children's picture book collections.—Selenia Paz - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 01/01/2025 A young girl travels to Honduras, her father’s homeland, to meet her grandmother and extended family. Nervous because she does not speak or understand much Spanish, she is soon put at ease by her family’s warm, enthusiastic welcome. Through sharing a meal, playing soccer, and laughing together, the girl realizes that some connections transcend language barriers: “Tía must be very funny! I don’t understand her jokes, but Papa is laughing so hard that I laugh too, because laughter is contagious!“ Realizing she has such a large, welcoming family in Honduras, the girl reflects, Back home, my family is tiny. The period of awkward self-consciousness because of language quickly fades away, leaving the girl to ponder, And I feel as close to them as if I’d known them forever. The bright illustrations created with markers, gouache, and Photoshop add vibrant, joyful colors. Speech bubbles and the main text intermingle, adding visual interest. Spanish words and phrases throughout the book highlight the language barrier, yet kind facial expressions convey warmth and love. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.