Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 01/26/2024 K-Gr 3—Lucía and Papá love watching the monarch butterflies outside their Mexico home. When spring comes and the monarchs must fly north, Lucía knows that her father will travel north as well. He is looking for work to help support their family, "in search of fields, crops, and a better tomorrow." Lucía anxiously awaits the return of the monarch butterflies in autumn, knowing they signal the imminent return of her father. Lyrical text and captivating illustrations create a truly compelling reading experience. The pain of separation and the hope for better days are clearly portrayed in Lucía and Papá's faces. Most readers will be able to empathize with the story of a child and parent being separated, and the emotional impact of their reunion is satisfying. Vibrant illustrations with whimsical and traditional cultural elements add charm and a sense of magic. This book would provide an excellent framework to talk about both the general concept of migration and migrant worker populations. With that context, the potential age range for this book is broad: younger children may simply enjoy the family story, while older children could be prompted to have in-depth conversations about complicated concepts. VERDICT This magnificent and hopeful tale of journeys and returns is recommended for first purchase.—Elizabeth Lovsin - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 07/01/2024 *Starred Review* Lucía’s tears “fall down down down” as Papá heads north for work, just as the wave of monarchs dance “up up up” to begin their parallel journey. In this lyrical, gently informative book, the annual migration of monarch butterflies weaves in and out of the cycles of migrant farm labor. The text quietly signals how closely humans and nature are connected: Lucía’s family shares traditions they “know by heart,” while generations of butterflies fly a path they, too, “know by heart.” Meanwhile, Papá’s songs for Lucía “flutter . . . in the wind.” The author’s bilingualism sparkles as Spanish words ebb and flow throughout; monarcas on one page are monarchs on the next. Vibrant, full-page illustrations of Lucía's and her father’s time apart add depth to the simple, poetic language—and when the monarchs finally come “down down down” from the sky, Lucía heads “up up up” the mountain to welcome Papá home. Rarely have the big ideas of family, tradition, labor, ecosystems, and interdependence been presented in such a loving and approachable way. End notes provide details about the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve and the Indigenous peoples in the region, a glossary of Spanish words, and resources for supporting sustainable communities. Simultaneously released in Spanish as Un aleteo de esperanza. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.