Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 04/14/2025 Room 6’s students are devoted readers: Arnold’s favorite book, The History of Flight, makes his mouth "curve into a capital U," write Ho (We Who Produce Pearls) and Kusin Pritchard (The Keeper of Stories). But Arnold, who perches solo on a beanbag, can’t understand why anyone would pick a book about tomatoes or ostriches, and he’s "altogether offended" by a peer’s choice of a title about submarines. When he discovers that he can suddenly wish his classmates’ books away, he’s maliciously jubilant-until his own vanishes as well. Caldecott Medalist Santat portrays the classroom’s emotional world with equal amounts of humor and compassion. Digitally colored ink drawings take Arnold from evil-villain mien to genuine shock when it seems that nothing will restore the books. But after Arnold develops a little bibliophilic empathy-learning, for example, that one classmate reads about tomatoes because it reminds them of a relative-the works reappear, and Arnold finds that his own interests have opened up as well. It’s a seamless mix of magic and relatable classroom drama that models curiosity as a means to connection. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 3-7. Author’s agents: (for Ho) Caryn Wiseman, Andrea Brown Literary; (for Kusin Pritchard) Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown. Illustrator’s agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (July) - Copyright 2025

School Library Journal - 07/25/2025 PreS-Gr 2—The importance of respecting different perspectives is gently explored in this uplifting and thought-provoking picture book. Arnold's favorite book in his classroom library is about planes, and he has absolutely no use for his classmates' preferred titles about tomatoes, ostriches, and submarines. He finds himself wishing those books didn't exist so everyone would have to read his favorite book. In a twist of magical realism, the other books suddenly start disappearing one by one. Arnold is gleeful—until his favorite book disappears, too. In the end, the key to having the books return is empathy, as Arnold comes to understand that his peers' preferences are just as valuable and valid as his own. Adults will clearly spot the parallels to the book challenges that are becoming all too frequent across the nation and can engage their young readers in discussions about kindness, empathy, and respect. Santat's lightly textured illustrations fill up the pages with an expressive, organic warmth that suits the encouraging tone of the story. The text plays with language in a delightful way: instead of simply smiling, characters' mouths "curve into a capital U." Arnold and his classmates are depicted with a variety of skin tones and hair textures, visually underpinning the book's theme of celebrating diversity. VERDICT Destined to become a cherished read-aloud in classrooms everywhere, this title is a first choice for picture book collections.—Allison Tran - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.