Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/15/2024 Whether it's painting, singing, or practicing tae kwon do, Dot is dismayed when she can't do something perfectly—unlike her family and best pal Sam, who all seem perfect at whatever they do. Even though she gets encouragement, whether for trying to bake cupcakes or play soccer, she’s still not happy because the outcomes aren’t perfect. These feelings escalate when she's working on a homework assignment—making a poster of someone she admires—and when it doesn’t go as intended, rips up her attempts into a million little pieces.” However, what initially feels like failure also sparks creativity (“I pick up a million pieces of paper, and I start over”) and a new sense of perspective, including about what “perfect” means. Introduced in Not Little, Dot is a spirited protagonist, relating her experiences and emotions in a lively, eloquent narrative, which is reflected in Yum's bright, colored pencil illustrations that feature Dot's cheery multicultural family in scenarios that will be familiar to many children. Dot’s path to finding confidence and appreciating what matters will likely strike a chord, uplift, and reassure. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.