Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 04/01/2024 PreS-Gr 3—Sylvester tells the story of a girl excited to get to see her grandmother, who is coming from far away. Her grandmother asks what Dulce would like from their home country, Peru. Dulce says she doesn't need things, just Abuela is enough. However, Abuela brings many things from her home—alpaca blankets, delicious candies and cakes—that fill the home with a scent of Peru. The best present of all is spending time with Abuela. Sylvester has recreated an experience that many children will understand: a visit from a relative has sensory details—the crinkly sound of candy wrappers—and grace notes, like taking the floor in Dulce's parents' room so that Abuela can have her bed. Medina perfectly captures the warmth of this family with her adorable, charismatic art. The pictures and context clues will help the non-Spanish speakers figure out the meaning of Spanish words that are lovingly woven into the text. This book has charming themes of family and connecting to family culture, even if it's far away. VERDICT Distance does not diminish the love of family. This is a wonderful book that will be highly relatable to many families. A must-have for any picture book collection.—Debbie Tanner - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 04/15/2024 *Starred Review* In this beautiful and poignant homage, young Dulce eagerly anticipates her beloved abuela’s visit from Peru. She is happy every few years to see Abuela and hold her close, but she’s also excited to hear updates about her cousins back in the homeland (“mi tierra”), as well as to discover all of the treasures to be found in Abuela’s stuffed, stickered, and story-filled maletas, or suitcases. Sylvester weaves an emotional storyline that explores, through the loving, long-distance relationship, the nuances of being first-generation and longing for a land you’ve never visited but always heard about. As Dulce navigates the high and low moments of her dear relative’s visit coming to a close, she realizes she wants to send Abuela back to Peru with as many special gifts as her grandmother always brings to Dulce. In its vibrant, warm palette, Medina’s cozy style of illustration brings to life Abuela and the magic of her maletas while capturing the bittersweetness of alternating joy and sadness that such an anticipated visit causes. Above all, this collaboration validates young readers with grandparents in faraway lands they dream of visiting—both their connections to their ancestral homelands and their relationships with their loving relatives. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.