Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 06/28/2024 PreS-Gr 2—In the tradition of Corduroy and The Velveteen Rabbit, Barnaby has sat in his box on a shelf in the Perfect Pets store "for as long as he could remember," waiting for someone to choose him and take him home. When an unnamed "little girl" purchases Barnaby, he experiences newfound joy in the glow of her loving attention. Barnaby's bliss is temporary, as the girl sees an ad for the new "Rainbow Barnaby," whose colored stripes make her plain pink Barnaby seem dull by comparison. Neglected by the little girl, Barnaby gets lost in the city where he tries to find his way home despite "a sinking feeling no one was looking for him." Sharp-eyed readers will notice the "Lost Barnaby" posters before Barnaby is reunited with the little girl, who has searched for him all along. The digitally colored graphite illustrations mirror the range of Barnaby's emotions, from the bright colors of his happiest days to the muted tones and threatening shadows of his loneliest moments. Readers of all ages will identify with Barnaby's pain and longing, and more sophisticated readers will catch the subtle criticism of the YouTube-style "unboxing" video and our endless pursuit of the "new and improved." VERDICT A heartfelt and emotional commentary on love and the limits of the human attention span.—Amy Reimann - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

School Library Journal - 06/28/2024 PreS-Gr 2—In the tradition of Corduroy and The Velveteen Rabbit, Barnaby has sat in his box on a shelf in the Perfect Pets store "for as long as he could remember," waiting for someone to choose him and take him home. When an unnamed "little girl" purchases Barnaby, he experiences newfound joy in the glow of her loving attention. Barnaby's bliss is temporary, as the girl sees an ad for the new "Rainbow Barnaby," whose colored stripes make her plain pink Barnaby seem dull by comparison. Neglected by the little girl, Barnaby gets lost in the city where he tries to find his way home despite "a sinking feeling no one was looking for him." Sharp-eyed readers will notice the "Lost Barnaby" posters before Barnaby is reunited with the little girl, who has searched for him all along. The digitally colored graphite illustrations mirror the range of Barnaby's emotions, from the bright colors of his happiest days to the muted tones and threatening shadows of his loneliest moments. Readers of all ages will identify with Barnaby's pain and longing, and more sophisticated readers will catch the subtle criticism of the YouTube-style "unboxing" video and our endless pursuit of the "new and improved." VERDICT A heartfelt and emotional commentary on love and the limits of the human attention span.—Amy Reimann - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 09/01/2024 *Starred Review* At the newly reopened Perfect Pets store, first featured in The Barnabus Project (2020), the last toy Barnaby—“half mouse and half elephant, with just a dash of flamingo”—sits on the shelf, unsold. He’s finally chosen by a young girl, and soon enjoying his new life, including playtime, walks, bedtime stories, and watching the Barnaby and Friends cartoon, always together with his companion. But one Saturday there’s an ad for a Rainbow Barnaby: the girl is excited, but Barnaby? Not so much, and he becomes increasingly neglected—and dejected. Hoping she’ll notice, Barnaby decides to leave, but once he's alone in the city, he gets lost. Then a journey begins, and he meets friendly, also-forgotten Perfect Pets, has a run-in with a snooty Rainbow Barnaby, and is taken in by kind squirrels in the park. Over time, memories of his little girl fade, until an unexpected encounter brings a happy reunion, not to mention a few realizations about what Barnaby truly values. Vibrant, intricately rendered mixed-media illustrations expressively depict small, cute Barnaby and the other fanciful creatures, which are in playful contrast to their real-world setting, and extend the descriptive narrative with engaging background details. In this delightful take on the classic toys-come-to-life story, the text and art—and Barnaby—will surely charm while conveying a reassuring message of the value of being appreciated for who you are. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.