Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 06/01/2024 In the desert, the large open sky can be stunningly beautiful or it can make you feel very small. A young boy experiences both of these emotions in this atmospheric story. During the day, the sun dominates the desert. When night starts to come, there is a palpable change as coyotes, cicadas, and owls begin their evening songs, and the boy’s family gathers their instruments, too. Sister, parents, aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandparents all come together. The weather, land, and animals connect to the family and the music they play, each contributing something different, each adding to the whole. As they draw closely together, they remember ancestors now gone and feel them dancing in the sky among the stars. Flute, drum, and guitar are joined by el güiro and grito, with context provided by the vivid, flat acrylic gouache and colored-pencil illustrations. The songs and memories combine and contribute to the story portrait the boy is creating, illuminated by the light from his home and family, glowing softly in the otherwise dark night. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.