Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 06/16/2025 Emphasizing that "there is more than one/ way of doing anything," Caldecott Honoree Morales describes tenets of living in the world with love, curiosity, intuition, and tenderness in this values-based picture book. Text and speech bubbles from three children-one who resembles an Olmec head, another who wears a flower behind each ear, and a third who carries a stringed instrument-introduce the concept of little rebels. A collective "we" reveals that little rebels ask questions, "speak words that shape the world/ we want to live in," and "dare to say/ what we feel." Such actions lead to regular practices, including trusting one’s intuition, creating "a tender path for everybody," and not racing "to be the first one or the best." When the children arrive at a dry and cracked landscape, the principles become clear action as the trio work to protect "those that are small and near" and reach out to prior rebels-"Abuelas Rebeldes"-for guidance about larger concerns. Multimedia illustrations both playful and serious depict a lush natural world, showcasing animals and plants alongside the children throughout an engaging, emotionally-secure-feeling telling that offers a powerful message: "You stir a revolution by caring for each other." Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. A contextualizing afterword supplies more about "How to Be a Little Rebel." A Spanish-language edition publishes simultaneously. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) - Copyright 2025

School Library Journal - 10/01/2025 Gr 1–3—In a dreamy yet powerful tale, Morales uses text, speech bubbles, doodles, and colorful illustrations to tell a heartwarming story of little rebels, revolutionizing the world and caring for one creature at a time. The turn of each page features inspiring text as the unnamed protagonists venture across an adventurous outdoor terrain filled with flora and fauna. As the rebels move further into the wilderness, they are met with adversaries both big and small, leading to a touching resolution of found family, heritage, and ancestry. At the end of this story, Morales shares insight into her inspiration—a wildfire that tore through the Mexican landscape of Farrallón Lagoon, leaving behind a dry, cracked earth in its place. Overall, the book focuses readers on the importance of caring for the space around them—a lesson that sparks creativity and inspiration on every page. VERDICT A great choice for an Earth Day story time, this book is applicable all year round. Readers will enjoy the colorful illustrations and strong message Morales delivers.—Sarah Nashak - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 09/01/2025 Look closely at the world: little rebels are all around! They don’t come in one particular shape, size, or color; still, they have a way of finding each other in time. Three such children, including one with vitiligo, band together to explore the world, accompanied by a curious pup and a kek-ing baby bird. They create an imaginative society, expressing their true feelings, trusting their intuition, and tenderly caring for one another and their environment, all while recognizing that they might not be able to change the entire world, but they can certainly change their little corner of it. “Be aware,” the book warns, “little rebels are dreamers”—and indeed, the entire enterprise feels like a fantastical, tender dream. An encouraging eco-fable, a passionate entreaty to embrace individuality, a psalm to the spirit of community, and more, the book is accompanied by marvelous mixed-media illustrations of unusual proportions and intriguing detail. Spanish phrases are sprinkled throughout, and extensive endnotes explain the story’s inspiration and suggest easy next actions. An incredibly creative commentary, sure to expand and inspire young minds. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.