Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 07/15/2022 K-Gr 2—Less than 10 percent of firefighters are women. Even fewer are fire chiefs. Readers can count Fire Chief Fran, a Black woman, among that small, illustrious number. In this book, Fire Chief Fran and her crew tackle many incidents during one busy day in a small town. A cafe catches fire, a puppy gets stuck in a fence, a tree branch falls. There is little downtime. Firefighters must put out fires, perform rescues, and administer first aid. Ashman's text is serviceably crisp, but a few rhythmic blips will trip up readers performing the book aloud. A highlight and saving grace is how the same verse repeats when the alarm bells go off throughout the day. This repetition, much like the clanging of the alarm bell, does a great job alerting readers to an emergency. Carpenter's illustrations are digitally enhanced acrylic paintings, using a predominantly primary color palette: red fire truck, yellow turnout gear, navy blue shirts. In addition to Fire Chief Fran, other firefighters are depicted with a variety of skin tones, genders, and ages. Back matter provides a comprehensive look at firefighting as a profession, including the statistics. Ashman concisely answers many questions young readers may ask, including how quickly firefighters must get ready and what they do when they're not responding to emergency calls. VERDICT A must-have for all community helper collections.—Chance Lee Joyner - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 11/01/2022 *Starred Review* Fire Chief Fran and her crew are readying for their shift by checking their trucks and equipment—but suddenly, “lights begin flashing, / and—CLANG!—the bells blast.” They’ve gotten their first call: a pup got stuck in a fence. As the day progresses, other calls come—a small wildfire, kids needing medical care for a mishap on the baseball field, a cafe owner trapped by a kitchen fire—and every time, the “CLANG!” stanza alerts them (and the readers) that their help is required. In between, they’re busy at the station, too—they give a tour and safety tips to a school group, run drills, and prepare a big meal. At the end of the day, it’s finally time to eat and relax—at least, until the next alarm. It’s rare to see a Black woman as a fire chief in picture books; Fran leads her diverse team of firefighters through their actions and activities, all depicted in vibrant, mixed-media illustrations, which excitingly convey the scope of services they provide their community. The lively, rhyming text is ideal for reading aloud, and the back matter, presented in a question-and-answer format, offers further information about what being a firefighter and fire chief entails, their training and uniforms, and other facts, such as that currently fewer than 10 percent of firefighters are women. A noteworthy, enjoyable addition to firefighter-themed books and an informative, engaging, and uncommonly inspiring introduction to the subject. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.

Booklist - 11/01/2022 *Starred Review* Fire Chief Fran and her crew are readying for their shift by checking their trucks and equipment—but suddenly, “lights begin flashing, / and—CLANG!—the bells blast.” They’ve gotten their first call: a pup got stuck in a fence. As the day progresses, other calls come—a small wildfire, kids needing medical care for a mishap on the baseball field, a cafe owner trapped by a kitchen fire—and every time, the “CLANG!” stanza alerts them (and the readers) that their help is required. In between, they’re busy at the station, too—they give a tour and safety tips to a school group, run drills, and prepare a big meal. At the end of the day, it’s finally time to eat and relax—at least, until the next alarm. It’s rare to see a Black woman as a fire chief in picture books; Fran leads her diverse team of firefighters through their actions and activities, all depicted in vibrant, mixed-media illustrations, which excitingly convey the scope of services they provide their community. The lively, rhyming text is ideal for reading aloud, and the back matter, presented in a question-and-answer format, offers further information about what being a firefighter and fire chief entails, their training and uniforms, and other facts, such as that currently fewer than 10 percent of firefighters are women. A noteworthy, enjoyable addition to firefighter-themed books and an informative, engaging, and uncommonly inspiring introduction to the subject. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.