Bound To Stay Bound

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 We match!
 Author: Barton, Chris

 Publisher:  Astra Young Readers (2025)

 Classification: Easy
 Physical Description: [32] p., col. ill., 25 x 25 cm

 BTSB No: 095059 ISBN: 9781662621062
 Ages: 4-8 Grades: K-3

 Subjects:
 Dogs -- Behavior -- Fiction
 Individuality -- Fiction
 Similarity (Psychology) -- Fiction

Price: $23.28

Summary:
A morning of mixing and matching is underway at the dog park as dogs gleefully discover the qualities that make them similar. Some love to play with balls, others prefer chasing squirrels. Some like wet food, others prefer kibble. The dogs find that they may have more in common than they think!

 Illustrator: Glick, Sharon

Reviews:
   School Library Journal (07/04/25)

Full Text Reviews:

School Library Journal - 07/04/2025 Gr 1–3—This energetic comedy takes a fond look at the ins and outs of canine behavior. A group of dogs trickles into the dog park one by one. An alert border collie regards each new arrival with suspicion, declaring it to be different from those already present. However, upon closer inspection, the dogs find a wealth of similarities based on their preferences and behavior. Just like the border collie, a little bichon-frise-and-poodle mix likes to stick its head out the car window on drives. A mastiff and a golden retriever both prefer dry food. And, of course, many of them enjoy chasing squirrels. Finally, even a pet ferret is welcomed into the group, with friendliness as the defining trait linking it to all the dogs. Glick's zany art, in a comic-style panel layout, is well suited to Barton's concept and enthusiastic tone, but the slyly humorous gestalt may appeal more to adults than children. For example, in an oddly fourth-wall-shredding device, one dog acts as a play-by-play sports announcer for the others' antics, staring out at readers from inset boxes and delivering color commentary through a handheld microphone provided by its owner (including arch bits like "You'd think numero uno would know better by now," and "You love to see that, dog park aficionados!"). All in good fun, of course, but it may take some work to let kids in on the joke. VERDICT Though the subject matter will speak to devoted dog lovers, the execution is more for the young-at-heart than for the actually young.—Jonah Dragan - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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