Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 03/01/2026 On a cold night, a family heads out to “where the water swirls and the land curls,” watching for turtles who are cold-stunned and unable to keep swimming to warmer seas. Readers get a front-row seat to each step of caring for rescued turtles: from patrolling the beach to rehabilitating the turtles to flying them back to their home waters. The text, written in the first person, is artful but clear, with just a sentence or two per page sharing the experiences of volunteers, veterinarians, and pilots. We also learn how turtles help their environment—nourishing plants, transporting suckerfish—always followed by the refrain “now it is my turn” to help the turtles. Watercolor-style illustrations lend the work a slightly dreamlike feel, drawing readers into the seascapes, especially when showing turtles in the wild. Back matter provides more detailed explanations of turtle migrations, rescue teams, and how readers can help. Turtles have been having a moment recently, and even the youngest naturalists will enjoy this gentle, encouraging look at how we can help them. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.