Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 03/01/2014 PreS-Gr 1—Bespectacled, pigtailed Maggi and her border collie, Milo, are best friends. A package from the girl's grandmother containing a book about frogs and some blue polka-dotted rubber boots inspires their frog-hunting adventure. A careful look at Maggi's bedroom reveals froggy slippers, a toy frog, and several frog drawings, which help to explain the mysterious present. "I am frog hunter…and he is Milo!" she shouts as they run to the pond, eager for the hunt. After waiting "a million minutes" for some action, she becomes bored, and her sidekick wanders off. A panicked search for the wayward pooch finds him-and a frog-in the pond. As Milo continues to forge in the muck and locate more and more frogs, the inventive girl names them "Alexander…Benjamin…Cooper…Daniel…." At the end of the day, "Side by side, they sat on the edge of the world, just listening to the frogs say good night." The digitally created illustrations are bright and appealing, especially those of the lovable black-and-white pup, who is almost twice Maggi's size. Pair this story with Vivian French's Growing Frogs (Candlewick, 2000) for a "ribbeting" read-aloud.—Barbara Auerbach, New York City Public Schools - Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 04/15/2014 A cheery mixture of the ordinary and the exaggerated, Juli (no e) Brenning’s debut picture book follows Maggi (also no e), a round-faced, stick-limbed girl with a friendly dog, Milo, who looks like he weighs at least six times what she does. Maggi is introduced as “an excellent adventurer,” and the story focuses on the pair’s preparation for a frog hunt as well as the actual expedition. Most of Burris’ digitally created illustrations highlight the comical contrast between Maggi and Milo as they eventually make their way out of the house, down the hill, and all the way to the pond. Milo proves the better hunter, but Maggi is excellent at naming the surprising number of frogs they catch—and, of course, set free again. Brenning tells the story in a roundabout way, with a few breezy tangents (Maggi runs back to brush her teeth before setting out), some musical interludes, and a happy ending in which Maggi and Milo cuddle up and listen to the frogs’ nighttime songs. Further adventures would be welcome. - Copyright 2014 Booklist.