Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 02/24/2025 In impeccably crisp signature-style illustrations, Caldecott Medalist Chin opens this picture book with a series of sweeping, high-altitude images of a whirling hurricane forming over the Atlantic and heading for North Carolina’s Hattaras Island. Then he zooms in on the island’s inhabitants as news spreads: "It’s a Category 1 storm," one child says to another. As the storm churns toward the island, reportorial text that follows the days of a week explains how forecasters observe satellite photos and measurements to predict the storm’s track and intensity, and how hurricane hunters fly right through the storm to investigate. (Smaller text blocks give more detail.) Meanwhile, the community prepares, an evacuation is ordered, and the islanders cooperate throughout: "My generator won’t start, can you take a look?" one queries into a phone; "Of course" is the response. When the storm hits, steady, minute-by-minute narration confers a sense of comforting predictability despite the chaos: "Branches snap. The power goes out." After the storm, spreads show the island’s residents working together to tidy and repair, moments that aptly underline growing weather events as opportunities for community care. Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Back matter includes a rich trove of resources. Ages 4-8. (May) - Copyright 2025

School Library Journal - 06/27/2025 Gr 1–4—Heart-pounding drama, detailed scientific information, and Chin's stellar illustrations make this a thoroughly compelling read. From the opening pages readers will begin to feel the presence of the impending storm as first a buoy far out in the Atlantic Ocean registers wind speeds of 85 miles per hour as the ocean swells. Using Cape Hatteras, NC, as the human focal point of the story, readers connect with the local residents as they enjoy a summer at the beach. Chin follows the development of the hurricane from its beginning as a group of thunderstorms off the coast of Africa, while the residents of Cape Hatteras follow its progress through forecasts and weather updates. Thoroughly researched and well-presented information highlights scientists and their work, from the National Hurricane Center staff to the brave pilots and scientists that fly into the storms. The arrival of the hurricane is captured in energized illustrations: storm surge and wind, with realistic touches of breaking branches where children recently played and a cat refuses to leave (but survives the powerful storm). The captivating spread showing the eye of the storm passing overhead, contrasting what came before and the remainder of the storm that follows soon after. Detailed illustrations with precise labels and additional text at the end of the book provide bonus learning opportunities along with suggestions for further reading and a bibliography. VERDICT A tour-de-force of powerful illustrations combined with accessible scientific information; a title for all library collections. The amazing scientists that endeavor to understand climate change and help to keep civilians safe are given the proper acknowledgement they richly deserve.—John Scott - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.