Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/01/2025 Gr 1–3—Lily Lu is a curious seven-year-old who travels the world with her mother, a marine biologist, learning about animals and their habitats along the way. In the newest installments, Lily and the friends she meets on her travels work together to clean penguins affected by an oil spill, and care for a baby sea otter until it can be placed with a surrogate mother. Each book is divided into four short chapters with soft, colorful illustrations that enhance the storytelling—especially when depicting animals and ecological concepts unfamiliar to young readers. The large font and simple sentence structure make these books approachable for early readers while maintaining a smooth and engaging narrative. The stories are both entertaining and educational, offering valuable lessons on wildlife conservation that may inspire children to learn more about protecting the environment. VERDICT A great addition to any early chapter book collection, especially where animal stories are popular. - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.