Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 09/27/2024 PreS-Gr 3—Tired of getting put back in a smelly old box after the holidays, a restless crew of Christmas tree ornaments attempts to escape out of their humans' home to go to the North Pole, where Christmas is forever. However, the family cat thwarts the plan by catching one of them. The group's rescue effort fails spectacularly, resulting in a big crash that wakes up the family; they all place the ornaments back on the tree and kick off Christmas early. In the end, the ornaments determine that celebrating Christmas is far better at home with one another and the family. While the pacing toward the end seems rushed, the vibrant and festive illustrations help carry this book. The detailed drawings of the ornaments, their dreams, and particularly their escape plan, help tell the story in a way young children will follow. VERDICT This well-illustrated adventure story will appeal to younger fans of Christmas.—Jane Huh - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.