Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 04/01/2022 Gr 3–4—Elliott's appreciative introduction to animals at a pond invites observation and enjoyment. At daybreak, "The red-winged blackbird spreads his sail/ and sings his hello morning song." A leaping bullfrog shares the dawning day, followed by 16 pond dwellers moving through 13 inviting double-page views. Elliott's nicely structured poems, most in blank verse, vary in simplicity and clarity for children. Schimler-Safford's skillful collage conveys setting and animals with beauty, energy, and bits of humor. For instance, a handsome duck family ("What a swimming portrait/ the dabbing mallards make") is soon followed by Harry the catfish, the only named animal, who has been given "a loving appellation" by an unspecified "they." A water strider is "Enigmatic/ yet prolific/ Each day/ he writes/ his story/ in rippling hieroglyphics." There are also beavers, muskrats, water snakes, and more. The pond appears to be in a remote area, the sun rising and setting over a spare hillside. A small boat or two appear occasionally, and two children once dash into view, setting startled turtles and geese into motion. The format of the book is very attractive, but many of the poems will be elusive for the younger grades. There's no definition or explanation of ponds, and while the concluding notes on plants and animals are interesting and fun, facts and explanation about each species are lacking. VERDICT A pleasant book for animal and poetry fans of varied ages.—Margaret Bush - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/01/2022 *Starred Review* This is a lovely picture book about plants and animals native to pond ecosystems. Each critter (e.g., mallard, catfish, beaver, dragonfly) and plant (cattails, water lilies) is highlighted in a double-page spread, with illustrations that span both pages, creating inviting vistas. The rhyming text features a variety of cadences and rhythms, ranging from lyrical descriptions of physical features to catchy rhymes (Polly! Polly! Pollywog! Golly! Golly! Golly! Frog!). The action begins at dawn with a blackbird singing its morning song and progresses through the day as turtles come out to sun themselves, herons hunt in the shadows, and muskrats and deer emerge as the daylight ebbs away. The mixed-media illustrations are vibrant and detailed and, like the poems, capture the interplay between the various entities that share the pond habitat. Back matter offers brief notes and fun facts for each subject. Perfect for reading out loud, this selection will pair nicely with nonfiction titles, reinforce curriculum standards, and enhance STEAM collections. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.