Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 05/01/2022 Alphonso, a snapping alligator turtle with a pink, worm-like tongue that baits unsuspecting prey, plunges to the bottom of the pond, opens his mouth wide, and waits for breakfast to appear. Soon one minnow arrives, then several more, and eventually Big Betty. Alphonso's anticipation of his feast is keen, until he realizes the little minnows are Betty's progeny, celebrating her birthday. He declines to snap, the school glides towards a real lure, and Alphonso, recognizing the danger, swims to the rescue, preventing the demise of his newfound friends. Hare's digitally enhanced acrylic-on-hardboard paintings are richly hued in greens, browns, and pinks, with shading used effectively to convey three dimensionality. His style is mostly naturalistic, although prominent facial features (eyes, mouths, and lashes, in particular) help to convey the characters' emotions and add nuance to the story. Readers will also appreciate the small blue crayfish, unmentioned in the text, who observes the entire story. An appended note offers additional facts about this Ankylosaurusesque species, including suitable real-world cautions. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.