Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/01/2019 K-Gr 2–From the creators of The Bad Seed comes an organic and locally sourced tale of the importance of self-care. A self-identified "good egg" lives in a carton at the farmer's market with 11 other eggs who all have a tendency to misbehave. The good egg tries to be perfect and take charge but eventually, the stress of it all starts to show and it becomes clear that a big change is needed. So the good egg sets off on a journey of self-discovery and self-care that involves relaxation, meditation, and even painting. Finally, the good egg returns home having learned that nobody is perfect and it's important to take time to be good to yourself and your fellow eggs. The illustrations are an egg-cellent source of amusement with the 11 "bad eggs" practicing feats of naughtiness and rude behavior at every opportunity. Images veer from melodramatic to preposterous and some of the jokes may fly over the heads of children, but will get adults laughing. The simple text provides an important counterbalance to the absurdity of the illustrations and the focus on self-care provides a helpful starting point for conversations about being true to yourself and how to take time for self-reflection. VERDICT Perfect for storytime and one-on-one sharing, hand this to readers seeking comic silliness with a deeper message of self-reflection and kindness.—Laken Hottle, Providence Community Library - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.