Bound To Stay Bound

Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2016 It’s not easy being a penguin, as our protagonist makes clear on a day where his Antarctic existence is an annoyance from beginning to end. He doesn’t like snow, he doesn’t like cold, “the ocean smells too salty today,” “I don’t like being hunted,” he dislikes looking like everybody else-basically, the whole thing is just getting on his last feathery nerve. Then an avuncular walrus spouts a monologue on the beauty of existence and the inevitability of challenges, and the young penguin reconsiders-until the next annoyance comes along. It’s a lot of whining, but the kvetching is pretty funny, and it’ll be a treat to read aloud with appropriate histrionic fed-upness. The digital art is, understandably, strong on the black and white, with some graphically impressive scenes built on penguin multitudes punctuated by tan beaks, but there’s also some gentle mottling in slatey blues and sun-dappled gold. Many youngsters (and adults) will recognize the sulky day where everything seems to be an irritation and nobody understands their problems. DS - Copyright 2016 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

School Library Journal - 08/01/2016 PreS-Gr 2—It's not easy being a penguin. As a world-weary avian narrator points out, there's plenty that can (and does) go wrong: "My beak is cold." "It snowed some more last night, and I don't even like the snow." "The ocean smells too salty today." An even chillier fishing expedition does not improve his demeanor: "Oh, great. An orca. Oh, great. A leopard seal. Oh, great. A shark. What is it with this place?" Smith's sponge-textured illustrations expand upon the text's downbeat doldrums with visual humor and delightfully deadpan facial expressions. Still hungry, the penguin pulls out of the water just before being gulped down by the bigger seal (which is about to be consumed by the even larger shark, about to be swallowed by the huge orca). His melancholy monologue continues until a stately walrus catches his attention and delivers a wise (and lengthy and slightly bombastic) oration about appreciating the good things in life. Grudgingly, Penguin embraces a new perspective. He sits on a pristine peak, gazes at gracefully falling flurries, and muses, "Maybe things will work out, after all"—or not (the page turn reveals that the gentle snowflakes have turned into a full-fledged storm and Penguin has resumed his grousing). This sublime pairing of author and artist results in a rib-tickling exploration of what it means to look at the unsunny side. VERDICT Share this book with Claire Messer's Grumpy Pants for a storytime starring persnickety penguins.—Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 08/01/2016 Penguins don’t seem to have a care in the world, but the waddling star of John and Smith’s new picture book is here to set you straight. This penguin doesn’t like the cold, the early morning, the salty smell of the ocean, or the constant squawking, and everyone looks exactly the same. “What is it with this place?” Thanks to Penguin’s deadpan, saucer-eyed expression, all that negative attitude becomes pretty hilarious, and when a well-meaning walrus tries to give Penguin a lesson in gratitude, his over-the-top reaction is even sillier. Smith’s multimedia illustrations, in a paint-splattered texture and minimal palette, add to the humor, particularly when he contrasts crowds of identical penguins with his grouchy protagonist. Soon, though, the penguin comes around to the walrus’ view, and he starts to appreciate the icy beauty of the mountains and proximity of his friends (until his beak gets cold again, that is). With wry humor and distinctive artwork, this off-kilter tale will be right at home with fans of Jon Klassen’s This Is Not My Hat (2012). - Copyright 2016 Booklist.