Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 08/01/2019 On Nick’s birthday, his mother takes him and his four best friends to an island for a picnic. Nick, who is learning about plastic pollution, challenges the partygoers to avoid single-use plastics for the day. He explains the origins of plastic, the environmental problems it has created, and ways of making things better. During their ferry ride, they notice plastic trash floating in the water, a hazard for sea creatures. In the snack bar, Sally asks to have her water bottle refilled, rather than using a plastic cup and straw. To the familiar “reduce, reuse, recycle” slogan, Ritchie adds: refuse, as in “Say no thank you if you are offered single-use plastics.” Like other books in the Exploring Our Community series, this volume has a message, yet it manages to be fun as well as purposeful. The colorful, playful look of the line-and-wash digital illustrations works well with the book’s easygoing yet informative tone. As Nick raises awareness among his friends, Ritchie invites his audience to think about the lasting environmental effects of day-to-day choices. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 08/30/2019 K-Gr 2-Nick is celebrating his birthday with a picnic on the island. He has been learning about plastic pollution and decides to challenge his friends to go all day without single-use plastics. From shopping for the party to playing in the sand, the five friends learn what plastic is made of, how it gets into our food chain, and so much more. In this seventh book in the "Exploring Our Community" series, Ritchie explains recycling in kid-friendly language while demonstrating that any effort will help our Earth become cleaner. On each double-page spread, the story and illustrations provide concrete examples of what the author is trying to convey while bold-typed explanations help readers understand the vocabulary and suggest actions that they can take in their own lives. The digitally rendered illustrations are bright and colorful, with maps and labels to assist emerging readers. End matter includes a glossary. VERDICT This story leaves readers with hope that plastic pollution is being addressed by manufacturers and encourages everyone to take the "No-Plastic Challenge!" An excellent introduction to reducing waste for young readers.-Annette Herbert, F. E. Smith Elementary School, Cortland, NY - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.