Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 08/01/2021 *Starred Review* Bob the alligator is hungry, and he’s desperate for a bird snack. The lazy gator waits with his mouth open for a bird to fly in—but to no avail. Noting the interest that the birds are showing in a nearby seed-strewn field, Bob sneakily establishes a miniature birdseed canteen on his snout, “which is a real restaurant and not a trick.” He has immediate success, attracting one brave bird to the table, but before he can snap it up, it occurs to Bob that it may behoove him to let the bird go spread the word about the new café. The alligator attracts more customers, so many that the birds begin to build a community around him. What luck! Bob will have a steady stream of snacks now. But as he is further drawn into the developing neighborhood, coaching a bird basketball team and contributing to a book club, Bob wonders if perhaps he’s been hasty in his tasty scheme. The alligator narrator is delightfully mischievous and matter-of-fact, and his transformation from plotting predator to protective pal is terrifically funny and surprisingly sweet. The splashy illustrations are distinctive and detailed, perfectly suiting the silly tone. Visit Chez Bob with no reservations. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 10/01/2021 PreS-Gr 2—This quirky tale of a nefarious plan gone wrong follows Bob, a proudly lazy alligator who devises an elaborate scheme to lure his meals to him instead of hunting. He builds a birdseed restaurant on his snout to attract birds, making it a snap to gobble them up. However, when the first customer arrives, Bob realizes it would be prudent to allow the bird to fly free and spread the word about "Chez Bob," thereby attracting even more potential snacks with ease. Despite his worst intentions, Bob becomes unwittingly attached to his trusting new companions and the lively community they form around him. He joins a book club and coaches the basketball team, but will he actually make a meal of his feathered friends? The suspense is drawn out until the very end. Young readers will delight in this tale of a flawed protagonist and will cheer for his eventual change of heart. Witty prose and dialogue invite dramatization, making for a fabulously fun read-aloud, while Shea's signature bold, colorful, stylized illustrations serve up a visual feast. Surprisingly touching themes of friendship and caring underpin the narrative's zany humor. Readers will come away giggling but will also retain a renewed sense of the importance of kindness and belonging. VERDICT Laugh-out-loud funny, sweet, and a surefire hit for story time. Bob Shea fans will rejoice.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Lib., CA - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.