Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/01/2016 PreS-Gr 2—Bright, digital illustrations with bold outlines are a good match for this rhythmic troublemaking bear and his strong personality. "I am Bear./And I am bare./The suit I wear has purple hair." After he zips up and strikes a pose, Bear show off a little more for his readers by strutting about and antagonizing all the minor characters—especially that squirrel who mocked his nakedness. He eats the bees' honey, tells a knock-knock joke at the squirrel's expense, performs some questionable magic tricks, and shows readers his favorite game, "cops and robbers," where he eats all of a police officer's doughnuts. (The squirrel gets the blame.) After Bear torments the squirrel some more and paints a target on the behind of a sleeping female bear, the book pulls in for a close-up of Bear alone. The next spread shows a fierce chase scene of enraged minor characters after Bear until he makes a proud getaway on the final page. Though audiences may have mixed reactions to Bear, the beat of the text is catchy and readers and listeners will enjoy looking for the minor characters who show up throughout, including the mysterious blue rabbit who manages to pop up repeatedly but unnoticed. The back of the book confirms what readers will guess: Bear has not reformed. VERDICT An interesting mix of adorable and aggravating, Bear and his high energy will liven things up when read aloud.—Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.