Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/01/2018 *Starred Review* Willems is back with another gut buster, this time in the form of a gluttonous abecedary. A purple creature—sort of a dog-mouse hybrid—plunders the kitchen, gobbling a heap of apples and berries with manic zeal, before plunging his face into a bowl of cereal. Next, a string of doughnuts arcs from a bakery box into his gaping maw, and a dozen eggs soon follow suit. Each new food appears in its own frame, with its representative letter colorfully attached to the upper corner, and the word itself printed below the scene. The creature proceeds through the house, munching on increasingly ridiculous things (a jacket, a lunch box) until he goes a bit green and “Potty!” and “Queasy” enter the picture. Dad comes to the rescue with a bland buffet (rice, saltines, tea), but there’s no soothing this tummy, so the little guy gets a tender pat as . . . “Vomit.” The cartoonish illustrations and gross-out humor are tempered by the presence of a loving parent waiting in the wings. Creative and hilarious, Willems’ alphabet book has all the right ingredients to become a hit. Be prepared to binge read this one. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: It’s Willems! Make sure your shelves are stocked. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2018 PreS-Gr 1—"Do not try this at home!" cautions Willems as he proceeds to tell the story of a hungry little purple creature that eagerly eats its way through the alphabet, though not without consequence. Snuggling in bed with a one-eyed Knuffle bunny, the protagonist awakens to a new day of eating and "AAAA—ZING!" it's off to the kitchen where the hungry tyke gobbles up apples, berries, cereal, doughnuts, and eggs (straight from the crate). Momentarily stumped on what to eat next, it proceeds to chow down on the furniture. Further courses feature other food and non-food items from ice cream to lunch boxes with equal enthusiasm; but the plot changes when the tenacious eater groans and then it's a mad dash to the bathroom (potty) with dad coming to the rescue. ("Queasy? Rice. Saltines. Tea.") The accompanying illustrations speak volumes as readers watch the poor, now slightly green, purple creature accept comfort from its concerned father who finally deposits the exhausted little one back into bed to snuggle once again with bunny; after all, tomorrow is another day. Willems's distinct clever, outrageous humor gives children a hilarious picture book alphabet that tells a story with minimal text. Challenge students to plan the character's menu for the rest of the week or pair with Nick Bruel's Bad Kitty for another culinary alphabet adventure. VERDICT A first purchase for all libraries serving children.—Barbara Auerbach, formerly at New York City Public Schools - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.