Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/01/2004 PreS-Gr 1-In this second book featuring the star of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (Hyperion, 2003), the shoe is on the other foot. Once again, the action starts on the title page, with the pigeon's joyous discovery of a hot dog. However, his initial delight is dampened when a small, wide-eyed duckling appears and asks, in a seemingly innocent manner, "Is that a `hot dog'?" The interloper's younger status is conveyed not just through his tinier size, but also through his dialogue, which is presented in smaller, rounder font. Though the duckling never directly asks for a bite, his incessant questioning-"Would you say that it tastes like chicken?"-infuriates the pigeon. Ultimately, the duckling's subtle approach proves successful, and both birds happily share the treat. Children, especially those with younger siblings, will have come up with this obvious solution long before the pigeon does. Willems's deceptively simple cartoon drawings convincingly portray his protagonist's emotional dilemma, from his initial joy to his frustration and struggle over what he wants to do versus what he knows is right.-Robin L. Gibson, formerly at Perry County District Library, New Lexington, OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. - Copyright 2004 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 07/01/2004 Undaunted by his failure to drive a bus, Willems' obstreperous one-eyed pigeon is back, this time seeking his bliss through the gastronomic pleasures of a found hot dog. Alas, along comes a diminutive duckling ("scooty, scoot, scoot!") determined to get his piece of the dog. Duckling's seemingly innocent chatter ("I've never had a hot dog before. . . . What do they taste like? . . . Would you say that it tastes like chicken?") and guileless expression nearly undo our high-strung hero as he begins to realize that he's being duped by the little duck into giving up his booty. Returning to a formula can be tricky, especially when the expectations are set as high as the pigeon's debut (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, BCCB 5/03), which garnered a Caldecott Honor. This chapter of the pigeon agon is visually similar to the former, and also echoes its predecessor in yielding up delightfully unexpected curricular possibilities for older students (such as college freshmen, among others) by illustrating the various methods of rhetorical appeal. It's a departure from precedent, however, that the pigeon's hopes are not completely thwarted here, and the ending is more or less satisfying depending on how you prefer your justice served: some listeners will likely warm to the messages of sharing and compromise, while others may miss the high tragedy of utterly disappointed dreams. Either way, the duckling is adorable. - Copyright 2004 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Booklist - 02/15/2004 In this follow-up to Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus BKL S 1 03, the wheedling pigeon with the short fuse meets his match. “Oooooh! A hot dog!” he cries, as he zooms in for a landing on the first page. Before he can enjoy his scavenged treat, though, a little duckling scuttles over and begins asking numerous questions: “Is that a ‘hot dog’?” “What do they taste like?” The pigeon loses his temper in a wing-flapping rant before the duckling innocently suggests that they share the dog, thus sparing the pigeon the frustration of having to explain the taste. Share it they do, but the pigeon knows he has been had: “You know, you’re pretty smart for a duckling.” Once again, Willems uses artistic minimalism (each page shows only the birds and the hot dog, rendered in basic lines) and spare, hilarious dialogue to convey surprisingly realistic emotions. Preschoolers who recognized themselves in the tantrum-throwing pigeon of the previous title will also see themselves in the calm, shrewd duckling that knows just how to get his way. - Copyright 2004 Booklist.