Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 04/01/2017 Gr 2–4—Ball, host of the TV shows Design Squad and Design Squad Nation, portrays himself as a cartoon scientist eager to explore the wonders of the water cycle with a team of four curious kids. After meeting up at the Science Museum, Ball and his crew enter a special portal that shrinks them down so they can investigate all things water before the museum opens to the public. The inquisitive kids must each answer a question about the water cycle before the doors open in one hour. A digital clock in the upper left-hand corner lets readers know the time as it moves from nine to 10. Will the children be able to answer the questions in time? Students will rest easy as the kids succeed and return to the museum, a little wet but back to their original size. Each child has a unique personality, communicated through facial expressions and dialogue. The pencil drawings, with digitalized color, are bright, action-packed, and comical. Supplementing the main text, journal entry sidebars impart additional information. VERDICT Ms. Frizzle may be a long-standing staple, but this book makes for a good companion title to freshen up collections.—Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.