Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 06/21/2024 PreS-Gr 2—This adorable picture book makes an unlikely hero out of a nervous bike-share bicycle that lives in a rack like the ones lining most major cities, filled with row after row of bikes waiting to be taken on their next adventure. Bike is anxiously awaiting her first ride out on the bustling Seattle streets. Bike works through her nerves as she transports a baker, family, tourist, puppy, and librarian to their final destinations. By finding joy in helping others and focusing on doing her personal best, Bike excels at her job and builds confidence in no time. As she travels around the city, Bike gives readers a glimpse into the rich lives of all the strangers around them, inspiring empathy and conveying a sense of community. The Seattle landscape is endearingly portrayed by Karas, whose detailed illustrations capture the quirky and friendly tone of the story. Readers at the younger edge of the demographic may find some pages text-heavy, especially when paragraphs are squeezed to fit around the illustrations. Still, kids and adults alike will be rooting for Bike and will want to follow her adventures again and again. VERDICT An engaging story that illuminates the many threads that make up communities and the bikes that weave them all together.—Maria Bohan - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.