Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 01/01/2020 Gr 3–6—Meet the Bug Boys. Rough-and-tumble Rhino-B and studious bibliophile Stag-B are best friends who love exploring Bug Village. This warm, tender volume is full of loosely connected stories of the two beetles' adventures. Rhino-B and Stag-B discover hidden treasures in nature, revel in their differences, and express gratitude for their friendship. Their encounters with other creatures, including bees, termites, spiders, a dragonfly, and a mole, help them learn lessons. A surreal tale sees each beetle immersed in either depression or mania and emerging from the experience thanks to the embrace of friendship—a theme echoed throughout the book. No matter what the problem is, the solution always involves characters clearly communicating and discussing their feelings, and though the beetles and their friends may disagree, they are quick to forgive and celebrate one another. Knetzger's upbeat cartoons are bathed in bright greens, yellows, and pinks, with some dark blues and black—the perfect palette for a natural setting. VERDICT This gentle romp through nature will be paradise for readers, who will find themselves wishing they could be the third beetle in the Bug Boys' group.—Thomas Maluck, Richland Library, SC - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 01/01/2020 *Starred Review* Rhino-B and Stag-B are two beetle buddies from Bug Village who frequently end up adventuring through their quirky world of quasi-anthropomorphic critters. In nine stand-alone chapters, they hunt for buried treasure, evade capture by giants (humans), learn about the library, explore an ocean cave, attend their coming-of-age ceremony, work through a big fight, dissolve tensions between warring termite and honeybee nations, undergo metaphysical transformations in an underground labyrinth, and more. With the help of their community and friends, the two beetles explore, quest, and adventure, often leaving readers with a beautiful reflection on friendship or feelings—always in a wonderfully surprising, light-hearted manner. Knetzger, a former storyboard artist for TV’s Adventure Time, brings a similar blend of friendship, humor, and heart to her own world, and the show’s influence is clear in this work’s overall style and tone, as well. Quick pacing, spare text in large type, and simple character design cater to early elementary readers, with the episodic structure offering a more manageable experience. It also makes for quicker and richer character development and world building than a single overarching plot would provide. Kids are going to love these characters, which is good, as more stories are already in the works. An absolutely delightful gateway into comics for the Saturday-morning cartoon crowd. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.