Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/15/2023 *Starred Review* Beginning with a brief history of inoculations and vaccinations, this picture book points out that since the development of vaccines, they have protected people from illnesses such as smallpox, polio, measles, and mumps. Next, it explains that the body’s immune system fights off diseases and afterward holds the memories of previous viral and bacterial invaders so that it can deal with them quickly if they return. As the book’s title indicates, a vaccine gives the body the equivalent of a new memory, training the immune system to create antibodies for fighting an infection it hasn’t yet encountered. Closing with details on the COVID-19 pandemic, the discussion encourages kids to understand that a reliable vaccine is a powerful, protective, “incredible scientific feat.” A primary-care physician, LaRocca has written 10 picture books and 5 middle- grade novels, including the Newbery Honor Book Red, White, and Whole (2021). She clearly knows her subject here, and she explains it in a straightforward, reassuring manner. Using colors and simplified shapes to good advantage, Marcotte’s illustrations are pleasing and often cheerful. The book’s occasional sidebars offer related facts and feats, while descriptive lists of germs, vaccines, and common infections preventable by vaccines appear in the back matter. A lively, informative introduction to vaccines. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.