Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/01/2024 PreS-Gr 1—Siblings Libby and Herbert Alligator are polar opposites. Libby loves the mud and slimy stuff of the swamp, while Herbert prefers to keep things neat and tidy. Another major difference is Herbert loves snacking on people. That poses a problem when Libby and Herbert's mother gets a job as a pastry chef and the family has to move to a neighborhood full of people. Libby warns her brother that he shouldn't eat their neighbors, especially if he wants to play on the soccer team. The Alligator siblings do their best to adapt to their new school, but Herbert finds it hard to fit in. Unfortunately, after one too many incidents of him trying to snack on his classmates, they are avoiding him. Herbert soon realizes if he doesn't want to mess up his mom's new job or his time at school, he'll have to learn to not eat the neighbors. What at first is an amusing fish-out-of-water story with plenty of laughs turns out to be a story full of relevant life lessons about adapting to new environments, struggling to fit in, and learning self-control. With eye-catching, cartoonlike illustrations, and just a few sentences on each page, this book is a winning read-aloud sure to keep readers entertained. VERDICT A funny tale about an alligator boy learning not to eat his neighbors; perfect for the picture book shelves or even the etiquette section.—Myiesha Speight - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.