Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 01/01/2023 PreS-Gr 2—A charming addition to the "I Like to Read" series. Meisel continues the adventures of the curious dog from his book I See a Cat. This time, the dog watches out the window as the sun goes down and the bats come out. It's not until the moon is out that the dog realizes the food bowl is empty; but by then, his beloved boy is fast asleep. Simple, three-word sentences and structured repetition are perfect for kids learning to read. The colorful pictures effectively illustrate each sentence, helping guide new readers as they piece words together. For a book with few words, Meisel still manages to convey warmth and gentle humor with this simple but engaging story for new readers. VERDICT Perfect for all early reader collections.—Savannah Kitchens - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2023 As twilight falls, a dog stretches out on a rug and watches the view through big glass doors. The sights from his indoor vantage point are relayed in short, declarative sentences: “I see a bat. I see stars. I see the moon.” Turning his attention to matters closer to home, he looks down and sees his bowl, which is sadly empty. Meisel’s expressive inkand-watercolor cartoon artwork captures the pooch’s droopy-eared and downcast-eyed disappointment. A wordless spread shows comic canine contortions around the bowl in the hopes of finding a missed morsel. After a bedtime visit to his boy to beg for more food fails, the dog falls asleep. In circular fashion, the sun comes up, bringing more sights to see, including bats (both the mammal and baseball variety) and a boy carrying a big bag of food. With a handful of words and a pleasing circular storyline, this entry in the I Like to Read series is a fetching choice for kids beginning to read on their own. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.