Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 06/01/2018 PreS-Gr 2—This book combines two of children's favorite fixations—"Elephant & Piggie" and dinosaurs—into a funny story that plays around with a relatable problem. Similar to other books in the series, the beloved duo introduce the story. They begin with their usual humor by describing this book as one that will "make you feel things all over." Pham begins the main story with Dino Mo reading a sign stating, "Dinosaurs do not scratch." The other dinosaurs, Triceratops, Pterodactyl, Brontosaurus, and T-Rex have an itch, but no matter how they try to convince Dino Mo that it is okay to scratch he is not budging from his stance that "Dinosaurs do not scratch." He is absolutely resolute. Not even an itchy wool sweater can persuade Mo it is okay to scratch. Children will enjoy the brightly colored dinosaurs and appreciate the word-bubble writing style. VERDICT Fans of "Elephant & Piggie" will love the humor and satire in this engaging easy reader. Those itching for winning selections for newly independent readers will be especially grateful.—Jewelee Painter, Springfield Elementary School, Rilleyville, VA - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 06/01/2018 Though Pham conflates itch with tickle and even shooting pain in this tale of a young hadrosaur who sees a sign reading “DINOSAURS DO NOT SCRATCH” and goes to excruciating lengths to prove that they don’t need to, it doesn’t make the action any less comically frenetic. Having sternly forbidden other prehistoric passersby, even T. rex, from relieving minor scrapes, bee bites, or back itches, the officious dino backs up his assertion that dinosaurs are tough by refusing to scratch, despite being stroked by a feather, covered in prickly grass and then a wool sweater, or having an ant, a caterpillar, and even a cat chucked at him. Pham gives her dinos an anthropomorphic look, even dressing them in summer garb, and effectively cranks up the rising level of suspense with lightning bolts, bigger text, and increasingly frantic expressions so that fledgling readers themselves will be involuntarily shifting in discomfort. “A good book scratches an itch,” notes Mo Willems’ Piggie, cleverly summing up this new offering from the aptly named Elephant & Piggie Like Reading! series. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.