Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 10/04/2024 K-Gr 2—First-person narratives from lovable endangered species encourage children to learn more. In each book, an animal introduces itself in a conversational way—the quokka's fun energetic speech is especially endearing—and shares facts about its species. To keep readers engaged, each animal poses questions to children, such as the sloth asking, "How often do you poop?" or "Can you swim?" Each narrative also explains the dangers the animals face and what people are doing to help them. The mostly full-page illustrations are lovely, especially the perspective from the ground looking up into the sunlit leaves surrounding the sloth. Some readers might wish there were more detailed or close-up drawings of features mentioned (e.g., the sloth's claws or the pangolin's scales), or concrete examples of how kids can help. There are no works cited aside from acknowledgements at the end when the author and illustrator mention people who helped them. End notes include additional information about the species and why they're endangered. VERDICT Warm presentations of vulnerable species will appeal to young animal lovers in these read alouds.—Elissa Cooper - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

School Library Journal - 10/04/2024 K-Gr 2—First-person narratives from lovable endangered species encourage children to learn more. In each book, an animal introduces itself in a conversational way—the quokka's fun energetic speech is especially endearing—and shares facts about its species. To keep readers engaged, each animal poses questions to children, such as the sloth asking, "How often do you poop?" or "Can you swim?" Each narrative also explains the dangers the animals face and what people are doing to help them. The mostly full-page illustrations are lovely, especially the perspective from the ground looking up into the sunlit leaves surrounding the sloth. Some readers might wish there were more detailed or close-up drawings of features mentioned (e.g., the sloth's claws or the pangolin's scales), or concrete examples of how kids can help. There are no works cited aside from acknowledgements at the end when the author and illustrator mention people who helped them. End notes include additional information about the species and why they're endangered. VERDICT Warm presentations of vulnerable species will appeal to young animal lovers in these read alouds.—Elissa Cooper - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.