Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/15/2023 A caterpillar emerges from a small egg and munches on a leaf. Over 12 days, she repeatedly outgrows her skin, which splits and sloughs off several times. When a bird threatens her, she rears up, scaring it away. She sheds her skin one last time, becoming a pupa attached to a stem. Two weeks later, a butterfly emerges, legs first, and unfolds its wings. A child nearby calls to her, “Fly, Butterfly!” And she does. An appended double-page spread clarifies the life cycle process by showing the stages of transformation and telling how long they last. Rockwell’s attractive illustrations, “created with watercolor washes and digital tools,” offer close-up views of the action. Combining the large format of picture books with the brief words, large type, and short sentences (two to six words), the book is intended for beginning readers. Fortunately, like many other books in the I Like to Read series, it is also highly accessible to preschoolers when read aloud. A clearly written, informative introduction to the wondrous life cycle of the black swallowtail butterfly. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 04/01/2023 PreS-Gr 3—The butterfly's life cycle is perennially captivating fodder for emergent readers. The four stages of metamorphosis from egg to larva to pupa to butterfly is one of nature's most fascinating glow-ups, albeit a sometimes gritty and perilous one. Rockwell's illustrations have a rich amount of detail, vary perspective frequently, and are sure to delight budding entomologists. From the caterpillar's defensive pose to the wet wings of the newly emerged butterfly, the illustrations underscore the miraculous transformation of metamorphosis at every turn. Rockwell is able to convey a lot of information in this leveled reader, and she reiterates the metamorphosis cycle with more specific time frames in the back matter. VERDICT Against all odds, an often-told tale of egg-to-butterfly feels new again. A recommended purchase for transitioning readers.—Sarah Simpson - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.