Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 11/01/2019 This final installment in Rosenthal’s series on common utensils and their secret lives (Spoon, 2009; Chopsticks, 2012) follows a blue-striped drinking straw. Straw is well loved by his kitchen community, but he has one slightly grating quirk: he insists on finishing everything as fast as possible. When his need for speed results in a painful brain freeze, a (friendly) crazy straw intervenes to convince Straw that some things are meant to be savored. “Sometimes you just gotta stop and smell the milk shake!” After taking this advice to heart, Straw can’t believe the magical things that appear when he takes the time to notice. Readers will appreciate the clever, punny text as well as Magoon’s colorful, delightfully detailed illustrations—Straw’s friends, for instance, include swizzle sticks, cocktail umbrellas, and bottle openers, and he sleeps snuggled in a paper straw wrapper. A simple story, it nonetheless imparts great wisdom in the suggestion that life should be about enjoying the moments and making the good things last.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: In 2017, we tragically lost the beloved Rosenthal to cancer. This posthumous release will be cherished by her multitude of fans. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 12/01/2019 PreS-Gr 2—A companion book to precursors Spoon and Chopsticks, this third installment about another popular mealtime implement showcases Straw, a stripy fellow with many friends and "…a great thirst for being first." When zipping ahead results in an unanticipated case of brain freeze, Straw starts appreciating the slower, leisurely, and more meaningful hobby of blowing bubbles and stopping to "…smell the milk shake," along with floating off to sleep in a bubbly root beer float. He finally takes the time to savor the juicy red strawberry and swirly whipped cream in his glass. Rosenthal's quirky, offbeat humor is sure to entice readers with its silly and clever references, featuring a straw willing to bend toward a new way of life. Some of the images, however, may be somewhat unclear to youngsters. While goggle-eyed, swirly Krazy Straw is recognizably fun, young audiences may have trouble identifying the other tools used to pick up liquid: an eye dropper, funnel, and others. A turquoise pick in the shape of a palm tree may represent a utensil used to mix adult cocktails, but this will not mean much to children. Overall, kids should readily identify with the appeal of straw-slurping races, and adults will appreciate the abiding message that taking things slow has great merit. VERDICT With such a child-friendly protagonist, children may be more inclined to absorb this lesson. Who wouldn't want to "chill" in a frothy milkshake?—Etta Anton, Yeshiva of Central Queens, NY - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.