Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 10/01/2016 Gr 1–3—Newbery Medalist Voigt's new title follows the legless stuffed toy Teddy and his friends through a series of small adventures. Teddy wants to explore more of the world in which they live, circling around what proves to be an island. Characters include an elephant who likes to bake muffins, a penguin, a pair of pigs, a snake, a grumpy bunny, and a demanding princess. Never deterred by curious or unfortunate circumstances, such as a rainstorm or the arrival of strangers, Teddy has a thirst for discovery and lives a joyous life surrounded by friends. This work has a classic sensibility, reminiscent of Winnie-the-Pooh, minus the human character Christopher Robin. This lends the toy animal characters a bit more autonomy and allows Teddy's spirit and determination to shine through. The secondary characters are amusing, such as Sid the snake, who never stops eating. Readers looking for fast-paced adventure or high drama will not find it here; this is a slow and gentle tale. VERDICT A simple, easily digestible story in parts, this is a great option for one-on-one bedtime read-alouds.—Kaitlin Malixi, formerly at Virginia Beach Public Library - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 11/15/2016 A little community of stuffed animals lives on an island. Teddy, a contemplative bear, lives with Umpah the elephant, who loves baking muffins. Sid, a friendly snake, loves eating them. Zia, a motherly pig, looks after Prinny, a childlike piglet. Peng, a penguin, lives a rather solitary life in a nearby cave. When a strange rabbit and a beautiful doll arrive unexpectedly, the islanders try to fit the newcomers into their close-knit community. After the doll, Clara, declares herself queen, a revolt is inevitable, though in keeping with the story’s tone, it’s also gentle and diplomatic. Voight, who has won many fans with the Tillerman Cycle and the Mister Max series, shows that she can write for a younger audience with simplicity, clarity, and subtlety. Driven less by action than by interactions between characters, the book might strike some as bland, but those who take to the quiet story will find it satisfying. The illustrations were not seen in final form. This chapter book may work best as a read-aloud choice for preschool and primary-grade children. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.