Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 04/01/2018 PreS-Gr 1—This clever, nearly wordless picture book creates an adventure that includes a lesson on turning off devices and enjoying the world without ever becoming didactic. En route to the zoo, a cranky girl sits crammed between her twin toddler siblings, engrossed in her electronic device. Upon arrival, her oblivious mother takes a break from her phone to send the protagonist on the "monkey walk." Inside, a shaggy arm steals her hat. Next a trunk appears, distracting her while the arm takes her device, setting off a chain of wacky events as the child tries to get her device back. She succeeds but also learns a lesson. Smiling in the car home, she entertains her siblings with penguin puppets, the device ignored. Madden does a great job of moving the story along, incorporating comic-style boxes along with single pages and spreads to portray movement and propel the action. The understated humor in both the absurd story and the characters' reactions work perfectly, and her cartoonish style effectively represents the story's emotions. VERDICT This tongue-in-cheek adventure will be a worthwhile addition to any collection, especially those looking for books on decreasing screen time.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2018 A grumpy girl finds a zoo outing unexpectedly eventful and cheering in this entertaining story told with vibrant visuals, minimal text, and gobs of humor. From the car ride there to sulkily trailing her mom and stroller-riding sibs, the girl’s clearly not happy—her mood is not improved when, in the Monkey Walk, a furry hand reaches down and snatches her hat. Then an elephant trunk sneakily pilfers her cell phone, and a flamingo drops into view, holding a sign: “Trade?” After the girl’s exasperated, “Trade for what?” comes a picture of a banana. And while procuring that is relatively easy, she still doesn’t have her phone back, and the subsequent request—a trio of penguins—will take some doing. In colorful, animated, primarily wordless spreads using panels, full-page scenes, and a variety of perspectives, the whimsical cartoon illustrations depict the expressive girl, the animals, and their antics, all with scrutiny-inviting, whimsical touches. Particularly amusing is the reveal of the furry, playful thief, which is sure to delight readers in this crowd-pleasing picture book. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.