Bound To Stay Bound

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School Library Journal - 05/01/2012 Gr 1–3—Best friends Bink and Gollie are complete opposites in terms of appearance; Bink is short and squat with an explosion of yellow hair and rumpled clothes, and Gollie is tall and slender with a smooth bob and a chic outfit. They are kindred spirits, though, and readers will delight in sharing in their adventures at the state fair. First, Bink tries mightily (yet unsuccessfully) to win one of the games, then Gollie decides to enter a talent competition but is gripped by a bout of stage fright. Finally, both girls have their fortunes told by Madame Prunely, and they realize that the future doesn't matter too much as long as they're together. The common thread linking all of the stories is the girls' respect and compassion for each other, and the realization that having a good buddy makes life's little vexations more tolerable. Short, compact sentences make this book an ideal selection for beginning readers. There are some challenging vocabulary words, but readers should be able to glean much of the story from the fantastic illustrations. Fucile employs an economical use of sketchy lines and splashes of color to capture facial expressions and emotions with spot-on accuracy. His artwork goes a long way in making this title the funny, touching book that it is. It would be no surprise if Bink and Gollie were to join the likes of Elephant and Piggie and Frog and Toad in the ranks of favorite friend duos. Hilarious, warm, and, in a word, outstanding.—Amy Holland, Irondequoit Public Library, NY — - Copyright 2012 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2012 This sequel to Bink and Gollie (2010) finds petite, excitable Bink and tall, collected Gollie attending the state fair. In the first story of three, Bink hopes to win the “world’s largest donut” in the Whack-a-Duck game, but she ends up whacking the poor game attendant instead; next, Gollie enters a talent show but suffers from stage fright until she finds a less intimidating, captive audience; and finally, the two visit a fortune-teller named Madame Prunely, who sees into the girls’ immediate past (“I see that the past is replete with loss. A donut. A duck. Talent without applause”) and also into their friendship’s bright future. Fucile’s lively artwork and detailed cartoon-style drawings, in combination with DiCamillo and McGhee’s simple, droll words, are spot-on when it comes to depicting humorous and sympathetic moments, and they excel in highlighting the great joys of best friendship. Kids will be left eagerly anticipating the further adventures of this unlikely—and completely charming—duo. - Copyright 2012 Booklist.

Bulletin for the Center... - 07/01/2012 Polar-opposite friends stumpy Bink and lanky Gollie have returned, and they’re off to the state fair. In the first episode, Bink is determined to win at Whack a Duck but keeps beaning the game operator instead (“I fear this can only end in tragedy,” says Gollie); in the second, Gollie’s dream of being in a talent show turns into a nightmare; in the third, the friends visit a fairground fortuneteller. B&G again hit that sweet spot where picture books, graphic novels, and early readers converge. The text is almost entirely dialogue, the back-and-forth banter between the two girls evincing the unmistakable well-worn rhythm of a long friendship; the illustrations add dimension to the action (as in the sequence where Gollie stands mute from stage fright in front of a packed audience, with each scene drawing back farther and showing her smaller and more outnumbered), and the colored figures with their zesty lines contrast with the monochromatic backgrounds. The book follows a satisfying trajectory from the first story’s slapstick through the second’s pathos to conclude with the affirmation of friendship in the third, and the blend of humor and sympathetic warmth buoys the story throughout. This endearing partnership remains a treat to follow, and readers will be as delighted as Bink and Gollie about the fortune-teller-certified long-term soundness of their friendship. DS - Copyright 2012 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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