Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 03/01/2023 *Starred Review* In this inviting book, Montgomery introduces turtles with facts, observations, and an irrepressible admiration for the critters as well as a knack for seeing things from their perspective. Musing about their distinctive shells and slow pace, she points out that their built-in armor protects them from predators so well that they don’t need to move fast. Like the dinosaurs, turtles first appeared some 240 million years ago. Other topics discussed include evidence of their intelligence and the abilities and examples of adaptations that have helped certain species survive. After profiling several turtle “celebrities,” such as Lonesome George, who was the last Pinta Island tortoise, and Myrtle, a 550-pound sea turtle who is a star attraction in the Giant Ocean Tank at the New England Aquarium, the book concludes with information about endangered turtles and suggested ways that kids can help them. Montgomery, whose Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot (2010) won the Sibert Medal, is in her element here, sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for turtles with readers. The book’s spare design creates a showcase for Patterson’s lifelike acrylic paintings of turtles viewed from every angle, including a cutaway picture of a turtle’s bones and shell. A beautiful, informative introduction to turtles. - Copyright 2023 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 11/17/2023 Gr 2–5—This beautiful picture/reference book will be delightful to fans of turtles, tortoises, and terrapins everywhere. Rather than a dry recitation of facts, the narrative introduces readers to various colorful, large, small, and even a few famous turtles, all of whom are gorgeously illustrated in acrylic. The fact that several of the turtles are ones Patterson personally knows (from the illustrator's note) lends a level of authenticity to the paintings. The text is easy to read and understand, but does have several vocabulary words defined in a glossary at the end. There are also helpful hints to readers about how to help protect turtles. The vividly detailed illustrations, though, are what set this book on fire. VERDICT A stunning book that will delight readers of any age, filled with interesting facts about the turtles' life cycles, their eating habits, and even a few myths.—Jessica Durham - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.