Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 04/01/2018 PreS-Gr 2—Margot is sad because her pet turtle named Tim has passed away. Her friends help mourn her loss, and they rally together to say goodbye. With illustrations created in only yellow, blue, black, and white, and with a single sentence per page, this book is a simple exploration of children accepting the death of a pet and learning to say goodbye. It illustrates that it is natural to be sad and demonstrates a few of the ways that friends can come together to sympathize and support one another. The story has a positive ending, as Tim arrives in a place where he can be a happy turtle forever. The black line drawings have a classic feel to them. The mostly yellow backgrounds also keep the sad story light and hopeful. VERDICT This uncomplicated tale of love, loss, friendship, and hope is a great addition for library collections to use one-on-one or with a small group.—Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/01/2018 Even though it’s a sunny day, Margot is feeling sad because her beloved turtle, Tim, has died. Friends arrive and make plans to cheer her up with some surprises. They tie a bunch of blue balloons to her chair. Melinda brings her French horn, Otto wears his best hat, and Roger and Vincent return with an empty box. The friends lovingly pick up the dead turtle, place it in the box and cover it with flowers. Tying up the box, the children attach it to the bunch of balloons, while Melinda plays a cheerful melody. As Margot waves a final goodbye, Tim soars “to a place where he basked in the warm sun and swam in cool waters, forever a happy turtle.” A simple palette of yellow and blue, gouache and black lines depicts the cartoonlike characters against generous white (here, yellow) space in each double-page spread. Quiet and sweet, illustrated in a retro style that makes it feel timeless for young people experiencing the loss of a pet. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.