Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/01/2021 When Regina’s mother goes on a hunt and leaves her behind (“Stay in the nest and be Mama’s good little carnivore!”), Regina is furious. She may be small in stature, but she is not “little,” and she heads out alone to prove it. The reader has already watched her direct a small but mighty roar at an unfazed flower and fix a bewildered beetle with a (theoretically) menacing glare, but for this hunt, Regina desires more challenging prey. She chomps on a heavily armored ankylosaurus and a gigantic triceratops, but they’re simply amused. How can she show her true mettle if her prey won’t cooperate? Is she destined to be a—gasp!—herbivore? Zuill’s story is a playful delight, but the warm, digitally colored ink illustrations steal the show. Regina’s expressions are priceless, and she becomes a fully realized character in only a few pages, her emotive eyes flashing with glee, rage, or panic in turn. Young readers (and their adults) will laugh out loud at the relatable protagonist and her adorable antics. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.