Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 06/01/2025 K-Gr 3—Perla the dog has two superpowers. First, she is loved by everyone who meets her, and second, she can roar like a lion. Perla and her owner Nico Rico were the first ones to spot the Pirate when he first moved in. They knew he was a pirate because he had the name PIRATES on his shirt, rode a Vespa, and had a guitar case. Nico's sister Liz wants to get on the Vespa, but their dad doesn't approve. After gathering magic dust that a wizard left behind, and of course using Perla's first superpower, Nico and Perla befriend the Pirate. They hear his rock band, The Pirates, practice. Dad and the whole neighborhood hate the music, but Liz loves it. All changes when the Pirate comes to the rescue. He and Perla work together to find a missing Nico, after a dark and rainy day made Mom late to pick him up from school. A charming tale about a special dog that will entertain readers. The story's message is a simple one: we shouldn't let our differences divide us or first impressions be stumbling blocks to friendships. Perla is effervescent in both editions. This is a great text to use in classrooms for teaching reading skills like cause and effect, problem and solution, and inference and characterization. VERDICT Include these in story time collections and picture book shelves. —Melanie Ortega - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.