Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 04/01/2026 In this fourth book in Bailey and Song's beginning chapter-book series, it is Henry’s turn to take care of the class garden, and he chooses his best friend Katie as his helper. But then a new girl, Ivy, joins their class, and Mrs. Tanaka sends her to help Katie and Henry. It turns out that Katie and Ivy already know each other from tumbling class, and now the two of them are laughing and working together in a way that makes Henry’s world turn upside down. Bailey’s crisp declarative sentences and precise vocabulary make this a perfect story for new readers, who will empathize with Henry’s struggles with jealousy and envy as he tries to navigate from a partnership to a trio. Song’s expressive watercolor-and-ink illustrations in grayscale with a touch of yellow support the story with humor and additional character development. This is a satisfying addition to the genre and will appeal to fans of classic literary friendships like Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad or Kevin Henkes’ Chester, Wilson, and Lilly. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 05/02/2026 Gr 1–3—Henry is so happy that he is chosen to be the class gardener for the week, and even happier that he gets to be with his best friend Katie while doing it. However, Henry's world is turned upside down when Katie turns out to have another friend, Ivy; he starts to feel like he is being pushed out of doing something he loves with someone he cares about. When there is an incident on the last day of garden duty, Henry learns that sometimes guessing and working with others can still be meaningful. Bailey has created yet another wonderful installment in her "Henry" series about a boy on the autism spectrum, this time with a focus on changes in plans and collaboration. The text is filled with first-grade vocabulary and some excellent garden-themed sight words. There are a few terms that might need to be explained, but the clear text paired with Song's illustrations on each page provide context clues that will help confused readers understand the story. Song's artwork is minimalistic in color (yellow and black to match beehives and the garden theme) while still being complex in context clues and emotions, even helping to show certain key elements that could not be demonstrated through text, such as the list of garden chores. Henry is cued Asian, and Katie is depicted with brown skin. VERDICT Bailey and Song have created another excellent addition to the beloved "Henry" series that fans and new readers alike are sure to enjoy.—Margaret Kennelly - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.