Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 04/17/2026 K-Gr 3—The creator of The Very Impatient Caterpillar returns with another wildly funny, over-the-top adventure told in deceptively straightforward procedural language. The earnest narrator explains how to make a jelly sandwich—but after each "simple" step, the plan spirals into glorious absurdity. Need two slices of bread? That apparently requires a trip to the grocery store for an orange traffic cone, scuba flippers, and a yellow inner tube to disguise oneself as a duck and retrieve bread from a well-meaning pond visitor. Each step grows increasingly elaborate, even as it's introduced as "super simple" or "the least complicated step of all." Burach's signature energetic, neon-bright illustrations are packed with comedic details, such as the protagonist strolling past the bread aisle to gather her "essential" materials. The contrast between the increasingly complex tasks, which include bathing a dog and training a hamster, and the supposed least complicated step will delight young audiences and invite read-aloud dramatics. The back matter extends the fun with additional ridiculous sandwich-making methods and space for readers to invent their own delightfully convoluted processes. VERDICT This riotous celebration of imagination is a perfect mentor text for "how-to" writing units, providing a much-needed dose of levity to the genre. A must-have for fans of outrageous humor and interactive read-alouds.—Heidi Dechief - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.