Bound To Stay Bound

Publishers Weekly - 04/27/2026 Time at home with "the sniffles" yields wild imaginings for the familiar-feeling child at the heart of Jeffers and Waldron’s madcap account. After Herbie’s parents say he can stay home from school, the excited child enjoys time in bed, breakfast in a couch fort, video games, and more, all before lunch. Wry, knowing prose captures the predictable emergence of boredom: "Although Herbie tried NOT to, he soon thought of school. He was mildly interested in the work he was avoiding." Soon, the protagonist expands upon what he may be missing, shifting rapidly from mundane possibilities (extra playtime, a loose pet) to more far-fetched alternatives that leave him yearning to return (a pirate invasion, aliens landing). Loosely inked mixed-media illustrations amplify the child’s flights of fancy with enlivening coloration. The restorative power of boredom cures all in this audacious tale. Background characters are depicted with various skin tones. Ages 4-8. (July) - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly used with permission.

School Library Journal - 06/01/2026 Gr 1–4—Herbie wakes up with the sniffles one morning, and his parents say he should stay home. Initially, Herbie is excited by the freedom of no school. He plays video games and builds forts while he's eating breakfast and watching TV, but by lunchtime, he's bored. He starts imagining what's happening at school without him. What if aliens invade? What if dinosaurs come? What if a dog runs down the corridor? Suddenly, school seems a lot more interesting! He even starts to miss his sister. When she gets home, he imagines that he sees a space helmet in her backpack, and then he's determined to go to school the next day. The vibrant artwork helps to bring Herbie's most far-fetched ideas to life and to clearly show the conundrum of a day off from school. The youngest readers may have trouble connecting to the text, but elementary-age students will be able to clearly identify with Herbie. Teachers might use this book as a mentor text for writing or drawing or talking about what readers would do on a day off school. VERDICT This is an enjoyable story to read and will resonate with young readers. An excellent choice for any picture book collection.—Debbie Tanner - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.