Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 10/01/2025 PreS-Gr 3— Coco, the only human in the book, is best friends with Bear, a bear. The baby deer is named Baby Deer and the porcupine is, surprisingly, named Quilber. Coco is a terrible listener, which leads Bear to get frustrated, causing an argument between the two. Compassionate Quilber helps them resolve their conflict. The watercolor and digital illustrations are striking. All the animals look like they shop from a woodland L. L. Bean catalog. Endpapers are intricate folk-art inspired scenes, like an image from a Jan Brett story. Bear wears a red scarf and Coco red hat and boots, making the characters stand out from the rest. VERDICT A typical fight-and-make-up story is elevated by high-level art. A fine addition for larger collections. - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.