Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 08/01/2025 Readers may recall the unfortunate incident in Egg Marks the Spot (2021), which saw a newly hatched dinosaur slurp up a construction rat, who was a member of Rat Guild 73 and the mother of now-orphaned Zephyr and Zero. In this book, Skunk and Badger, feeling responsible, take in the “pocket-sized” youngsters only to discover that rat-raising is not as simple as they expected. The first two weeks go smoothly, but then growth spurts, tool use, spontaneity, and nocturnal antics start injecting chaos into the pair’s well-ordered life. As Badger scrambles to meet a fast-approaching deadline for his Rock Hound Weekly article and Skunk despairs over the state of his kitchen, help arrives in the form of Augusta and her fellow chickens. Timberlake’s character work shines as a variety of creatures pops in and out of the story and Skunk and Badger are pushed to their limits. Kids besting adults is always funny, and Zephyr and Zero do it better than most. Sweetness underscores all, as the community rallies around their care and Badger discovers he might love something more than rocks. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/30/2026 Gr 2–5—A charming installment in the series featuring the lovable duo Skunk and Badger. In this newest adventure, the pair take on their biggest challenge yet: raising the mischievous rat twins, Zeno and Zephyr. What follows is a whirlwind of chaos, care, and comedy as Skunk and Badger quickly learn that parenting is far more complicated than they expected. The book shines with its hilarious humor and imaginative storytelling. From the twins' antics to Skunk and Badger's well-meaning, but often clumsy, attempts at responsibility, the story is packed with laugh-out-loud moments that will keep young readers entertained. At the same time, the book highlights the power of friendship and teamwork, showing how patience, cooperation, and support can help overcome even the messiest situations. The writing is especially strong and well suited for younger readers. The author uses repetition as a literary device to reinforce key moments and jokes, which helps capture children's attention and keep them engaged. This technique makes the story easy to follow while also building anticipation and humor, making it an excellent choice for children who are reading chapter books but aren't quite ready for longer novels. Klassen's stunning, high-contrast black-and-white artwork gives the book a classic feel. VERDICT Its whimsical nature, playful sarcasm, and light adventure make this chapter book especially appealing to young readers who enjoy animal stories with personality and warmth.—Jessica Calaway - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.