Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 12/15/2019 Barton’s energetic day-in-the-life story of an unlikely pair of friends, Fire Truck and Dragon, teaches young readers quite literally to look beyond a book’s cover. While the title and jacket imply a battle between the two powerhouses, the amicable story is anything but that. Although the children in the book wish to see an epic fight go down, Fire Truck and Dragon defy stereotypes and proudly flaunt their friendship, reminding onlookers that not only do they get along swimmingly but they also have many hidden talents that shouldn’t be overlooked: they enjoy cooking together, attending and participating in social functions, fostering creative hobbies, and, most important, sharing time with each other and the neighborhood kids. McCloskey’s vibrant illustrations implement a striking primary-color palette with expressive characters and fun, roughshod line work to match the liveliness of the plot. This book teaches readers to appreciate differences, value unlikely and unexpected friendships, and be proud of themselves and their loved ones for all their successes. - Copyright 2019 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/01/2020 PreS-Gr 2—Despite the two titular characters going head-to-head as depicted on the cover, the fire truck and the dragon are actually good friends. The title page spread reveals that the main characters are having a good laugh at the expense of a family of onlookers who have preconceived notions about what fire trucks and dragons are capable of doing. They are a winning team at campfires; with the help of his headlights and a flashlight, dragon creates a super shadow bunny on the tent wall at night. Meanwhile, both parents and baby appear baffled and disappointed that their marshmallows remain untoasted. On a hot summer day, Fire Truck provides snow cones, and on a cold, wintry night Dragon is right there with blankets. Registering the family's mounting frustration, the friends decide to give the people what they want: "Fire Truck vs. Dragon!!!" Anticipatory smiles quickly vanish as the friends face off…in a staring contest. Still, there is some redemption in the end though much is left to the imagination. The vibrant pencil-and-watercolor cartoon illustrations were edited in Photoshop and feature the radiant red truck and his bright blue friend in a variety of surprising activities; the little family's responses to them are hilarious and mirror the readers' sentiments. VERDICT This companion to Barton's Shark vs. Train is not only good fun, but also shows children that people with differences can still be friends.—Barbara Auerbach, Cairo Public Library, NY - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.