Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 06/01/2022 K-Gr 4—This is a fascinating glimpse of what a bowhead whale might have seen over her lifetime in the last 200 years. The whale's story starts in her infancy—when she's still nursing from her mother and learning about all the things in the ocean around her, including ships. As her life continues, she becomes a mother and teaches her own calf about how to find food and avoid predators, such as humans. The book covers the impact of humans on whales through increased shipping traffic, oil drilling in the Arctic, and decreased sea ice. The authors include back matter, such a diagram of whale anatomy, information about other arctic animals, as well as information about the people who live in the Arctic, and provides readers with background, and ideas for further questions and research. Beautiful artwork offers a means for understanding the scale as well as the grandeur of the location. This would be an excellent introduction to a unit of Arctic study or a discussion of the impact of global climate change. VERDICT Narrative nonfiction at its best, helping readers understand the impact of global warming or even simply wildlife from a unique perspective.—Debbie Tanner - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 05/15/2022 Readers will meet a young bowhead calf and follow her on a 100-plus year journey through the Arctic as she learns how to break through ice and find food and reaches adulthood and bears her own calves. As the bowhead whale ages, the Arctic around her morphs. Small rowboats and sailboats become submarines and cargo and cruise ships. Oil rigs and drills appear, and the bowhead faces new dangers: hunting, warmer oceans, noise pollution, less sea ice, oil spills, and plastic pollution. Clear and well written, the text provides facts about the bowhead whale and the changing world around her, while the realistic illustrations provide a close-up look at the beautiful and increasingly dangerous Arctic. Back matter includes an author’s note, followed by informative text which provides additional information on how bowheads eat, their age, how they communicate, and the people who call the Arctic home. An excellent nonfiction picture book about a unique and beautiful creature and the dangers climate change is bringing. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.