Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 01/01/2017 PreS-Gr 2—Raisin the cow has a good life. All of the bigger cows fuss over her because she's the smallest one in the herd, and she likes that. Everything is going well until changes begin to happen. Raisin doesn't like change, and this one is the worst. One Thursday, Raisin's mother has a new baby calf. All of the other cows are very excited…except for Raisin. Not only is she no longer the smallest and the cutest but the older cows are paying more attention to her younger brother than they do to her. Her mother does her best to include the upset little cow. She asks her to help feed the new calf, but Raisin doesn't want any part of it. When her mother inquires what he should be named, Raisin suggests the name of her least favorite day—Thursday. But something magical happens as thunder starts to rumble across the sky. Raisin realizes that her brother dislikes the immense noise more than she does. Could she change and be the one to help her frightened little sibling? This is a successful book on many levels. The illustrations are appealing, and the characters are full of expression. This title will be helpful to parents who are introducing a new baby into a family and have young ones who might be having a difficult time adjusting to the situation. This story will also be beneficial for helping children who have a hard time dealing with change. VERDICT An appealing read-aloud for one-on-one and small group sharing; ideal for medium to large collections.—Barbara Spiri, Southborough Library, MA - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 01/01/2017 A calf named Raisin enjoys being the center of attention in her world: a herd of cows living across the fence from a drive-in theater screen. But when her mother gives birth again, all the cows gather around to coo and nuzzle her new brother. Neglected and dejected, Raisin retires to the fence to dwell on her misery and wait for the show. That evening, a thunderstorm cancels the movie and sends Raisin running back to the herd, where she finds an unexpectedly satisfying new role for herself: big sister. The story is just far enough removed from children’s experiences to give them some perspective and a possible approach to dealing with unwelcome changes. Written with empathy, a bit of drama, and touches of humor, the story reads aloud well. Day’s lively illustrations, created with pencil, ink, gouache, and watercolor, show up well from a distance and capture Raisin’s moods with satisfying precision. This appealing picture book offers a reassuring new slant on a timeless story. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.