Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/01/2025 K-Gr 2—What if a school was overflowing with kids and had no room for more? They could head off to dragon school, where students of every culture and age can attend the "best place in town!" The kids may be a little different than their flying, fire-breathing classmates, but all students will brush their teeth. Just when the kids and dragons start to think the other is "weird," they discover that dragon school is a place where no matter how different, all come together to teach one another new things and find ways to collaborate. This tale is told directly to readers in a second-person voice that is engaging and funny, easily finding a place among strong read-alouds and back-to-school books. Author and illustrator know their audience well and show it by asking questions of readers in the text and in the purposeful use of perspective in the illustrations, as well as the varied facial expressions on the kids and the dragons. The strong emotions that come with going to any school, let alone dragon school, are visible via a wide range of diverse students and paired with vibrant scenery that will attract a variety of readers. Digitally created dragons will become friendly favorites as readers enjoy the mix of silliness and seriousness of going to dragon school. VERDICT A must-purchase. This one will leave kids wanting more.—Danielle Schwessinger - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Other - 04/28/2025 Finding "no vacancy" at an overcrowded local school, a group of human children head to dragon school, instead-an adventurous-sounding conceit that belies a deeper takeaway about finding common ground. Second-person narration does its best to sell the institution’s fit ("You’ll take naps on huge piles of gold. Wow, so comfy!"), but the pupils grow incredulous when flying enters the curriculum, interrupting the narrator’s sales pitch: "Okay, real talk. When you go to dragon school, you might not fit in." Acknowledged concerns range from being deemed "too flightless" or seen as a potential "tasty snack." But the sly speaker soon offers a counter perspective, hinting at ways that the classmates might be able to work together ("It’s not like you could teach the dragons how to roast marshmallows and make s’mores") for an end result that leaves everyone looking forward to collaborative learning. Chua’s spray-textured digital renderings play up Campbell’s jolly humor. Human characters are portrayed with various abilities and skin tones. Ages 3-6. (June) - Copyright 2025

Booklist - 06/01/2025 A group of children cannot enroll in the local school because it is at capacity. The only choice? The local dragon school! As the kids tour the school, a narrator reviews what the kids can expect: fire-breathing classes, napping on piles of gold, and learning to polish their scales. Reaching the flying lesson, a humorous realization strikes—the kids lack wings. The kids don’t eat live crustaceans or (literal) fireballs. Come to think of it, the dragons may want to snack on the kids. The narrator begins to discourage the kids from enrolling when a new realization dawns. Maybe the kids could teach the dragons a thing or two, like the art of making s’mores or pillow forts. Working together, the kids and dragons could have a lot of fun. The bright illustrations convey the humor of the text. The dragons and kids pictured come in different shapes, sizes, and colors and possess various abilities. A wonderful, humorous celebration of diversity and sharing our differences. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.