Bound To Stay Bound

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School Library Journal - 12/01/2016 PreS-Gr 1—DiPucchio and Robinson follow up Gaston, their book about a French bulldog in a family of poodles, with a tale about his pal Antoinette, the lone poodle in a litter of French bulldogs. Antoinette's siblings all have special talents, but she's not sure what makes her stand out. All that changes, however, the day that Antoinette's and Gaston's families meet up and Gaston's sister Ooh-La-La goes missing. Stalwart Antoinette refuses to give up in the face of adversity and soon proves herself. Expressive and energetic, Robinson's acrylic illustrations are full of details that establish the Parisian setting, from the Eiffel Tower in the background to the beret on a painter in the park, and the climactic moment takes place in the Louvre, on the famed Winged Victory of Samothrace statue. The images have a flat, almost childlike feeling, with the artist using simple shapes to portray characters and objects and convey a sense of whimsy that matches the text. The focus is the dogs, but many ethnically diverse people appear in the background. While this is a straightforward story, with the familiar message that sometimes it takes time to discover one's raison d'être, DiPucchio brings a lighthearted, arch quality to her narration, breaking the fourth wall here and there ("Busy aren't they? And ridiculously cute, but please don't tell them that."). Overall, this picture book is bound to have children rapt until the conclusion—and soon begging for another read. VERDICT Sure to be a storytime hit, especially where Gaston is popular.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 12/01/2016 *Starred Review* Fans of Gaston (2014) rejoice! Now it’s Antoinette’s turn to shine. Her mother, Mrs. Bulldog, is busy raising her four puppies. Each ridiculously cute pup has a special talent (cleverness, speed, strength), but Antoinette is still waiting to discover hers. One day at the park, where the pups are busily playing with Mrs. Poodles’ brood, little Ooh-La-La goes missing! The pups race all over the city, pursuing doggy tracks through the streets and sidewalks of Paris, dodging café tables, bicycles, and broomsticks. Unstoppable star tracker Antoinette strikes gold—she follows the runaway (who is chasing an orange butterfly) into the Louvre and saves her from a perilous fall from the top of the Winged Victory statue. The daring rescue is documented on witnesses’ cellphones as they shout “Trés bien!” In a humorous spread, the author asks, “Would you like to see that again?” and four close-ups repeat the breathtaking save. Later, Antoinette grows up to become a famous police dog. Robinson’s ability to portray diverse townspeople actively pursuing city life and gardens and buildings give special flavor to the chase, while a tantalizing glimpse of Mona Lisa’s hands adds to the fun for repeated readings. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.

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