Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 05/15/2016 In the tradition of “The 12 Days of Christmas” and “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly,” this cumulative counting and rhyming book is a delight to read aloud. Narrating the story is a boy monkey (clad in a baseball cap and binoculars) who lives on a tiny volcanic island in the middle of the sea, “just big enough for me and Annie McPhee”—a girl monkey wearing a smart red bow. A quick survey of the island proves this untrue, however, and the monkeys soon spot two little dogs hopping about like frogs, followed by “three perky pigs all wearing wigs,” four frumpy hens with pens, and so on. The pattern continues through baby geese, black bears, snails, sheep, penguins, and, finally, 10 “rascally rats skipping in hats.” The illustrations add to the fun, showing fanciful tropical foliage and a spitting volcano along with the cartoonlike animals. Readers who enjoy the cumulative rhyme may also want to check out Deborah Lee Rose’s The 12 Days of Kindergarten (2003). - Copyright 2016 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 06/01/2016 PreS-K—This amusing cumulative counting tale about two curious monkeys—"Me and Annie McPhee, who was no bigger than me"—begins on a seemingly deserted island. The tranquility is disturbed by an ever-increasing list of ridiculous, and always rhyming, animals that come out from their hiding places to frolic. Dunrea counts from "two wee dogs who thought they were frogs" up to "ten rascally rats skipping in hats," and the mayhem grows until Annie McPhee just can't take it anymore. The repetitive and rhyming text bounces along, inviting readers to chime in at the end of each phrase. The repetition is used well to introduce and reinforce the wonderful adjectives and verbs peppered throughout, such as frumpy and sleek, chomping, and creeping. The jewel-tone cartoon illustrations elevate the text by adding a layer of humor; "three perky pigs all wearing wigs" are even more hilarious because of their colorful grass skirts and their shockingly bright rocker wigs. With a combination of graphite pencil and digital techniques, Hillenbrand uses movement and excellent composition to help readers navigate the increasingly chaotic illustrations. His textured and playful art is chock-full of great details, making this work ripe for rereading. Observant kids will revel in the visual clues that foreshadow the animal to follow. VERDICT Preschoolers and kindergartners will delight in this two-in-one cumulative counting tale that's just right for reading aloud.—Amy Seto Forrester, Denver Public Library - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.