Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 02/01/2015 *Starred Review* When the Bunny family find an adorable baby wolf on their doorstep, Mama and Papa are thrilled. Voice-of-reason Dot says, “He’s going to eat us all up!” And she keeps saying it as Wolfie gets bigger. And bigger! When he eats all the carrots, his parents send him (dressed in a large pink bunny suit) and Dot down to the store, and for a moment, it looks as if her prediction is about to come true—at least where she is concerned. But it’s not Dot Wolfie is staring at. It’s Bear, who, as it turns out, is very hungry and ready to eat Wolfie, pink suit and all. Dot to the rescue! She gets the drop on Bear, who hightails it out of there. Then—oh my goodness!—Wolfie pounces on Dot. Was she right after all? Nope, it’s only to give her a hug. This gets all the elements of the successful picture book just right: a familiar scenario (sibling rivalry), a scary adversary, a display of courage, and a happy ending. And then there’s the art! OHora’s unique acrylic illustrations have the look and feel of woodcuts. Big and bold, with strong yet simple shapes, the pictures are also intimate enough to capture Wolfie’s goofy smile when he gets his pink bunny outfit, and the frightened but fierce expression on Dot’s face. A crowd-pleaser for crowds big and small. - Copyright 2015 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 02/01/2015 PreS-Gr 1—When the Bunny family finds a little bundle of joy—that happens to be a wolf—on their doorstep, they are smitten.Well, except for little Dot, who exclaims repeatedly, "He's going to eat us all up!!" Even her friends agree, but Dot's parents are captivated by the adorable baby—he's a good eater, sleeper, and drooler, they note. As Wolfie grows, Dot's worry is compounded with annoyance as he follows her everywhere in typical little brother-style. Having to go to the store for more carrots with Wolfie (who ate them all up!) makes Dot less than pleased, and she is on guard lest he tries to eat her. The fact that Wolfie is wearing an endearing bunny outfit does not make her feel better, but it does make the bear at the market think that Wolfie would make a yummy meal. Rather than run for safety, Dot terrifies the bear with tough talk of eating him up and saves Wolfie, who thanks her by pouncing on her with a big hug. The now-bonded siblings walk home hand in hand. The text is seamlessly integrated with the illustrations and uses various fonts to good effect. OHora's acrylic paintings are the heart of this tale. They clearly show everyone's feelings from fear to sadness to joy to anger to love and everything in between, and there are brilliant bits of humor and whimsy added to the mix. VERDICT A great book for one-on-one sharing that's also sure to be a storytime hit.—Catherine Callegari, Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH - Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 04/01/2015 When the Bunny family takes in the wolf pup left in a basket on their doorstep, daughter Dot predicts doom: “He’s going to eat us all up!” The Bunny parents continue to dote on their new offspring as Wolfie grows; despite his devotion to his big (but now much smaller than he is) sister, however, Dot remains unconvinced. When Wolfie is seized by a hungry bear at the grocery store, though, fierce Dot rises in defense of her brother. “Let him go!” Dot insists. “Or . . . I’ll eat you all up! . . . I’ll start on your toes,” she pragmatically threatens, sending the frightened bear scurrying. The story of the sibling who’s opposed to the new baby until an outsider threatens him isn’t new (see Jenkins’ That New Animal, BCCB 3/05), but Dot’s bunny ferocity adds a particularly enjoyable touch to the saga, as do stealthy touches of wit (Dot finally bails midway on her repeated prediction of Wolfie’s eventual savagery). OHora’s smoothly painted figures give his scenes the trim regularity of digital art, while the still and solid linework, especially in the rhythmic hatching marks, suggests linocuts; an unusual palette draws on retro favorites mustard and avocado but livens them up with vivid shots of bright pink. There’s a touch of folklore here that will please fans of that genre, and this title could partner effectively with Chen’s delightful look at another animal adoptee, Guji Guji (BCCB 9/04). DS - Copyright 2015 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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