Bound To Stay Bound

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Bulletin for the Center... - 09/01/2016 Now that children’s literature has shifted fairly decisively from fearing sharks to understanding them, there’s an opening for a new Horrible Predator of the Sea. Fleming’s worthy candidate, the giant squid, is all the scarier for lack of scientific information about its behavior, and there’s plenty of nightmare-inducing possibilities to extrapolate from the known facts. Tentacles and arms writhe upward into the murky background of the first pages while “deep in the cold, cold dark, creatures, strange and fearsome, lurk.” Those tentacles quickly get right to work: “They surround their thrashing meal. They latch on with powerful sucker-studded clubs.” Then there are the “saw-like teeth,” the “slithering arms,” the “terrifying tongue.” Tiny squid hatch from eggs and squirt ink to evade a barracuda (just as a grown squid in an earlier spread evaded a sperm whale . . . this time), then there’s a foldout of an enormous squid, and then “It’s gone.” While there’s a paucity of fact about the giant squid that limits the information, the book treats the mystery itself as part of the fun. An appended diagram labels and explains some of the features that appear piecemeal in Rohmann’s luscious, mysterious underwater scenes, but the head itself is not labeled, and the flaps that aid its propulsion are not indicated. Some of the confusion in terms of size-the discussion of two-inch hatchlings is accompanied by pictures of longer squid-is clarified in the author’s endnote, as Fleming explains how few confirmed sightings there have been of live giant squid, and that much of what is known comes from squid parts that have washed ashore or have been retrieved from the stomachs of sperm whale predators. And come to think of it, that’s pretty creepy too. A bibliography and lists of online resources and children’s books are included. EB - Copyright 2016 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

School Library Journal - 08/01/2016 Gr 2–4—Through engrossing, informative verse, Fleming artfully introduces readers to a mysterious sea monster that glides through the deepest and darkest reaches of the ocean. Although some species of giant squid are as large as a bus, these animals are rarely spotted by people. Scientists have been able to gather clues and assemble a body of knowledge about the unusual cephalopod from pieces washed up on shore or found by fishermen. In a similar fashion, Fleming reveals characteristics of the squid piece by piece, beginning with a description of its 30-foot-long tentacles. She shares what little is known about the squid and raises many yet-to-be answered questions: Why does the squid change colors? Where does the female lay her eggs? As the narrative reaches a conclusion, the squid jets away from a predatory barracuda and disappears into a murky cloud of ink. Rohmann's full-color paintings are eerily atmospheric. Bit by bit, each illustration focuses on a particular part of the sea creature until the entire squid is portrayed in a dramatic foldout spread. VERDICT Curious readers will be inspired by the engaging text and stunning illustrations to learn more about the giant squid. An essential purchase for science collections.—Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 07/01/2016 Against a deep blue background, tentacles creep from the bottom of the page, drifting through the water and winding around a passing fish. Fleming spares no detail: in clear, straightforward text, she relays how the eight limbs of the giant squid are lined with “suckers ringed with saw-like teeth / that rip into skin and hold on tight.” In a close-up of the squid’s birdlike beak, she refers to the “terrifying tongue-like ribbon of muscle” inside the mouth. Rohmann’s oil paintings focus on one aspect of the squid at a time. Double-page close-ups are excellently detailed, and the dark color palette adds to the eerie, deep-sea feel. Amazingly, as Fleming says in a final author’s note, people have more photos of the surface of Mars than of the giant squid, and that elusive nature is captured by focusing on only specific parts of the beast at any one time (except for one dramatic foldout four-page spread). A final diagram and a list of further reading add a scientific bent to this visually stunning exploration of a mysterious creature. - Copyright 2016 Booklist.

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