Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 06/01/2017 Meet Truly: she’s not your traditional storybook princess. Addressing her readers directly, she proclaims her likes, her skills, her talents, her successes. A born leader, there is nothing this brown-skinned girl can’t do, whether it’s climbing mountains, finishing a root beer float, dancing to the moon, or racing fast cars. The illustrations, in soft pastels, show her in constant action, complete with sparkly hair and big moves. Her animal pals (bunnies, penguins, a pup, and a cat) add to the charm. The language is equally energizing: Truly describes herself as focused, fierce, flexible, studious. The text defies predictability by changing the pattern of rhymed lines, disrupting a possible singsong pattern, and the double-page spreads are interspersed with busier single pages containing multiple images. All reinforce her busyness and energy. The books ends with a direct statement to readers, reminding them of their potential. Pair with Andrea Beaty’s Rosie Revere, Engineer (2013) for another story about a strong, independent, capable girl. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 08/01/2017 PreS-Gr 1—With a strong message of empowerment, this book is a simple story about a little girl of color who can dream and do anything she puts her mind to. A continuation of the series, this installment finds Truly sailing the seas, engineering a teddy bear machine, parachuting, and tying her shoes. The message of "I am special—and so are you" is sweet and to the point. Soft, pastel illustrations highlight the simple rhyming text. VERDICT A general purchase for libraries serving primary grades, this title is sure to become a quick favorite with readers of the series.—Jasmine L. Precopio, Fox Chapel Area School District, Pittsburgh - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.