Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 09/01/2018 PreS-Gr 1—Monty, a young frog, appeals to readers for help in falling asleep. He claims that he's been awake for hours and can't settle down. If he doesn't get some sleep, his mother won't let him take part in the annual boat races in the morning. He desperately wants to go, but his excitement and anxiety are not helping the situation. He tries a couple of commonplace strategies such as counting sheep and reading a book, both of which appear to be suggested by readers—"Ohhh, did you say "sheep"? Like counting sheep? Okay, I'll try… One… two… three…" but neither recommendation works. It's not until he attempts a relaxation technique his schoolteacher taught him that he slowly sinks into slumber. Large, watercolor-and-ink cartoon illustrations in predominantly blue, green, and gold fully cover each page and make this story practical for storytime and one-on-one sharing. VERDICT. This zany offering is not a typical bedtime story; the teacher's relaxation method may be useful for even the youngest listener at the end of day. Recommended.—Mayann H. Owen, Oak Creek Public Library, WI - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.