Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 12/01/2021 This search story will remind many readers of the Caterpillar’s question to Alice—“Who are you?”—which totally flummoxes her, and it does the same to the tiny animal who is asked “Wutaryoo?” by every other animal she meets in the jungle. Wutaryoo looks as if she was put together by committee, having a cat-like face, a squirrel-like tail, and backwards-facing elephantine ears. She lives alone in a hole and has no idea where she came from. The other animals, though, regale Wutaryoo and any animal within earshot with their own origins. Wutaryoo embarks on a long journey to find her roots, meeting strange creatures along the way, and when she gets back, she still doesn’t have a backstory, but she has a tale that awes the rest of the animals. Through the highly entertaining origin stories here, aided by color-drenched digital illustrations, Wutaryoo’s realization that you are the story you live may be especially relevant to adopted, foster, and donor-conceived children. - Copyright 2021 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 01/01/2022 PreS-Gr 3—Wutaryoo is unlike any other animal in her habitat; in fact, she is so unique that neither she nor her friends can quite determine what kind of animal she is. Her appearance is a combination of physical traits of other animals, which heightens the mystery of her identity. Unlike Wutaryoo, other animals in the kingdom can provide a name, where they are from, and how they arrived at their shared home at a particular point in time. Although she is saddened by her lack of knowledge, Wutaryoo embarks on a journey of discovery in which she learns the folklore, ancestry, and origin story of animals around the world, creating her own story in the process. McGruder's (How to Find a Fox) watercolor illustrations and generous use of earthy colors are as varied as the strange and wonderful creatures Wutaryoo encounters. Older, more discerning readers may identify several possible interpretations of Wutaryoo's story, while all will get the message that they have the power to create their own story and define who they are. VERDICT A warmhearted tale of the journey to self-discovery, this is recommended for school and public libraries serving children.—Tamela Chambers - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.