Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 06/01/2017 Continuing the popular series that began with I Stink! (2002), the McMullans introduce a school bus that considers itself asmart, powerful, quick-thinking, safety-conscious, and reliable character. With a grin on its grill and a take-charge attitude, it clearly enjoys its work. This traditional yellow bus follows its route, pushes out the stop-sign paddle to halt traffic, loves its young passengers (each individually named), delivers them safely to school, and promises to be there later for the return trip. Though perhaps not the strongest entry in the McMullans’ series, this picture book has its charms. Preschoolers intrigued by school buses rolling around their neighborhoods will definitely be on board with the outside, inside, and cross-sectional views of this personified (and apparently driverless) vehicle, and kids intrigued by maps will enjoy tracing the bus’ route along bird’s-eye views. The watercolor illustrations create their own momentum, with quieter scenes introducing students and the route while the more exciting ones detail traffic snafus. Picture-book fun for school-bus fans. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 08/01/2017 PreS-Gr 2—Oozing confidence and energy, a big-eyed, grinning school bus describes his morning route, informing listeners that it "takes BRAINS to do my job—drive you to SCHOOL and keep you SAFE!" As with previous titles, the McMullans (I'm Brave!; I Stink!; I'm Cool!) infuse everyday activities with an infectious excitement bound to entice vehicle-loving youngsters. When the bus's lights flash amber, it means "Cars and trucks, SLO-O-O-OW DOWN!" And when the lights turn red and the bus's stop paddle pops out, he commands, "Everybody stop! And don't move till I quit flashing." When a sporty silver car doesn't heed the bus's warning to halt, a police car shows up—to the glee of the bus's passengers. After a closed lane brings traffic to a crawl, the bus keeps the bored kids from getting antsy with a pop quiz, alerts them about a bump in the road, and, at last, delivers them to school. Rendered in bold colors and fonts and rarely skimping on the exclamation points, the text is utterly exuberant, ideal for read-alouds. Though the vehicles have a goofy, cartoonish look, the watercolors are painterly and elegant, particularly those depicting the wide expanse of houses along the bus's route. VERDICT A perfect back-to-school storytime option, and a fun way to prepare children who are nervous about taking the school bus for the first time.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

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