Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 12/01/2023 PreS-Gr 1—On Valentine's Day, Kami wants to show her cat Flubby that she loves him. She tries it all—a card, a gift, and flowers—but nothing's right. This story treats the earliest readers to simple prose and appealing pictures that facilitate decoding skills. The author uses onomatopoeia in the story—"Achoo!"—and the pictures are clearly structured, with a graphic flair that includes thought bubbles and works in tandem to illustrate the story's action with a bright palette. The narrative presents the true nature of Valentine's Day as a holiday of love and care. Although the book does not discuss exactly why Flubby doesn't like Valentine's Day, the story's plot structure, unique presentation, and accessible text present an authentic holiday story to young readers. VERDICT A simple, fun text for the earliest of independent readers.—Jennifer Strattman - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.