Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 06/01/2017 Gr 3–6—Roy follows her masterly Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California's Farallon Islands with a stunning look at how a newborn elephant matures into a capable member of the herd. The work adroitly covers anatomy, environment, family life, and other topics. Roy emphasizes how elephants, with their "it takes a village" approach to rearing young, rely on their intricate social structure for survival. Large illustrations of a calf romping, splashing, and marching with the herd are interspersed with captivating diagrams and smaller images that expand on the lucid text, making clever use of visual metaphors (for example, a picture of a pocketknife demonstrates the many ways an elephant uses its trunk). The young elephant cuts a cuddly figure, but Roy never anthropomorphizes. Her deftly shaded, earth-tone illustrations effectively bring to life everything from the dusty African savanna to the wrinkled skin of the elephants. In-depth back matter lists age-appropriate websites, films, and books. The scientific articles Roy cites and her author's note about her trip to Kenya are a testament to her meticulous research. VERDICT Though materials on pachyderms are plentiful, this stellar addition stands out from the crowd; a must-have for collections serving elementary school students.—Mahnaz Dar, School Library Journal - Copyright 2017 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 07/01/2017 *Starred Review* Roy’s skill in bringing meaningful nonfiction to a young audience was recognized with her Sibert Honor Book Neighborhood Sharks (2014). Her outstanding new offering allows readers to walk alongside the newest addition to an African elephant herd and learn just what it takes to be an elephant. Stylized watercolors and scientific diagrams mingle on the page as Roy reveals a baby female elephant’s journey to adulthood through a mixture of simple narrative and more detailed, scholarly text. Told through a series of “lessons,” the book starts with the simple act of walking and zooms in on the elephant’s leg bones and fatty, shock-absorbing heel pad. Now able to move with the herd, the baby takes in the many smells around her, and Roy unlocks the secrets of her trunk, which is not only a super sniffer but also a strong and versatile appendage that gets likened to a Swiss Army knife. As the book progresses, Roy holds readers’ attention with her approachable writing style and astonishing statistics. Diet, communication, herd dynamics, cooling techniques, and charge attacks (first learned by playfully chasing birds) are all touched upon. Roy also explains elephants’ importance as a keystone species, and in a heartfelt author’s note, she speaks to humanity’s impact on and responsibility toward this magnificent animal. An exceptional and arresting resource for the primary grades. - Copyright 2017 Booklist.

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