Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 04/01/2022 Gr 1–4—Sir Ladybug and his pals Pell and Sterling are called to a quest to save a caterpillar from being eaten by a black-capped chickadee. Unfortunately, the chickadee is hungry and wants to eat someone, so it's up to Sir Ladybug to use his baking skills to whip up a life-changing lemon cake and save the bug buddies from becoming lunch. Themes of resilience, friendship, and bravery will delight early independent readers and have them cheering for these friends. Some vocabulary may be challenging for the younger end of the audience, however context clues, illustrations, and the occasional explanation should help readers comprehend the story and stretch their vocabulary. The muted illustrations include a lot of white space and are welcoming for early readers, especially those just starting to delve into independent reading. The jokes peppered throughout are a nice touch as well. VERDICT This funny friendship story is an excellent offering for young readers learning to navigate graphic novels independently. A recommended purchase for most collections.—Ellen Conlin - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 03/15/2022 *Starred Review* Geisel medalist Tabor has produced another winner with this darling adventure starring garden-variety critters. It opens dramatically as a caterpillar’s phone call is cut off with a cry of “MONSTER!!!” and then cuts to a field of hardworking ants, to whom a roly-poly is speaking. The latter is Pell, herald and best friend of Sir Ladybug, a bashful but noble beetle. The two storylines intersect when the caterpillar’s stag beetle friend dashes onto the scene looking for someone to rescue his pal. Off they go, along with Sterling (Sir Ladybug’s snail squire and other best friend) to confront the monster, which turns out to be a hungry chickadee. Told in four short chapters divided by comedic interludes, this graphic novel works wonderfully well for both emergent and independent readers. The language is playful and humorous, and it’s easy to follow the flow of the panels and speech-bubble dialogue. Simple but adorable line-drawings, such as the diagram of Sir Ladybug's knightly outfit, are splashed with accent colors and fun details. A truly incredible spread shows the interior of Sterling’s shell using a cutaway that reveals three floors of furnished rooms, a spiral staircase, and chandelier (“So this is why snails are so slow!” observes the stag beetle). Gentle action leads the story to a very sweet conclusion that will leave kids eager for future adventures. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.