Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/01/2025 Gr 1–3—Bulldozer, who lives with his human parents in an everyday human world, will be starting school. He is very worried about it and wonders if he will fit in. When he tries to find ways to get out of going, his parents, along with his friend and neighbor Millie, reply with encouragement. At school the first day, Bulldozer makes a number of clumsy mistakes and fears that he will never fit in. The day is redeemed when the opportunity to help his classmates build a clubhouse-castle calls for Bulldozer's strength and skill, and he is rewarded with feelings of pride and belonging. The use of a bulldozer as a protagonist seems appropriate in scenes where clumsy mistakes, misunderstandings, and shyness may make a child feel different and out of place in a new situation. This deceptively simple story successfully addresses the fears and worries of young children and offers positive solutions that will encourage the resilience needed to overcome them. The five chapters use simple vocabulary that makes the story accessible to young readers. A collection of creative word play activities in the back helps students build and enhance their reading skills. This book was reviewed from an uncorrected proof with unfinished illustrations; the finished illustrations will likely match the art in the first book, which included simple black-and-white line drawings shaded in orange, yellow, and gray that beautifully captured the heart of the story. VERDICT Sure to be a hit with vehicle lovers, this engaging title for early chapter book readers cleverly uses a bulldozer child protagonist to address social fears about new situations and friendships. Highly recommended.—Carole Phillips - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.