Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/03/2024 PreS-Gr 2—Ernest was born into an amazing family in a great home. "Nice people, he thought. What a good family to be born into. The only thing that would make it better would be some elephants." Very quickly, Ernest discovers that he does not enjoy smiling, but he is still very happy. His parents, in their efforts to make him smile, take him to fairs and even purchase an elephant, all to no avail. Ernest insists that he can be happy without smiling, expressing his dislike for the act. Despite this, his parents reassure him of their love, while the elephant simply requests a larger bed. The droll narration maintains an ideal balance; readers will be convinced of Ernest's sincerity and he's a very pleasant person. Thanks to his parents, he discovers that the world is full of neat stuff—ice cream parlors, the seaside, roller derby—as well as people who are kind of loud and who overdo it on smiling. Children will delight in the illustrations and the challenge of spotting hidden elephants, although the deeper message may be too complex for them to grasp fully. Books like Yangsook Choi's The Name Jar and David Shannon's A Bad Case of Stripes also offer explorations of individuality; why not have a triple-header story hour? VERDICT A charming book, recommended for larger library collections.—Kirsten Caldwell - Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 04/15/2024 Ernest has plenty to be happy about. He just isn’t interested in smiling. He tried it, once, but “it was not for him.” His parents coaxed. “They kept asking for smiles. It was a little exhausting to tell you the truth.” When his exasperated father asks what Ernest wants, Ernest ventures, “An elephant?” Marcia makes Ernest a delightful companion, but still—no smiles. Instead, an occasional “little jig” is how Ernest expresses happiness. “You don’t have to change, but for the people you love you do what you can.” Newbery Honor Book author and National Book Award winner Horvath champions the art of compromise, and this general premise bears a solid resemblance to Skylaar Amann’s Smile, Sophia (2022). Kulikov (Six Dots, 2016) sneakily works elephants into exaggerated mixed-media portraits reminiscent of Corinna Luyken’s masterful work in Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse (2018), and the search-and-find element will entertain young readers. The overall effect speaks more to an adult audience, but those trying to differentiate emotions from their expression will appreciate having this as an example. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.