Bound To Stay Bound

Other - 03/17/2025 The highs of unruly behavior meet the lows of air travel in this tale starring a rambunctious but undeniably adorable blue rhino and a harried kid, portrayed with brown skin, who ignores the book’s titular admonition. Working in cut paper colored with oil pastels and acrylics, Roxas (the Adventures of Team Pom series) creates zippy dimensional images that show how the rhino, depicted with a toothy smile and unstoppable energy, transforms each step of the journey into a misadventure. In crisply scanning rhymes that distinguish this authorial children’s book debut, Lewis cites the rhino’s overpacking ("anthills, horn grease, a trapeze"), grooming his toes at an airport restaurant, and treating airplane seats like playground equipment. And yet, once the duo arrives at their destination, the friendship suggests its worth: the rhino proves the perfect companion during a particularly nerve-wracking roller-coaster ride and while sharing an ice cream treat. It’s a new perspective on travel mishaps for readers of any age: rhino-level chaos or no, sweet moments can make for a memorable time. Background characters are represented with various skin tones. Ages 4-8. Author’s agent: Lori Steel, Raven Quill Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. (June) - Copyright 2025

School Library Journal - 06/01/2025 PreS-Gr 1—In this playful rhyming book, a young girl discovers just how difficult airplane travel can be when she ignores her own advice and brings along her jumbo, blue rhino. Like a toddler with few manners who thinks only of fun and food, the blue rhino causes chaos in the airplane and in the airport. The stanchions, luggage carousel, and airplane seats will never be the same. Luckily, the girl and her rhino finally arrive at their destination, quickly squeezing in time to enjoy a play, a scuba diving class, a roller-coaster ride, and a sundae. Unfortunately, on the return trip, they have to parachute from the plane—and only the rhino looks like he is having fun. Cut paper illustrations perfectly capture the hilarious high jinks, and the expressions on the young girl's face as well as on the rhino's face are ever changing and expressively zany. Detracting from all this is that the rhymes do not always flow smoothly. VERDICT Children will love the antics of the rhino and parents will recognize and relate to the perils and pitfalls of travel; this makes for a serviceable cautionary lesson on travel.—Sally James - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.