Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 05/01/2025 K-Gr 2—An early graphic novel with sweet charm that young readers will find endearing. This new offering in the series follows Little Mouse, a character previously seen in Eisner Award-winning Smith's Little Mouse Gets Ready. It is time for Little Mouse to go to bed. After the lights are turned out, Little Mouse sees a shadowy figure in the open closet door. Addressing a well-known fear in a way that is not too scary for children, the young mouse decides to don a Supermouse cape and face the danger. The expressive panels enhance the story and will aid those who are just beginning their reading journey in identifying words. VERDICT A well-crafted graphic novel about facing one's fears, recommended for early reader or graphic novel sections.—Allison McLean - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 06/01/2025 Little Mouse got dressed in Smith’s first early reader comic (Little Mouse Gets Ready, 2009), and this time the adorable rodent is getting ready for bed, removing his Supermouse cape and settling down to sleep when he spots something eerie in his closet. He’s scared, but putting his red cape back on helps him find the bravery to investigate the shadow shape himself. Smith’s graceful ink lines with meticulous cross hatching do a superb job of capturing emotion in small moments. Being spooked by a shadow at night is an experience most kids can relate to, and the gentle story emphasizes that bravery doesn’t mean you stop being scared—it’s very clear that Little Mouse is still scared, but choosing to face his fears is what saves the day. Rich, saturated colors and large format panels (no more than two per page and often just one) have more depth than those in a typical early reader comic, but their scale makes them roomy enough for emerging readers to easily discern key actions and emotions. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.