Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/01/2025 Gr 1–5—Tucker is a spirited dog with unceasing energy and an insatiable appetite for play. When he is returned to the animal shelter one too many times and labeled troublesome, he catches the eye of Laura, who suspects he may be just the kind of trouble she needs. Laura puts him to the test, training him over time to recognize and locate specific natural scents and rewarding him with play. She then travels with Tucker first to Hawaii, then to China, Chile, Myanmar, Zambia, and beyond. In each location, Tucker is tasked with following his nose to find invasive species for removal, endangered animals for protection, and animal scat for study by scientists, ultimately showing remarkable skill in his new role: "When he finds his target, everyone celebrates—whether he's in the field or helping teach people about conservation. Best of all, he has a forever home. Where he almost never gets into trouble." The watercolor illustrations capture Tucker's energy and personality, as well as his training and work in the field; human characters are depicted in a variety of skin tones. Back matter includes additional information about conservation dogs and the real-life dogs who inspired Tucker's story. VERDICT A fascinating look at a lesser-known field for working dogs and a surefire hit for a fictional tale that has uses for both cross-curricular connections and young dog enthusiasts.—Lauren Strohecker - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 02/01/2025 At the animal shelter, Tucker was the “trouble dog.” People adopted him, but they soon returned him because he was strong, rambunctious, and destructive when cooped up indoors. A woman named Laura was looking for a dog that was smart and energetic and had an excellent sense of smell. Despite the staff’s warnings, she took Tucker home with her and trained him to become a conservation dog. He learned to follow the scents of invasive plants and animals. Now biologists from around the world hire Laura and Tucker to help them find invasive species that they plan to study or remove to restore an ecosystem to a healthy balance of native animals and plants. Some of the qualities that had made Tucker a troublesome house pet now help him to excel. While the characters and events are fictional, Tucker’s story is based on the experiences of two actual conservation dogs. In a series of expressive watercolor illustrations, Day captures the body language of both human and canine characters. An appealing picture book celebrating the contributions of conservation dogs. - Copyright 2025 Booklist.