Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 08/29/2025 PreS-Gr 2—Cat hates everything about Christmas: the sweets, the decorations, the tree that falls down. Until Cat gets a gift. Cat doesn't like the gift. But Cat does like the box, especially when it's on his favorite lap. Murray's colorful illustrations have a slightly retro feel, like those in her Apple Pie ABC. Here, raspberry to sherbet pinks abound and are a refreshing pivot from red-and-green-for-Christmas. For a tiny black creature that appears on every page, Cat never gets boring. Cat's dislike of pretty much everything is shown in the kink of the tail or the curl of a claw, and exceptionally expressive ears let readers know there may be some nuance to how Cat is feeling. The logic of the story is slightly lost when Cat tries to tell the family "it's not about the food or the presents … or the fancy decorations," and no one listens, causing Cat to leave the house. Is Cat trying to explain Christmas or the bad mood? Regardless, the text makes a fun read-aloud with lovely rhythms and soft rhymes. Any reader who have known cats will love the surprise ending. VERDICT A sweetly grumpy holiday tale for most holiday shelves.—Hillary Perelyubskiy - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.