Bound To Stay Bound

School Library Journal - 02/01/2026 Gr 1–3—Bee, a third grader who has two dads and is depicted as white, begins to worry at school when her teacher has the class compete as teams to plan a Mother's Day party. While dealing with the class bully, Bee notices the meaning of "mother" as a verb while discovering the different family structures of her classmates. This is a creative and insightful story with big messages that balance teachable moments with inquisitiveness, friendship, and the universal fun of pizza parties. There is mention of surrogates and egg donors as well as families with two moms, grandparents, stepparents, and single parents. The text is printed in a larger font with generous spacing and margins for beginning chapter book readers. It has a few black-and-white illustrations by McKeown in each chapter, some full page, that will help newer readers with pacing. The realistically styled cartoons depict diverse characters with varying skin colors and types of hair. VERDICT A must-purchase, universally appealing story to build on diversity and social justice in early fiction collections. Neville's debut is sure to be a hit with fans of the "Jada Jones," "Jo Jo Makoons," and "Yasmin" series.—Taylor Skorski - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Booklist - 04/01/2026 This warm, thoughtful early-chapter book blends friendship, empathy, and inclusivity with a light, engaging tone. Bee, a caring and bug-loving third-grader with two dads, is instantly relatable. Along with her best friends Sarah and Tiam—the self-named Wingless Wonders—Bee approaches life with curiosity, kindness, and a deep appreciation for everyone, winged or otherwise. The story begins with the excitement of a class party idea contest, but Bee’s enthusiasm fades when she learns it’s meant to celebrate Mother’s Day. Unsure where she and her family fit, Bee wrestles with her thoughts in a way that many children from nontraditional family structures will recognize. The book handles these feelings with sensitivity, showing Bee’s growing awareness that she isn’t the only student who feels left out as she learns more about her classmates and their stories. The story includes delightful nods to Bee's bug-loving heart as she compares real-life stories to the insect world, and the delightful illustrations sprinkled throughout bring this fun, tender story to life. A wonderful choice for readers who enjoy stories about friendship, problem-solving, and belonging. - Copyright 2026 Booklist.