Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 01/17/2024 *Starred Review* Animals make their homes in all corners of the world, and this gorgeous French import explores the varied and wondrous ways in which 27 animals dwell in their natural environments. There are a few familiar faces, like industrious beavers and bustling bees, but young readers may not have thought deeply about their lairs, and there are plenty of offbeat animals, too. Feathery fan worms emerge from slender tubes, the curious caddisfly larva adorns itself with a chaotic casing of underwater debris, and an elf owl peers out of its prickly perch in a saguaro cactus. Each critter is treated to a stunning full spread featuring a depiction of the animal and its domain, and an accompanying verse of translated text beautifully imparts tidbits of fascinating information. The striking artwork has a sketched, scratchy quality that is just as spectacular when taking a wide view of a golden eagle’s cliffside retreat as it is zooming in on a spider’s silvery web, and the blueprint endpapers are a particularly clever touch. The mesmerizing artwork combined with sophisticated text will appeal to a wide age range, and readers eager to learn more can delve into back matter offering a few more facts, a glossary, and suggestions for further reading. An exceptional exploration of a delightfully diverse roundup of natural dwellings and their equally intriguing inhabitants. - Copyright 2024 Booklist.