Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Thanks to a mix of chores and luck, young Ben, portrayed with light skin and black hair, has a small bag of nickels to spend at the kid-run neighborhood treat fair. Passing up delights such as "sort of fresh Halloween candy," he is drawn to a stand run by a puckish pink-skinned girl whose sign promises, for a single nickel, the "world's longest licorice rope." Sold! But as Ben takes one end and chews his way across the globe, he finds the entrepreneur always one step ahead, ready to sell him--at each point, for another nickel--a solution to any obstacle. As a lion eyes Ben slyly, the pith helmet--clad capitalist promptly rents Ben a carrot outfit because "lions are carnivorous." (It's fun to see how the girl is accessorized for each scene, though a fez worn during a five-cent pyramid tour strikes an odd note.) Myers's (Children of the Forest) spare watercolor and ink illustrations, set along the single plane of the book's horizontal format as in William Wondriska's A Long Piece of String, offer just enough detail and splashes of color to draw readers along every vignette in this comical caveat emptor story with an ending that shows that you can't put a price--even a nickel--on friendship. Ages 3--7. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (July)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1--2--When a mysterious girl offers a young boy, Ben, the unique chance to spend his hard-earned nickel to follow the world's longest licorice rope, he seizes the opportunity, wherever it may take him. Readers, who will encounter very small typeface with some higher vocabulary on the journey, will laugh at what the rest of Ben's bag of nickels pays for along the way, like a carrot costume to escape a lion, as he traipses around the world. However, the surprise ending reveals how money can pay for different experiences, but making a new friend--or two--is priceless. Myers's strong ink outlines and minimally applied watercolor dyes immediately focus the eyes on the scenes, all the action, and world landmarks; while essential, the inflexibly straight line of red licorice appears as a slightly jarring element from the otherwise thin, brushlike illustrative style. VERDICT This pleasant, unpredictable journey leads to a satisfying ending that sparks a gentle reminder that friends are invaluable.--Rachel Mulligan
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
For the price of 5 cents, almost anything is possible! Ben, a determined kid with light skin and spiky dark hair, finds and earns nickels to buy a treat at the fair. He doesn't expect to find the world's longest licorice rope for only 5 cents, but for that price, how can he refuse? Following the rope ends up being a journey around the world, and somehow, the entrepreneurial, light-skinned girl who sold him the rope is always there with what he needs (a boat, a lion-proof outfit, a pyramid tour, a hot air balloon, and more)--at the cost of 5 cents per item. Playful, detailed, cartoonlike illustrations show our plucky hero as he travels, engages in adventure, spends his nickels--and gets very, very tired. What's at the end of the rope? A dark-skinned child named Jimmy who's been sold the same piece of licorice. Meeting a friend? Another 5 cents, please! But what is the cost of a friend? Aren't they priceless? Is there a way all three kids can solve this puzzle? This imaginative, unpredictable, and action-filled story can be seamlessly integrated into math, humanities, and social-emotional learning curricula and is sure to be a favorite with those who love travel and adventure. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Math, travel, friendship, and ingenuity blend for a quirky, entertaining, and satisfying tale. (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
