ALA Booklist (Mon Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Reggie lives with his mother right above the corner store, so when he earns an allowance of 30 cents, he only has to go downstairs to treat himself. Whenever he runs down, he likes to reach up and pluck the sliding knot on his mother's clothesline awn across an empty backlot hear his favorite "ftoiiing!" twang. Only, this time, when he grabs the knot, he trips and hiiiiiiiiiz" nds himself hanging, stranded, at the center of the line, well above the ground. The next 50 pages or so detail a hilariously fraught drama, moment to agonizing moment, as Reggie works to save himself before his arms get tired and he plunges "to his death." Orbie brings a cartoonist's sensibility to this picture book, using spot illustrations and first-person narration instead of panels and speech bubbles. Her simple forms and watercolors evoke a classic feel, with most images depicting Reggie suspended from the clothesline in white space, giving the impression of an endless drop. A fun, inventive, and suspenseful story that captures childhood in a classic package.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Compact, blond Reggie, five, lives with his mother in a brick building -above the corner store.- He loves to race downstairs to buy candy with his allowance, and when his mom is not watching (-it would scare her-), he yanks their clothesline-s pulley knot to hear its springy -ftoiiing!- One day, he slips, grabs the taut cord, and finds himself swinging high above the yard. In minimalist images, Orbie (illustrator of Sloth at the Zoom) milks the situation from all angles, moment by moment; cutaway views show Reggie-s mother relaxing in their apartment, wearing headphones, as Reggie dangles above the ground. Nobody except Reggie and a black cat witness the resolution, and a typeface resembling hand-lettering highlights the boy-s personal voice. Translated from the French and first published in Canada, this quaint comics-style picture book may startle U.S. audiences with Reggie-s independence while offering readers an opportunity to reflect on why Reggie swallows his tears, keeping his error and his reasonable fear a secret. Ages 5-8. (Oct.)

School Library Journal (Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

PreS-Gr 1 -Reggie and his mother live above a corner store, and when the five-year-old helps around the house, he earns a small allowance. Once he has earned some coins, he goes down the stairs and around the corner to buy some candy, tugging on a knot in the clothesline and making a pleasing "ftoiing!" sound on his way. One day, he tugs too hard and ends up stuck in the middle of the clothesline. His time spent dangling teaches Reggie a valuable lesson. Orbie's energetic cartoon illustrations call to mind Dennis the Menace, though his dilemma on the clothesline has less to do with bad behavior and more of a mere accident. Reggie earns 30 cents for his chores, which he thinks will buy him a lot of candy at the corner store, adding slightly silly humor and evoking childlike thinking when it comes to letting go of the precious coins. Despite being somewhat lengthy for a picture book, the simple text and easy to follow graphic novel-style illustrations make this easily digestible to young readers. VERDICT A quick, engaging read for fans of comic style texts.-Kaitlin Malixi, Kensington Health Sciences Academy, Philadelphia