Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

This debut comic is a collection of six short stories about Reggie, a penguin who deals with such kid-centric trials as picture day, a babysitter who treats him like a baby, and getting a stomachache from eating too much raw cookie dough. A few "Word from the Bird" breaks give Reggie opportunities for direct address, encouraging readers to keep going. De Oliveira tells these stories with minimal dialogue and maximum use of all her tools as an illustrator: pacing of panels, expressive lines, selective use of closeups, and bright, cheerful color. The result is a comic that's easy to read but that also shows a keen attunement to kids' interests and thought processes. When Reggie's cousin insists on putting him on a leash before they go to the park ("It's my job to keep you safe"), Reggie acts like a dog (including trying to urinate on a fire hydrant). Eventually his cousin is so mortified, she lets him off the leash -- at which point, he and his friends start pretending they're farm animals. The structure of the whole is well paced, too, alternating between stories and segments where Reggie breaks the fourth wall, keeping pages turning.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

A webcomic-turned–graphic novel about a youngster exploring his world.Reggie, an anthropomorphic penguin living in the suburbs, has all the familiar idiosyncrasies that make young children both charming and baffling. He finds hilariously imperfect-yet ultimately successful-ways to solve kid problems like a too-drippy popsicle (letting it melt into his hat and then slurping up the "grape-sicle soup!") or the dreaded toddler leash (running around on all fours like a dog makes it a much more fun experience), and his zany energy enlivens a text that treads comfortable ground for young readers. On school picture day, he gives himself an impromptu haircut before trying to glue the snippets back on, setting into motion a cascade of calamity that ends in him donning a cowboy hat atop a glue-y mess. In another story, he collaborates with friends to create a city for roly-polies during recess. When the roly-polies reject their efforts, their teacher suggests that they relocate their construction to better suit the bugs' chosen habitat, with great success. Reggie's editorial interludes between stories offer more opportunity to connect with this charming character. A cursory cast of animal folks include a fox, bear, and goat; some readers may be a bit confused when Reggie mimics a dog (do pets exist in this world?). Expressive cartoons in muted primary colors keep the story moving at a steady pace.A wacky and weirdly wise series of scenarios solved with comical kid logic. (Graphic early reader. 4-8)

School Library Journal (Mon May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Gr 1–3— Reggie is the spunky hero of this likely series-starter. A penguin of indeterminate age, he traverses through the short stories in this graphic collection with all the wiseacre personality and flailing energy of Mo Willems's Pigeon. We see him suffer the indignities of itchy sweaters on picture days and leashed backpacks on trips to the park, but he counters these obstacles with slapstick ingenuity (acting like a dog) and ineptitude (reattaching hair to his scalp with glue). The traditional narratives are broken up by one-page segments called "A Word from the Bird" where Reggie directly addresses readers. Amidst the inanity of Reggie eating raw cookie dough and slurping popsicle soup, there are moments of sweetness. "Roly-Polies" is a funny albeit tender look at the games children play and how they reckon with the greater world around them. Oliveira's clean illustrative style and madcap pacing call to mind programming from Cartoon Network, a vibe that primary readers will undoubtedly enjoy. Reggie himself seems like a character destined for stardom; his further adventures, be it page or screen, remain highly anticipated. VERDICT A rib-tickling title that will give the younger elementary set a character to call their own from the graphic novel shelves. Recommended.— Jose Cruz