THE WORLD'S LONGEST LICORICE ROPE

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.