Stories

In honor of Fathers Day 2009, we, here's a list of wonderful children's books about cycling. The list was compiled by Michael Beck of the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee. If you have a favorite book that deserves to be on the list, let us know!

Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen - By Cari Best and Christine Davenier
When Sally Jean outgrows her beloved bicycle, Flash, she experiments with various ideas for acquiring a new, bigger one.

Ugh - By Arthur Yorinks and Richard Egielski
A prehistoric boy learns of the invention of the wheel. He creates a bicycle using the wheel, and is proclaimed king.

Bear’s Bicycle - By Emile McLeod and David McPhail
A boy explains his bike riding precautions – checking tires, walking his bike across the street, etc., while his teddy bear throws caution to the wind.

Bicycle Race - By Donald Crews
A counting book for the youngest bicycle racers. Follow the 12 bike racers as the numbered leaders continue to change.

Dino Bikes - By Eva Montanari
Stego Saurus learned to bike using training wheels . He wants to remove them soon to bike with his other dinosaur friends. When he learns Bronto also needs extra wheels, he balances beautifully.

Marta and the Bicycle - By Germano Zullo and Albertine Martaa
An orange farm cow, builds her own bike, and joins a bicycle race in Switzerland

Up on a Hilltop - By Kota Taniuchi
Up early, a young boy rides his bicycle through fields to a hilltop to watch a choo-choo train go by. On his bike ride home, he envisions rows of houses as the train, and later sees the train in his dreams.

Yuki’s Ride Home - By Manya Tessler
After an enjoyable day at her grandmother's house in Japan, Yuki gathers the courage to ride her bicycle home over a slippery bridge in the evening fog.

Supergrandpa - By David M. Schwartz and Bert Dodson
A sixty-six year old grandpa defies judges and rides the 1,094 mile Bicycle Tour of Sweden in 1951. He pedals day and night for 6 days to become the inspirational Stalfarfar.

The Bicycle Man - By Allen Say
A boy describes his elementary school sports day in Southern Japan. Students met two American GI’s,who performed tricks using the principal’s bicycle.

The White Bicycle - By Rob Lewis
Ravi didn’t mind when his parents threw his rusty, dirty bike onto the junk heap. But then, interesting people discover that the bicycle is just what they need.

Mrs. Peachtree’s Bicycle - By Erica Silverman and Ellen Beier
Tired of walking her errands in the 1890’s, Mrs. Peachtree buys a bicycle. “Fiddle-Faddle” she cries after falling several times. She’s advised to give up over and over, and only learns when she needs to save her cat.

Mei-Mei Loves the Morning - By Margaret Holloway Tsubakiyama and Cornelius Van Wright
A girl’s morning begins with Grandpa, bicycling through the busy streets of Beijing, China. Together they ride through round moon gate, to hang songbird cages on a tree in the park, where they practice tai-chi.

Bikes for Rent! - By Isaac Olaleye and Chris Demarest
In Nigeria, Lateef works hard collecting firewood and mushrooms to earn money to rent a bicycle. He earns enough, but instead learns how to build his own.

A Bicycle For Rosaura - By Daniel Barbot and Morella Fuenmayor
Señora Amelia wants to get a bicycle for her hen. A strange man who claims he can build anything comes to the seaside village in Venezuela. Rosaura, the hen gets her bike.

Going on a Journey to the Sea - By Jane Barclay and Doris Barrette
A boy and his older sister take a trip to the beach. Their journey is by foot, train, bus, and tandem bicycle.

Summer Wheels - By Eve Bunting and Thomas Allen
The Bicycle Man fixes up old bicycles in Mr. Pirelli’s garage and lets neighborhood kids use them for free. Kids are told “Early birds get the best bikes,” “ride safe”, and “get them back by four” as the man teaches kids more than fixing bikes.

Vera Rides a Bike - By Vera Rosenberry
Vera’s stolen red tricycle is replaced by her older sister’s first small green bicycle. As she learns to ride, Vera bikes around and around the school unable to stop.

Pedrito’s Day - By Luis Garay
With every shoe he shines, Pedrito gets closer to having enough money for a bicycle. He takes his abuela’s tamales to the market along fun bumpy lanes. In the end, he proves his maturity not by owning a bicycle, but by correcting a mistake he makes.

Three Little Bikers - By Tony Johnston and G. Brian Karas
Three sheep bicycle down gullies, splash through puddles, and creep up hills to enjoy the sky, the wind, and the grass before heading home at dusk with their headlamps on.

The Magical Bicycle - By Berlie Doherty and Christian Birmingham
A boy finds that he cannot ride his new bicycle during the day, only in his dreams at night, until one day he finally discovers the magic he needs to ride it in real life.

Tom and Pippo and the Bicycle - By Helen Oxenbury
Whenever Tom takes Pippo for a ride on his tricycle, Pippo always falls off. If only he had a big bicycle with a real seat on the back! Tom’s older friend Stephanie has a clever idea to solve Tom and Pippo’s problem.