The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story of One Ordinary Bicycle

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 13, 2015

Review

This book is a title in a collection of books that illuminate global issues and encourage children to be global citizens and effect change in the world. This is the story of one donated bike and all of the people who benefit from its use. The book is fiction, but it has a "true story" feel to it which can help children relate to the idea of donating something that they no longer use or need to benefit someone else.

It's a great read-aloud to an older elementary group. There is a lot of text on each page, but there is also a one-sentence summary on each page that encapsulates the action on that page.

The story brings to life the power of something as simple as a bicycle. The pictures are lovely with details such as a map when the bike travels across the world, and the patters on the clothing of the women in the African village in which the bike ends up on the first leg of its journey. The end of the book includes photographs of people using a bicycle to sell wares and offers ways for kids to help as well as additional information about Burkina Faso, the location in which most of the story takes place. There is also a note for parents/teachers about ways to use the story to help children effect change.

Overall Book Score: excellent