Review by Booklist Review
A lonely old tricycle reminisces about his good times with Lulu, who has outgrown him now. Suddenly, the garage door rumbles open and a snappy, young bicycle rolls in. Confiding that he's a secret surprise, Bike whizzes around Trike and pops a wheelie. Feeling protective of Lulu, Trike tries to talk about her, but Bike won't listen. They head out to the big hill, where reckless Bike veers off-road, unknowingly heading toward a cliff. Dashing up to collide with Bike, Trike prevents a dangerous fall and then jokes about their crash. Bike admits he has a lot to learn, and they become friends, just in time for Lulu's birthday. Children will readily understand both characters' points of view. The simple story has a well of genuine emotion, reflecting the attachment that many kids (and adults) feel for their tricycles and bicycles. Well-crafted and sometimes amusing, the text creates a sure sense of the characters, who spring to life in the quirky, imaginative illustrations, expressively rendered in pencil and pixels. A sure bet for read-aloud fun.--Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2020 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Growing pains abound in this vehicular tale about change and new beginnings. Outgrown by child Lulu, red Trike languishes in the garage ("a rusty little fellow,/ a trusty little fellow") until teal Bike arrives, a gift for Lulu's birthday. Lonely and insecure, Trike worries that the child will forget all they braved together: "summer bees,/ skinned knees" and the terrible day Lulu finally outgrew her tricycle ("No go," says her younger sibling, Tru). Challenged to a race by overconfident, wheelie-popping Bike ("a happy young fellow, a snappy young fellow"), careful Trike sees an opportunity to secure safety for Lulu, but calamity strikes when the two hit the road. Together, Bike's uncontrolled enthusiasm and Trike's cautious concern represent two very real and often competing emotions commonly felt during times of significant change. Rhythmic, personality-laden text by Verdick (Small Walt) couples with dynamic anthropomorphic energy and emotion dexterously conveyed by Biggs (The Space Walk) to create an amusing friendship story that's just right for reading aloud. Ages 4--8. Author's agent: Mary Cummings, Betsy Amster Literary Enterprises. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Feb.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--This story celebrates the moment in a child's life when they transition from a tricycle to a bicycle and all the joys and fears that come with that change. Trike is rusty and feels that Lulu has outgrown him. He remembers the many rides he and Lulu shared, braving the summer and surviving skinned knees. He longs for those days but knows that his fate is sealed when in rolls Bike, a shiny new gift for Lulu. Bike is fast, full of bells and whistles, and anxious to show off. Trike is concerned about safety, but Bike is young and full of energy. When Bike challenges Trike to a race, both learn important lessons about safety, sharing, friendship, and coexisting peacefully. The illustrations are simple, featuring the red Trike and teal Bike in their natural habitats, the garage, and the road. VERDICT Though a bit long, this picture book will appeal to a variety of readers. Children will enjoy the banter between these two bikes and the joy of their new riders.--Maegen Rose, Rye Country Day School, NY
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A battered old tricycle and a new bike make friendsbut not without hitting a few bumps in the road.Lulu and Trike have been together for yearsbut Lulu keeps getting bigger, and one day a brand-new birthday bike sails into the garage: "Watch this trick," he crows, popping a wheelie and zooming through Hula Hoop. Ignoring Trike's cautions about safety ("Aw, back off, old-timer"), Bike proposes a riderless race to the nearby woods. And so they're off, with Trike struggling to keep up ("You can DO this," he tells himself, "for Lulu and the way the two of us flew"). Then, seeing Bike careening heedlessly toward a cliff, Trike selflessly puts on an extra burst of speed to head off disaster with a mighty collision. "I guess I have a lot to learn," says penitent Bike, and back to the garage they go, "two winners on wheels." Verdick tells the tale in a characteristic mix of exuberant sound effects and euphonic phrasing, with short sentences making the relatively high page count fly. Along with kitting out shiny Bike with splendid streamers, lights, training wheels, and even a horn, Biggs pairs Lulu at the end with an equally thrilled little brother (both white) just the right size for a hand-me-down.Everyone's indeed a winner here, and the subtle message about safety consciousness is likewise right on track. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
