Review by Booklist Review
The appealing Eureka! The Biography of an Idea series (4 titles) introduces primary-grade students to the history behind familiar inventions, from an initial concept or prototype to versions familiar to users today. The writing is simple, clear, and often lively. Richly colorful, digital artwork suggests the look of different time periods and cultures, while portraying individuals who developed each invention and showing how its appearance has changed through the years. Labeled diagrams illustrate how the technologies described actually work. Bicycle begins in 1815 with a volcanic eruption that led to failed crops, starving horses, and a lack of transportation in Europe. In response, Germany's Karl Drais built a two-wheeled "running machine" and later inventors around the world improved on his design. Well attuned to the intended audience, this series is both engaging and informative.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
This concise history starts with German Karl Drais's 1817 invention of a wooden two-wheeled "running machine." It wasn't until 1865 that "someone in France" added pedals to the front wheel. Pedal placement improved over time; original wooden wheels evolved into wood and iron, then solid rubber, and finally rubber tubes in 1888 (developed by Irishman John Dunlop). Houran follows further design refinements and innovations, culminating with "a bicycle for just about everybody" today. The lively illustrations keep pace with the accessible and engaging text. A few more "Bike Facts" are appended. (c) Copyright 2023. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A concise, inclusive history of the evolution of the bicycle. The bicycle, the story begins, may have been invented because of a volcanic eruption in Indonesia in 1815. The ash that spewed into the atmosphere changed the weather worldwide; crops didn't grow, and it cost so much to feed their horses that people gave them up--and the only other option for getting around was walking. In Germany, Karl Drais invented a two-wheeled "running machine" that was pushed along by its rider's feet (no pedals), and from this idea, the germ of today's bicycle was formed. It took several other innovations, developed in different countries, to perfect a bicycle that was easy to ride and safe. The multicountry perspective (Germany, England, France, America, Ireland, and China are all mentioned) is a refreshing angle; also welcome is the information on ways bicycles were and are used, their efficiency, and the etymology of bicycle names and terms. The illustrations are full color, mostly double-page spreads, and are notable for their well-thought-out design placement that allows one picture to effectively illustrate the different texts on the verso and recto pages. Racially diverse people, a person in a wheelchair (mounted on a bike pedaled by another person), a person using an arm-pedaled bike, and a recumbent cyclist are included in the illustrations. Simultaneously publishing in the Eureka! The Biography of an Idea series are companion titles Camera, by Laura Driscoll and illustrated by Hector Borlasca; Glasses, by Houran and illustrated by John Joven; and Light Bulb, by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld and illustrated by Stephanie Dehennin. (This book was reviewed digitally.) This engaging history of the bicycle is sure to pique young riders' interest while it enriches their knowledge. (Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
