Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Bike On, Bear! by Cynthea Liu -- ADVISABLE

Liu, Cynthea Bike On, Bear! Illustrated by Kristyna Litten. PICTURE BOOK. Aladdin (Simon & Schuster), 2015. $17.99. Content: G.

Bear is pretty good at a lot of things, including gymnastics, science experiments, and helping other bears. There's one thing he can't do, though: Ride a bike. His friends are supportive, but when a new park opens and doesn't allow training wheels, Bear is afraid he will be left out. After a little research, though, he discovers that over-thinking bike-riding could be what was standing in his way all this time.

This is a cute story, especially for kids who are nervous about learning to ride on their own or those who so anxiously quadruple-check every detail that they never get around to actually riding. Perseverance, preparation, and a good support network are all encouraged, along with just letting go and seeing what happens. It is hard to believe that there would be a park that would allow bikes but not training wheels, but it does provide some good motivation for Bear.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) -- ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Caryn


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