New Red Bike!

PreS-K—With helmet on and both hands on the handlebars, Tom rides up, down, and around on his new bike as he heads to his friend Sam's house. When he parks his two-wheeler and knocks on the door, he turns around to find his bike gone. Searching under and around the house, he cannot find it. Suddenly Sam whizzes by on the red cycle. After he apologizes to an upset Tom, the two boys take turns riding. The story concludes with Sam receiving a bike of his own. Told in only a few words, this likable story of multicultural friends will tap into children's emotions as they identify with Tom's excitement over owning something new and his dismay when it is taken away. Ransome's watercolor and pencil artwork is surrounded by plenty of white space and extends the story. A few black line accents trace the bike's path, and Tom's facial expressions convey his changing mood. A fine choice for storytimes, this picture book would be a good discussion starter on the topics of friendship and sharing.—Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH