The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle by Christina Uss

 Living at the Mostly Silent Monastery for all of her life, Bicycle needs to develop frienships with children. Sister Wanda, who has raised her and homeschooled her, decides to send her to the Friendship Factory in Nevada. Knowing this is a bad idea, Bicycle leaves the monastery on her bicycle called "Clunk" to form a friendship with her bicyclist hero, the Polish man Zbig. The feat of riding "Clunk" from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco, where Zbig will be for the Blessing of the Bikes is daunting. As she crosses the United States,  Bicycle forms friendships with interesting individuals.

The plot was a bit unrealistic, but I don't think being realistic was the author's main focus. Younger elementary children may enjoy hearing this chapter book read aloud since their expectations on what is real tend to be lower. It all ended a bit too neatly for me . . .but sometimes it is relaxing to read a book where everything works out perfectly!

Jonathan Bean illustrated the cover and drew the map that depicts Bicycle's cross country route. He grew up in the same county as me and also worked at the same business as me when I was a teen/college student. I always like seeing his work published!

Points to discuss: running away, luck is a big focus, Clunk is eventually haunted by a ghost

A sequel was published in 2023 about Bicycle's travel with Zbig from San Francisco to the east coast-A Few More Bicycles.

-Borrowed from the library.

Bibsy Cross and the Bike-A-Thon by Liz Garton Scanlon illustrated by Dung Ho

 I liked this book better than the 1st one in this series (Bibsy did not interact with her teacher nor her parents as much in this one).

Bibsy and her best friend Natia sign up to compete in a bike-a-thon to support their local library. When Natia becomes sick the night before the event, Bibsy is forced to change her perspective and attitude. 

-Borrowed from the library.

Do You Like My Bike? #1 by Norm Feuti*

 Hello, Hedgehog! series (6 books in series)

Hedgehog has a new bike. He and his friend Harry have a fun time together on their "wheels".

Graphic novel style/comic book style.  The short chapters will appeal to new readers or reluctant readers.

Perfect for building fluency & stamina. Also perfect for paired reading-one person reads Hedgehog's lines and another reads Harry's lines.

*Highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

Bartali's Bicycle by Megan Hoyt illustrated by Iacopo Bruno**

 The True Story of Gino Bartali Italy's Secret Hero

Gino Bartali won the Tour de France two times. Yet his greatest achievement was rescuing more than eight hundred Jews during World War II. He rode his bicycle around Italy delivering false identification papers for hidden Jews. As the war continued, he sought other creative ways to help the Jews. 

Well-written story that focuses on how one person can make a difference.

**Highly, highly recommend.

-Borrowed from the library.

The Girl and the Bicycle by Mark Pett*

In this wordless book a girl spies a bicycle in a store front window.  She, however, does not have enough money to purchase it.  The reader witnesses her diligent effort to save for it.  Mr. Pett builds  a convincing case for her perseverance so when the time arrives for her purchase it, the readers will feel her agony when the bike is no longer available.
This story will pull on heartstrings.  I almost cried at the end when the girl reveals her unselfishness.
***Highly, highly recommend.
Lots of strategies can be utilized with this book: predicting, inferring, using schema, connections, main idea

I did not care for the palette of the book (mostly browns and whites) and am not sure why he choose such a blah color scheme.  Was it so the reader focuses on the story line and the message, and not be distracted by vivid colors?  I am not sure.
 His illustration style is not one I would be drawn to but the fact it was a wordless book made me request it from the library.
*Borrowed from the library.

Secret Files #6 The Hardy Boys -The Bicycle Thief by Franklin W. Dixon*

My second grader read this book to himself.
During  a bike race, Frank's tire blows and then the bike is missing.
Numerous suspects emerge as the day progresses.
**Spoiler Alert**-My son liked how everyone was putting the bike different places to keep it safe.
Perfect series for mystery lovers, reluctant readers and for building stamina.
*Highly recommend.

Ben Rides On by Matt Davies

Ben Lukin loves his new bike.  Unfortunately the school bully, Adrian, likes his bike too and takes it.  When Ben finds Adrian in position where he needs help,  will Ben show him kindness?
The power of kindness is celebrated in this story!

Off We Go! A Bear and Mole Story by Will Hillenbrand

Mole decides today is the day to learn to ride his bike without training wheels.  Bear is his support.
I love Will Hillenbrand's books and illustrations.
Book is a bit simple for the age group who normally learns to ride their bike.

Along a Long Road by Frank Viva

Follow a bicyclist on a long road that is continuous throughout the book and back to the beginning again.
Not a favorite.