Go Fly a Bike! The Ultimate Book of Bicycle Fun, Freedom, and Science

Features

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 80 pages
• Published by: Dutton Juvenile March 30, 2004
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0525470247
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0525470243
• Book Dimensions: 8.6 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Weighs: 11.2 ounces

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8--Everything bicycle is included here, from its history to the laws of physics that make it work to how to plan an all-day excursion. Also discussed are the different types of cycles, bicycling as a competitive sport, and the basics of maintenance and equipment. The text is supplemented by insets in which Professor Kickstand, a thoroughly unreliable advice columnist, offers tongue-in-cheek solutions to common problems, and two-wheeler trivia appears throughout. A playful design and simple cartoon illustrations add visual appeal. Overall, though, this title is no lightweight offering, and the humor doesn't detract from the important things Haduch has to say about safety on the road and nourishment on long rides. He occasionally refers readers to knowledgeable adults for hands-on instruction and information, a good idea for some of the more complex topics. However, the best part of this book is the author's infectious enthusiasm. In the chapter on gravity, he describes how you overcome it going up, and how you go with it going down: "It's the closest we can come to feeling like a gliding bird without leaving the ground. Just don't get bugs in your teeth as you smile all the way down the hill…." Informative and entertaining, this is one of the liveliest books available for kids on this topic.--Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Gr. 4-8. Here's a lively blend of history, science, trivia, and practical advice about bike care, repair, and safety. Haduch entertains as well as informs as he covers everything from inventors, aerodynamics, and crazy bike trends to suggestions for the perfect bike hike. Halftone cartoonlike illustrations are scattered throughout, and a funny fact or joke appears in an inset on most pages. The lack of glossy photographs will probably disappoint some young bike lovers, but this is a versatile, fact-packed book that can work for both research and recreational reading. It's also a natural choice for reluctant readers as the short chapters can be read as "stand alones." A bibliography and a list of bike parts are appended. Jennifer Locke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Reader Reviews
my son used this book to help him learn the science and history of bicycles (needed for a school project) and it was the right length and academic level for him.