Bicycles

Gr 3 Up—Bicycles may look like a relatively simple piece of equipment to make, but this title aims to prove otherwise. Lakin introduces readers to passionate entrepreneur and bicycle maker Aaron Dykstra. The narrative takes kids through a brief history of the bicycle before launching into Dykstra's path to bicycle making, which eventually led him to study with acclaimed builder Koichi Yamaguchi. The well-organized, dynamic, and engaging prose educates readers on Dykstra's step-by-step process for making a bike frame. Photographs and black-and-white doodles sprinkled throughout help connect contemporary ideas and uses of the bicycle to its historical origins. This selection is perfect for STEM-based units on building things by hand, recycling, and engineering. In addition to the back matter, Lakin provides information on joining Dykstra's STEM program, the Making Foundation, for middle grade students.