The Best Bike Ride Ever

While her parents are still delivering their safety warnings, Bonnie rides off on her new bike, climbing over bridges and mountains and visiting the Grand Canyon. The homey ink and acrylic landscapes show that the whole adventure takes place in Bonnie's backyard. Energy springs off the page--it's no wonder Bonnie wants to ride without training wheels...or even training.

All Bonnie O'Boy has wanted is a bicycle, and now she has one. She's so anxious to ride her new bike that she rides away, "all willy-nilly," while her parents are still delivering their safety warnings. She has a terrific adventure, climbing over bridges, mountains, and elephants and between a giraffe's legs; riding through downpours and windstorms; and visiting the Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon, and the "Land of the Lost." Unable to stop, Bonnie enjoys the breathtaking ride until -- "Oh, yipes!" -- an impending collision with a truck stops her escapade. The pictures tell the story here. Careful observers will realize that this whole helmet-free adventure actually takes place in the safety of Bonnie's cluttered-but-safe backyard. (Readers will want to flip back to the dedication page where the yard's landscape is clear, complete with giraffe and elephant.) Wright's homey ink and acrylic landscapes are so inviting that children who do not ride a bicycle yet will wish they could have their first ride in such a welcoming place. Energy springs off the page, so it's no wonder that little Bonnie wants to ride off without training wheels...or even training. The life lessons for young adventurers are clear: learn how the brakes work, wear a helmet, and stop