Andrew and the Wild Bikes

Jean Free, a library consultant, was an elementary-school teacher and
librarian in Whitby, Ontario.

Five-year-old Andrew wants a two-wheel bicycle, but his parents can’t
afford one. When the family vegetable garden and garbage cans are upset,
Andrew’s father thinks the raccoons are guilty, but Andrew decides to
follow the suspicious bicycle tracks he notices going into the woods. In
the ravine behind their house, Andrew discovers a heard of wild bikes
and manages to tame one. Andrew lovingly cares for the bicycle and
sometimes takes it back to the ravine “so it [won’t] forget where it
came from.”

Morgan’s gentle story should appeal to youngsters wishing for
bicycles and/or to tame a pet. Beinicke’s illustrations perfectly
complement and enrich the text with their insight and humor.

Andrew and the Wild Bikes would be a good picture-book choice for
primary-grade students to listen to and to read themselves later.