Sometimes my husband and I joke that we are brainwashing our son. It started before he was born when we decorated his room with bicycle art.
Since then it has continued in the form of Danny Macaskill Youtube videos, balance bikes, pedal bikes, and Sunday mornings at the pump track. And then, of course, there are the books about bikes–we love a good bedtime story about cycling.
If your family is equally passionate about bikes, here is a list of stories that both parent and child are sure to enjoy. We can’t promise that they’ll make bedtime any less painful, but they will make story time more fun.
B is for Bicycles
A favorite of biking families in the know, B is for Bicycles uses the traditional A-to-Z children’s book format in a new and fun way. The story follows two dogs as they explain all the benefits of cycling–health, confidence, environmental sustainability, and more. The book’s rhyming structure is enjoyable to read aloud, and the watercolor illustrations keep kids captivated.
Price: $9.98 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 16:51 – More Info)
Mike and the Bike
Mike and the Bike is one of my favorite bedtime books. It has a fun rhyming rhythm, and funny, colorful pictures. The book also comes with a CD of music, but as I’ve had other parents agree, throw it away quick! You can come up with your own fun tunes for the lyrics instead.
Price: $1.57 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 17:43 – More Info)
Taking The Lead
Taking the Lead is the follow-up book to B is for Bicycles (listed above). Using the same loveable dogs from their first book, the book tells the story of a couple of canines who start their own bike shop. Thanks to them, the whole town now has the opportunity to discover the cycling life.
Price: $14.99 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 17:43 – More Info)
If You Give A Girl A Bike
Of course girls bike, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at most of the kids books out there. We love this picture book that actually features a girl! If you’re raising a confident and courageous daughter, this is a must have.
For slightly older girls, the Shred Girls series by the same author is also worth checking out.
Price: $13.69 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 19:22 – More Info)
Zoom!
For the balance bike crowd, Zoom! is a must-read. The story is about a little boy who loves to ride his Strider. A portion of sales benefit The Axel Project, a non-profit focused on getting young children on bikes.
Price: $5.95
Eric’s Big Day
This book isn’t just about biking, it’s also about being a helpful cyclist. The sparse drawings are both beautiful and encouraging of imagination. Some repetition in the story makes this a good choice for beginning readers.
Price: $1.59 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 17:43 – More Info)
Gracie Goat’s Big Bike Race
Gracie Goat doesn’t know how to ride a bike and is afraid to try. For kids who are just learning to ride, or who are hesitant to learn, this book will help them work thru their fears and get excited to bike.
Price: $5.48 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 17:43 – More Info)
Along a Long Road
This beautiful picture book reminds us of the beauty of cycling and inspires a feeling of wanderlust as the reader journeys around town, through the countryside, and by the sea. Because it is short on words, this book is just as good for quiet time as it is for conversation.
Price: $6.98 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 17:43 – More Info)
Duck on a Bike
I discovered Duck on a Bike at the library one day and we ended up keeping it for so long that we had to buy it–oops! Much loved by the pre-school crew, Duck on a Bike is a colorful and silly story about what else: a duck on a bike. He’s having so much fun that soon the whole barnyard has joined him.
Price: $7.59 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 17:43 – More Info)
Pedal Power
This book is about bikes but it’s about more than just bikes. It’s about the power of community action (even that of kids and moms). This is the story of how Amsterdam went from a vehicle-clogged city to the bicycle capital of the world. Words are intertwined with beautiful illustrations, making this book a pleasure to view and read.
Where to Buy:
Price: $11.99 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 17:43 – More Info)
Tillie the Terrible Swede
This is the true story of Tillie Anderson. At the turn of the century, Tillie defied gender norms to become a professional bicycle racer. We love this book–especially for all the brave little girls out there.
Price: $6.27 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 17:43 – More Info)
The Little Red Bike
We’ve only had The Little Red Bike for a few weeks and it has already become a bed-time favorite. It’s short, sweet, and kids love it. The prose is fun and rhyming–“‘Ding-ding’ rang the bell and the bars were gripped, as the Little Red Bike crossed a creek and slipped”–and tells the story of a bear and his favorite bicycle.
Price: $6.99 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 17:43 – More Info)
Tiny, The Cycling Fox
Tiny The Cycling Fox is, you guessed it, a book about a little red fox who likes to ride his bike. But what happens when his bike goes missing?!? This is a good story for younger kids with messages on positive morals, as well as bright fun pictures.
Price: $9.99 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 19:22 – More Info)
Shred Til Bed
More animals on bikes–are you recognizing a common theme here?! While the topic might be similar to other books listed here, the illustrations in Shred Til Bed will make you glad that you picked it up. This is an A to Z alphabet book with spectacular pictuers.
Price: $29
Ellery’s Magic Bicycle
Bicycles transport children not just as a function, but figuratively as well. Ellery finds herself in such a situation. This whimsical tale shows just how magical a bond between a child and their bike can be.
Price: $2.99 (Last updated: 2023-03-07 at 22:01 – More Info)