A Mighty Girl's top books about bike-loving girls and women for preschoolers through adults!
Do you remember the joy you felt when you rode a bike for the first time? The exhilaration of the wind in your face, the whir of the spinning wheels... The freedom that a bicycle offers has changed millions of lives, allowing kids to pedal to their local park or travel quickly and safely to school — and it even has a little-known connection to the Women's Suffrage Movement! In this blog post, we've featured ten of our favorite books about girls and women and the joy brought to them by their beloved bikes. These fun tales are sure to have your Mighty Girl (and you) raring to get back in the (bike) saddle again!
Books About Mighty Girls And Women And Their Bikes
Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike
Wild Blue: Taming a Big-Kid Bike
Would-be cowgirl Kayla loves riding "pink pony," her toddler bike with training wheels, any chance she gets. When Daddy observes she's gotten too big for the bike, they decide to go to the bike store, and they "wrangle one from the herd" — a shiny blue mount that she's sure is perfect. Except that Wild Blue bucks her off time and time again. Kayla's sure this bike isn't tame enough to ride, but Daddy assures her that with practice (and a bit of showing Wild Blue who's boss) she'll join the herd of two-wheeled bikers in no time. So Kayla summons a cowpoke's courage and it's not long before she and Wild Blue ride triumphantly into the sunset! This quietly charming story about the transition to a big-kid bike is sure to reassure kids who are about to try taming their own new bikes.
The Girl and The Bicycle
The Girl and The Bicycle
In a shop window, a girl spots the bike of her dreams, but it costs far more than she has saved. Her quest to find ways to earn money leads to a friendly neighbor, who offers her work in the garden. Together, the woman and the girl work side by side until she finally has saved enough — but when she returns to the shop, the bike is gone. Fortunately, after she uses her savings to do a good deed for her brother, the girl discovers that she’s not the only generous person on her street! This sweet wordless story is a celebration of hard work, cross-generational friendships, and the joy that comes from generosity.
Born to Ride: A Story About Bicycle Face
Born to Ride: A Story About Bicycle Face
In 1896, Louise Belinda wonders why her brother gets to ride a bicycle and she doesn't. When she asks why, Joe tells her that girls who ride bikes will develop "bicycle face," a horrible distorted face that lasts forever. Fortunately, Louise Belinda is skeptical, and when she finally gets on a bike, she discovers her bicycle face is really an enormous smile! And it's not long before her example inspires other girls and women to try out their own set of wheels. Set against the backdrop of the Women's Suffrage Movement, and with an afterword about the important connection between bicycles and the fight for women's rights, this picture book shows young readers the power of challenging the status quo and celebrates the freedom of riding a bike.
Joy Ride
Joy Ride
Joy and her grandfather have a special project to do together: fixing up (and decorating!) an old bike for her to ride. Once they've got it working smoothly, it's time to add the personal touch: sparkles, a basket, and a bell... everything that makes Joy feel JOY when she rides it. Not everyone appreciates Joy's unique bike, though, and in an effort to fit in, Joy tries to change the bike — and ruins it. Fortunately, after an apology Granddad is willing to help her return the bike, and Joy, to their one-of-a-kind selves. This tender and meaningful story explores bullying, peer pressure, and the pleasure of being your authentic self.
Cycle City
Cycle City
Etta the Elephant is visiting Aunt Ellen at her home in Cycle City, an amazing town where every creature, big or small, rides some kind of bike! Everywhere she goes, she spots someone on wheels, from ordinary bicycles to more eccentric vehicles like a penny-farthing, a two-wheeled unicycle, a conference bike, and more. And at the end of the day, the bicycle parade lets her see even more of the residents of Cycle City and their incredible bicycles! This seek-and-find book, with illustrations packed with details to spot and clever jokes to find, is sure to delight young readers. Etta and Aunt Ellen return in Bicycle Bash.
Angel in Beijing
Angel in Beijing
When New Year's Eve firecrackers scare a little stray cat in Beijing, she jumps into little Angel's courtyard, and the two become fast friends. On Angel's bicycle, the pair explore the city — but on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, Kitty leaps at a dragon kite and gets carried off into the sky! Hopping on her bike, Angel searches all their favorite places, hoping desperately to find her friend again, and finds Kitty in a most unexpected place.... This charming tribute to the sights of Beijing incorporates a sweet tale about friendship.
Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Prairie Tale
Little Red Riding Hood: A Newfangled Prairie Tale
At the edge of the vast American prairie, a little girl is famous with her neighbors for riding her bike everywhere, wearing her red jacket with the hood pulled up — so they start calling her Little Red Riding Hood. When Little Red sets off to Grandma's house with some muffins and lemonade, naturally, she takes her bike. The wolf, of course, sniffs out the treats and has a plan to steal himself a snack... but it turns out that Red's sharp-eyes, tractor-driving Grandma has no patience for wolves! Kids will love this witty retelling of Little Red Riding Hood where the main character actually rides.
The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story of One Ordinary Bicycle
The Red Bicycle: The Extraordinary Story of One Ordinary Bicycle
Big Red is a bicycle whose little boy, Leo, loves riding him around his North American city streets. But when Leo gets too big for Big Red, he decides to donate the bicycle to an organization that ships bikes to Africa. In Burkina Faso, Big Reg gets a new life, helping Alisetta get from her family's fields to the market quickly and safely — and when Alisetta passes Big Red on, the bike, now renamed Le Grand Rouge, helps Haridata deliver medications and get sick people to the hospital. This unique story shows how one ordinary bicycle — and a child's desire to make a difference — can change lives across the world.
The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle
The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle
In this quirky story, 12-year-old introvert Bicycle has been raised by Sister Wanda in the Mostly Silent Monastery since she was left there as a three-year-old. But Sister Wanda is worried that Bicycle doesn't have any friends, so she declares that she's going to sleepaway camp at the Friendship Factory (“Three Guaranteed Friendships or Your Money Back.”) Bicycle has other ideas, and sets off on her own bike for California, aiming to meet her hero, Polish cycling racer Zbig. Along the way, she encounters a good-natured ghost, a mysterious woman in black, and an unexpected number of new friends! Hilarious and charming, this adventure celebrates the call of the open road and the joy of friendship.
The Green Bicycle
The Green Bicycle
Eleven-year-old Wadjda wants the green bicycle she saw in a shop more than anything — but in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it's improper for a girl to ride a bike, and her parents refuse to get it for her. So the enterprising girl decides to save up for the bicycle herself, first by making bracelets, then by selling mixtapes of banned music to her classmates. When she's caught, she has to turn over a new leaf or risk expulsion, but that doesn't mean she'll give up on her dream! This novel, based on Haifaa Al Mansour's groundbreaking film Wadjda, captures the rapidly shifting attitudes and culture in the Middle East, all while exploring gender roles, conformity, and the importance of family.
Wheels of Change
How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way)
Wheels of Change
How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way)
What is now a childhood rite of passage — riding a bicycle — was once a revolutionary opportunity for women to gain freedom of movement and independence. Sue Macy uses vintage photographs, advertisements, cartoons, and more to show how the ability to travel freely made definitive improvements in women's lives — something that's still happening in other countries of the world today. Most importantly, the ability to travel alone to gather with other women was a key element in the success of the Women's Suffrage Movement. This insightful book will gain new appreciation for the tremendous social change inspired by the bicycle, which, according to Susan B. Anthony, "has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world."
Mountain to Mountain: A Journey of Adventure and Activism for the Women of Afghanistan
Mountain to Mountain: A Journey of Adventure and Activism for the Women of Afghanistan
Shannon Galpin found confidence and courage on the seat of her bike — and now, her nonprofit Mountain2Mountain does the same for girls and women in Afghanistan! After becoming the first woman to ride a mountain bike in the wartorn country, she used that bike ride to raise social awareness — and encourage people to try out a bike themselves. As her influence grew, she worked with politicians and journalists, teachers and prison inmates. Her goal? To ensure that women in Afghanistan have the ability and confidence to raise their voices and seek justice, whatever form that takes. This memoir will inspire readers with the power of two wheels to drive social change.
Spin: A Novel Based on a (Mostly) True Story
Spin: A Novel Based on a (Mostly) True Story
In 1895, the world was captivated by the story of Annie Londonderry, who dared to accept a wager that she could bicycle around the world — in 15 months — and earn $5,000 along the way. Annie was defying all notions of a woman's place: she left her husband and three children behind to conduct her journey, wearing a man's riding suit, and even sold photographs of herself along the way. In this novel inspired by Annie's story — and written by Peter Zheutlin, one of her descendants — readers get a peek at the inner life of an unconventional woman who dared to prove that she could support herself in a man's world... and created her own myth along the way.
