The Girl and the Bicycle by Mark Pett

Reviewed by Lori
 Title: The Girl and The Bicycle

 Author/Illustrator: Mark Pett

 Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 80407

 Description: A wordless picture book in which a
 girl sees a bicycle she wants to buy, works hard
 for a kindly neighbour to earn the money for it,
 then gets a pleasant surprise.



Curriculum Links: 

  • Art: Pencil Illustrations, Lines
  • Character Education: Kindness, Perseverance, Responsibility
  • Math: Financial Literacy
  • Reading: Inferring
  • Science: Daily and Seasonal Changes
  • Social Studies: Our Changing Roles and Responsibilities

Notes:

Design: This book is slightly wider and shorter than an average picture book.  The cover and title alone made me want to pick up this book.  A little girl and her younger brother are on the cover with the girl looking at a green bicycle in a toy store window.  The pages in the book are done in taupes and greys so the pages seem soft and aged (rather than stark white new).  The end pages are covered in little bicycles and the imprint page is at the back of the book.

Content and Illustrations: This is one of those rare picture books that made me feel a little choked up!  It is such a sweet story.  A little girl sees a bicycle in the window of a toy store.  After going home and checking out her piggy bank she comes up with various ideas for raising money, a lemonade stand, a yard sale, eventually she begins helping an elderly neighbour.  I loved that you see the girl doing many jobs for the neighbour - that one job didn't earn her enough money for the bike - and that it takes place during various seasons - raking leaves, shovelling snow, planting a garden, tidying up the garage.  It develops a sense of time so the reader knows that she has been working hard for a while saving her money.  I also liked how the illustrations tell a story about the kindly neighbour. You are able to infer information about her family through family photographs, a space helmet, and a red toy plane.  The red toy plane is also the only other item besides the green bicycle that is rendered in colour lending it particular significance.  After saving up all her money the girl returns to the toy store and finds the bicycle gone.  Instead of spending her money on something else for herself she uses her money to buy a tricycle for her brother which I thought showed real character.  And in the end, she is rewarded as well.  It is really amazing how much is being told in this little book!

Recommended Audience: Kindergarten to Grade 3.  I would recommend this book to all schools and libraries!

Inquiries and Activities: 
  • What era do you think this book takes place in and what makes you think so?  
  • Give names to each of the characters and create your own dialogue or narrative to go along with the book's illustrations.
  • How does the girl raise money for the bike?  Why do you think it takes her so long to raise all the money that she needs?  What does this tell you about the bike? 
  • What sort of chores is the girl able to help with during the different seasons?  Create a four square chart and list some of the jobs you can help with during each season. 
  • Do  you get an allowance?  Do you spend it all at once or do you save your money?  What are you saving for?  
  • Why does the girl buy a tricycle for her brother instead of something for herself?  What do her actions (helping the neighbour/taking care of her brother) tell you about her character?
  • Why do you think only two items in the book are rendered in colour - the green bicycle and the red airplane?  What makes these items important?  
  • What can you infer about the old woman based on the illustrations in the novel?
  • Create an art piece using a piece of coloured paper and pencil only.

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