Description: "From the pedal-less, brakeless wooden velocipedes of the 1800s to the sleek racing machines of today, from a luxury for the wealthy to a lifeline for the working class, the bicycle's journey is a study in invention, innovation, and ingenuity. Sarah Nelson's affectionate and poetic tribute covers almost a century of the two-wheeler's development, while Iacopo Bruno's bold, bright artwork illuminates this marvel of engineering. Cycling enthusiasts as well as budding mechanical engineers, inventors, tinkerers, and dreamers will revel in this fact-packed nonfiction adventure story--complete with a time line and other lively back matter designed to remind readers how truly extraordinary everyday objects can be"--Provided by publisher.
Review Quotes: Nelson recounts the history of the bicycle, beginning with the 1817 invention of the velocipede, an entirely wooden contraption with no pedals or brakes. . . . Bruno's digitally enhanced pencil illustrations make use of bold, bright colors; attention to fine details (particularly in his depictions of period costumes and the early two-wheelers); and scenes that convey both motion and emotion.
--Booklist
--Kirkus Reviews Polished illustrations by Italian artist Bruno draw immediate attention in this bicycle history. . . . The book, like the bicycle, moves briskly along, tracing a path from luxury item to mode of transportation for the masses.
--Publishers Weekly A fascinating nonfiction picture book about the history of bicycles. . . . Nelson's simple, poetic lines somehow pack so much information into them, and Bruno's detailed illustrations are nostalgic and gorgeous.
--Book Riot This lively book begins with wooden velocipedes of the 1800s and concludes with the sleek machines that today have their own dedicated lanes in some cities. . . . Illustrations are wonderful.
--Pioneer Press