Charles T. McBiddle - Hardcover

Glass, Andrew

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0385305540 ISBN 13: 9780385305549

Publisher: Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 1993

When Charles T. McBiddle sets out to learn to ride his bicycle without training wheels he learns a lesson in humility, and achieves small triumphs. By the author of Larger Than Life.

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From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 2-- Charles T. (for Tarzan) McBiddle decides that today is the day he takes the training wheels off his bicycle and joins the ranks of the BIG kids. With the first tumble, he finds himself facing a tiny creature that looks much like a "very ugly chipmunk," who taunts Charles T. with "maybe you're too little." With each fall, the creature grows bigger and bigger, and its sneering remarks become sharper and meaner. Charles finally replies, "Well, I'm going to try again anyway and I'm going to keep on trying." With each determined attempt, the huge, ugly beast shrinks until it simply blows away in the breeze. The lively, colorful illustrations overflow onto double pages and convey all the grit and spirit of determination and perseverance. The beast is more comical than scary, and young audiences are certain to cheer (and laugh) as it finally wafts away. The watercolors are done in soft, realistic tones with details outlined in colored pencil. The combination of energy, emotion, and anticipation makes this a sure winner for story time and reading aloud. --Mary Lou Budd, Milford South Elementary School, OH
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews:

A classic childhood monster comes out of the bedroom closet (where it frequently lurks in children's books) and climbs onto Charles Tarzan McBiddle's bike. Charles has just removed his training wheels; all his anxieties (``Maybe you're still too little...Your mother thinks so,'' etc.) materialize as a toothy, snouted dragon of a monster that heckles Charles with his own doubts until he gets a grip on his emotional and literal balance and retorts, ``You're a liar,'' then speeds away. The dynamic angularity of Glass's figures perfectly expresses the progress of Charles's state of mind as the monster first balloons in size, toppling him from the little bike, and then dwindles away as Charles's confidence returns and triumphs. In words and pictures, Glass effectively parlays an archetypal rite of passage into an even more universal message. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright �1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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