Go Fly a Bike! The Ultimate Book of Bicycle Fun, Freedom, and Science - Hardcover

Haduch, Bill

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0525470247 ISBN 13: 9780525470243

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile, 2004

Synopsis

A funny and comprehensive guide, Go fly a Bike! is crammed with everything a rider wants to know about his or her favorite sport.

A bicycle is the kids vehicle-from about age six until they drive cars, kids play, socialize, compete, explore, sense freedom, and ride to school on bikes.  This is the book for them-and there's nothing like it available.  From how bikes work to the coolest BMX stunts, from crucial safety information to a step-by-step guide for planning the perfect bike hike, this expertly organized book has something for all readers, whether their interest lies in history, trivia, physics, extreme sports, or just a quick spin around the block.

 

About this title

About the Author

Bill Haduch is a husband, father, musician, bicyclist, electrician, handyman, backpacker, skyscraper window-washer, canoeist, newspaper reporter, skier, corporate science writer, welder, advertising & public relations executive, cook, school assembly speaker, British sports car enthusiast, magazine writer, brewer, community volunteer, entrepreneur and children's author.

He grew up in Pennsylvania's hard-coal country, earned a writing degree from the University of Pittsburgh where he began his career, traveled throughout Europe and the Caribbean and worked in New York City. He now lives in Central New Jersey, exactly one hour from the ocean, the mountains, New York and Philadelphia.

He's written books for Planet Dexter, Discovery Kids and Dutton Children's Books. When he's not doing that, he's often writing about science, technology and/or health care for companies like AT&T, Siemens, Pfizer and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Reviews

Grade 4-8--Everything bicycle is included here, from its history to the laws of physics that make it work to how to plan an all-day excursion. Also discussed are the different types of cycles, bicycling as a competitive sport, and the basics of maintenance and equipment. The text is supplemented by insets in which Professor Kickstand, a thoroughly unreliable advice columnist, offers tongue-in-cheek solutions to common problems, and two-wheeler trivia appears throughout. A playful design and simple cartoon illustrations add visual appeal. Overall, though, this title is no lightweight offering, and the humor doesn't detract from the important things Haduch has to say about safety on the road and nourishment on long rides. He occasionally refers readers to knowledgeable adults for hands-on instruction and information, a good idea for some of the more complex topics. However, the best part of this book is the author's infectious enthusiasm. In the chapter on gravity, he describes how you overcome it going up, and how you go with it going down: "It's the closest we can come to feeling like a gliding bird without leaving the ground. Just don't get bugs in your teeth as you smile all the way down the hill…." Informative and entertaining, this is one of the liveliest books available for kids on this topic.--Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Gr. 4-8. Here's a lively blend of history, science, trivia, and practical advice about bike care, repair, and safety. Haduch entertains as well as informs as he covers everything from inventors, aerodynamics, and crazy bike trends to suggestions for the perfect bike hike. Halftone cartoonlike illustrations are scattered throughout, and a funny fact or joke appears in an inset on most pages. The lack of glossy photos will probably disappoint some young bike lovers, but this is a versatile, fact-packed book that can work for both research and recreational reading. It's also a natural choice for reluctant readers as the short chapters can be read as "stand alones." A bibliography and a list of bike parts are appended. Jennifer Locke
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0525470247
• ISBN 13: 9780525470243
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 80