Colliding with Chris

A young boy's first ride on a bicycle with hand brakes turns out to be much wilder than he ever imagined.

Kindergarten-Grade 3AThrilled with his shiny new bike, Chris eagerly pushes off on his inaugural journey. Coasting toward his grandmother's roses, he tries to use the pedals to break, but he's out of control. So begins this rip-roaring ride through woods, streams, and parade-packed streets, collecting passengers and cargo along the way. With a spider, bear, pig, trout, and tuba in tow, the boy careens his way through the countryside leaving chaos in his wake. Finally, when he gets a handle on the brakes, he comes to an abrupt halt, tossing all passengers back to their respective homes. This funny, rhythmic, and sometimes rhyming story will have readers perched on the edges of their seats. O'Malley's comic illustrations done in oil, colored pencil, and marker are drenched with color and make a perfect match for this rollicking tale. Appropriately expressive, doughy characters convey the tension in their posture and wide-eyed wonder. Varied perspectives, pictures and text set slightly askew, and creative use of typeface punctuate the excitement. A great read-aloud and an exhilarating trip.APaula A. Kiely, Milwaukee Public Library, WI
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Harder's first book is aimed at bicyclists, including those still soldiering on with training wheels. Chris can certainly ride his bike, but he doesn't know how to stop. Launched off the top of a steep hill, he's almost immediately out of control. ``Watch out!'' he cries as he barrels past his grandmother, careens through a garden shed, rattles into the woods, splashes through a stream, and more. A rollicking, loosely rhymed cumulative text steadily builds momentum and humor as Chris picks up a spider and sticky web, knocks an unsuspecting bear on to his back, and scares up a trout, among other incidents. Objects, animals, and people (including an entire marching band) loom large and then scatter. In many of the illustrations, the action is front and center in full- bleed spreads; in others, it is framed in cockeyed snapshots. A small dog that appears on the copyright page joyfully keeps pace with Chris to the satisfying conclusion in this small but funny episode. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.