Synopsis
Maurice faces several obstacles as he works hard to win the annual bicycle race.
Reviews
Kindergarten-Grade 2-A slight, predictable tale. Maurice is determined to win the annual bicycle race. He gets his lucky helmet and trusty, old "Red Lightning," and rushes to the starting line. Despite the taunts of another racer, "Hope you're ready to lose on that old clunker," the crowd cheers "Go-Go-Go!" and Maurice takes off. A turtle in his path forces him to slam on his brakes, lose control of his bike, and pedal off the course. He wheels through a zoo, through the sky holding a big bunch of balloons, and under water through a pond. While racing toward the finish line, the bully continues to sneer and mock Maurice's attempts to get back on track. In the meantime, the intrepid biker has picked up a turtle, an elephant, a monkey, and a tuba player. With a stroke of luck, they sail over their opponents straight across the finish line. Stylized, elongated cartoonlike characters carry out the slapstick action and all of the illustrations are done in muted, watery colors with touches of newspaper, stamps, etc. adding texture.
Meghan R. Malone, Turner Free Library, Randolph, MA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
The titular rousing cheer rises from the crowd as indefatigable bicycle racer Maurice conquers considerable and hilarious challenges. In order to pedal his way to victory, he must cope with a hitchhiking elephant and monkey, an underwater detour and an entire marching band. In his first effort as both writer and illustrator, Goldin never spins his wheels. Every spread, rendered in watercolor, ink and found materials, and punctuated with playful typography, emanates goofy electricityAGoldin is a hipster's Dr. Seuss. Readers will cheer along with the clown-like bystanders as Maurice pedals past his nemesis, a greenish racer named Stink who snarls and jeers at the genially oversize hero. From the cotton-candy treetops to a lake bottom filled with goggle-eyed fish, Goldin packs a comic wallop of obstacles in Maurice's quest for the gold. This volume pops a wheelie, entertainmentwise. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Ages 4-8. It's the day of the great bicycle race, and Maurice is convinced this is the year he will win the gold cup. Hopping aboard his trusty bike, Red Lightning, he pedals to the park and takes his place at the starting line. "Hope you're ready to lose on that old clunker," his arch rival Stinky sneers. But buoyed by the cheers of the crowd, Maurice refuses to quit, even though he picks up more unwanted passengers (an elephant, a monkey, a musician, and more) than speed. In fact, approaching the final hill, Maurice is in last place. "He doesn't stand a chance," the malodorous Stinky gloats, but "grunting and groaning," Maurice simply will not stop. "Go-Go-Go!" the crowd thunders. "Go-Go-Go!" And the winner is . . . Who do you think? Looking like a zany combo of Dr. Seuss, Lane Smith, and Maira Kalman, Goldin's cartoon illustrations comically expand this postmodern celebration of the power of positive persistence. Michael Cart
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