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Ride Beside Me
The community that rides together, thrives together! New York Times bestselling comic creator Lucy Knisley celebrates the joys of biking in this picture book about coming together to build safer streets and a brighter future for all.
A mother and son hop on their bike for a ride through the neighborhood, joining friends and neighbors along the way. There are people on unicycles and tandem bikes, tricycles and recumbents—all kinds of bikes for all kinds of riders.
Before long, the bikes outnumber the cars and trucks, taking up more and more of the road until they form a parade of sorts, smiling and popping wheelies, ringing their bells, and celebrating the beautiful community they all share.
A mother and son hop on their bike for a ride through the neighborhood, joining friends and neighbors along the way. There are people on unicycles and tandem bikes, tricycles and recumbents—all kinds of bikes for all kinds of riders.
Before long, the bikes outnumber the cars and trucks, taking up more and more of the road until they form a parade of sorts, smiling and popping wheelies, ringing their bells, and celebrating the beautiful community they all share.
40 pages, Library Binding
First published February 20, 2024
About the author
Lucy Knisley
51 books2,137 followersBeginning with an love for Archie comics and Calvin and Hobbes, Lucy Knisley (pronounced "nigh-zlee") has always thought of cartooning as the only profession she is suited for. A New York City kid raised by a family of foodies, Lucy is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago currently pursuing an MFA at the Center for Cartoon Studies. While completing her BFA at the School of the Art Institute, she was comics editor for the award-winning student publication F News Magazine.
Lucy currently resides in New York City where she makes comics. She likes books, sewing, bicycles, food you can eat with a spoon, manatees, nice pens, costumes, baking and Oscar Wilde. She occasionally has been known to wear amazing hats.
She can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].
(copied from http://www.lucyknisley.com/about on 12/31/08)
Lucy currently resides in New York City where she makes comics. She likes books, sewing, bicycles, food you can eat with a spoon, manatees, nice pens, costumes, baking and Oscar Wilde. She occasionally has been known to wear amazing hats.
She can be reached via e-mail at [email protected].
(copied from http://www.lucyknisley.com/about on 12/31/08)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 7, 2024
This was a solid picture book and will definitely appeal to younger readers who like things “that go.” Unfortunately, for me the rhyming scheme didn’t always work and felt forced during particular moments. The color scheme also wasn’t very flattering for those characters with darker skin. They looked too muted. This could have benefited from a brighter palette.
September 2, 2024
Labor Day picture book read-aloud marathon with my wife! (Book 2 of 7)
A mother and child go bicycling in a group ride up a hill. It's all very neighborly . . . if you're on a bike. But I see the bicycles rolling in the streets AND on the sidewalks and I just feel bad for the pedestrians and the cars who are now at their mercy. And after getting plowed down by a bicyclist outside a grocery store years ago, I know many of those jerks have no mercy at all, not even asking if you're okay before they zoom off.
People with grudges probably shouldn't read jolly little books about bicycles . . .
A mother and child go bicycling in a group ride up a hill. It's all very neighborly . . . if you're on a bike. But I see the bicycles rolling in the streets AND on the sidewalks and I just feel bad for the pedestrians and the cars who are now at their mercy. And after getting plowed down by a bicyclist outside a grocery store years ago, I know many of those jerks have no mercy at all, not even asking if you're okay before they zoom off.
People with grudges probably shouldn't read jolly little books about bicycles . . .
April 25, 2024
Would be am extra fun read if you rode your bike to places.
July 23, 2024
3.5 I love Lucy’s graphic novels so I was happy to find this one-even after i realized it was a children’s book and not another fab graphic novel. A celebration of community as a mom and her son hop on a group neighborhood bike ride up the hill and back down! There’s lots of sweating and snack sharing along the way. Flat, sweet gouache illustrations—except for two more detailed pigeons who appear in every spread…right beside me! Cute effort with charming rhymes.
February 18, 2024
This picture book celebrating the community created by bicyclists might best be enjoyed by those who are avid riders. For me, while I appreciate the content and the ride taken by a mother and her child--helmets and basket included--it didn't particularly strike a resonant note. The rhyming text does make the book a possible choice for a read aloud, and the muted artwork, created with gouache paint, depicts the pair riding from their home into the busy street where they meet others on bicycles. The riders are diverse, and even though they may not know one another, they seem to recognize kindred spirits and be willing to share food, water, clothing, and to lend a helping hand when needed. Over the course of the pages, the book becomes increasingly crowded with bicycles of all sorts of types. The image of all those cyclists taking over the road, empowered and united when a large transfer truck threatens to impede them, is particularly striking, sending a positive message about safety in numbers that can be translated further than just when biking. This one won't have universal appeal, but for a certain type of reader, it works well.
February 29, 2024
A little boy and his mom take part in a neighborhood group ride “up the hill and back down!” In his shotgun bike seat, he enjoys snacks and observes the throng of other bicycle riders, a group that’s diverse in skin color, age, and type of bike. Bouncy rhyming text describes the sights he sees, while mom plugs up the hill, her cheeks puffed out and face red. The gouache painted artwork makes good use of perspective and deep, saturated colors to show the big hill and friendly biking neighbors, showing the people in cars kind of faded in color. Here, apparently, bikes rule! The occasional dog and curious low-flying bird add to the fun.
This is a charming ode to the pleasures of biking, and a nice plug for group riding. Mom and son end up at home tired and satisfied. Observant readers will enjoy peaking under the book jacket for the pair gliding down the hill on the front, and toiling up in the back.
This is a charming ode to the pleasures of biking, and a nice plug for group riding. Mom and son end up at home tired and satisfied. Observant readers will enjoy peaking under the book jacket for the pair gliding down the hill on the front, and toiling up in the back.
February 28, 2024
There are weirdly few great picture books celebrating bikes (especially ones that work for storytime), so this is a welcome addition. Rhyming text tells of a community bike ride through the city and up a big hill. I admittedly thought it was odd that the mom in the story shares her water bottle with an elderly person who seems to be a stranger to them... covid precautions please?!...but other than that my real complaint with this book was the very muted, gray tones of the illustrations, which made the skin colors of particularly the Black and brown people depicted look washed out and, in some cases, downright unrealistic.
Themes: Biking, Community/In the City
Age range: Toddler-Kindergarten
Themes: Biking, Community/In the City
Age range: Toddler-Kindergarten
February 20, 2024
This wonderful book is about than bicycles: it's about the diversity of people who ride them and the world around the ride. I loved the variety of bicycles, people, and ways we can help one one another throughout this book. Each page is it's own little story about the joy of being outside and caring for one another, even if you are strangers. I also love the underlying message of environmentalism with the act of bicycling leading to a place where there are more people outside on bikes than in cars. A great book for classrooms and home libraries who wish to highlight exercise, the environment, and those little acts of kindness.
August 31, 2024
I enjoyed this book because it values the special moments between a parent and child during a bike ride. The illustrations are bright and inclusive making the story engaging for everyone. The book is great for children because it shows an adventure and quality time with loved ones. In my classroom, I will present this book as a read aloud, having the students listen and follow along. After the reading the class will have a literature circle where students can share their own experiences about their families and friends.
February 15, 2024
Lucy Knisley celebrates biking in this picture book. The story starts with a mother and child taking off on their ride. The reader follows their ride as they join more riders along the way. Knisley's illustrations capture the collective bikers as they make their way through the day. Using rhymed verse, Knisley makes the text accessible for readers. It is a good book advocating a bike-filled community.
June 20, 2024
Brief summary: A young child and mother go bike riding in the city. They are soon joined by other bicyclists in the bike club of different backgrounds and various forms of bikes, all heading up the mountain and then back down.
Comments: The illustrations were created using gouache paint on paper.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
Comments: The illustrations were created using gouache paint on paper.
Rating: 4/5 📗📗📗📗
September 7, 2024
A bunch of bicycle terrorists take over the streets. At first I thought this was from the point of view of the woman riding a bike with her young child, but it quickly becomes clear the narrator is the entitled little prince sitting in front with his feet propped up, oblivious to his poor mom huffing and puffing and eventually forced to get off and walk on the steep hill. Not for me.
August 1, 2024
As someone who has lived the majority of their life in and around a well known Bike City, I adored this. I love the diversity, I love the accuracy of the community of bike riders. A cute and fun children's storybook. And y'all know I'm always gonna pick up whatever Lucy Knisley releases ❤️
October 11, 2023
I love that bikers are portrayed as a community because they are! The rhythm and rhyme of the text feels like the reader is rolling along!
February 26, 2024
A joyful picture book about community that revolves around bicycling. Very sweet and full of movement.
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February 26, 2024Great springtime title. Lucy Knisley does a great job of making me feel comfortable and cozy with this book. Love her illustrations.
March 5, 2024
3.5 stars.
March 7, 2024
Bikes! Bikes! Bikes!
Fabulous seeing all the ways people use bikes as a mode of transportation, activity, recreation, etc.
Fabulous seeing all the ways people use bikes as a mode of transportation, activity, recreation, etc.
March 10, 2024
I love Lucy, that’s it that’s the review
March 13, 2024
The rhymes don't always work, and the colors are bland and frequently look washed out. This will appeal to people who are specifically looking for a picture book about cycling, but it's only okay.
March 13, 2024
Maybe I would’ve cared more if I cared about bicycles.
April 12, 2024
Lovely story of a community bike ride in verse; fun encouragement for kids and adults to get out and ride together.
April 18, 2024
a Book filled with Cycling fun!
June 28, 2024
Oh, this is a nice book.
June 30, 2024
A beautiful celebration of cycling culture for the kids in your life.
August 2, 2024
Fun rhyming book about a community bike ride. The narrator is a young child whose mom is the one huffing and puffing, but there are other children and families and people biking alongside them.
August 14, 2024
Very cute but I expected more from this. I like the painting style but some color choices are odd and the rhyming scheme doesn't really work.
September 4, 2024
Cute community bike ride.
September 5, 2024
Wonderful story! I bought a few copies to give to kids in my life.
June 20, 2024
Very cute book about types of bikes and bicyclists.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews