Pedal It!: How Bicycles are Changing the World

by Michelle Mulder

Overview

Pedal It! celebrates the humble bicycle and shows you why and how bikes can make the world a better place

From the very first boneshakers to the sleek racing bikes of today, from handlebars to spokes to gear sprockets, bicycles have continued to capture our collective fascination. Not only can bikes be used to power computers and generators, but they can also reduce pollution, promote wellness and get a package across a crowded city—fast! Informative but not didactic, Pedal It! encourages young readers to be part of the joy of cycling.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459802193
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	05/01/2013
Series:	Orca Footprints Series , #2
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	1060L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Michelle Mulder is the founding author of and has written numerous titles in the Orca Footprints series including Pedal It!, Every Last Drop, Trash Talk and Home Sweet Neighborhood. They have also written several works of fiction including The Vegetable Museum and Not a Chance. Michelle lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Table of Contents

Introduction 6

Chapter 1 Who Thought This Up, Anyway?

The Walking Machine 8

The Boneshaker 8

The High-Wheeler 10

The "Safety" Bicycle 11

Air in Your Tires 11

On Your Bikes! 12

Bikes for More Kids 14

Chapter 2 How Did We Get Here From There?

Chainwheels, Freewheels, Wheeee! 16

What Took You So Long? 18

Learning to Ride 18

The Bicycle Revolution 20

Zooming Ahead 21

Bicycles Made from Plants 23

The Power of Pedaling 24

Chapter 3 On the Move

Beyond Fun 26

All Part of the Job 30

Make Way for Bicycles 31

Chapter 4 Pedaling for Change

Emergency! 34

Pile It On 35

Kid Power! 36

Where Did All the Pedals Go? 38

An Electrifying Experience 38

Bicimaquinas 40

Life-Saving Pedal Power 41

Pedaling Together 42

Resources 44

Acknowledgments 45

Index 47

Editorial Reviews

In one of two titles launching the Orca Footprints line, which examines topics relating to the natural world, Mulder looks into the history of the bicycle, the mechanics of how they work, and ways they are used around the world (color photographs show a bamboo bike in Ghana, nine preschoolers in a “bicycle bus” in Amsterdam, and a bike-powered smoothie blender in Guatemala). Mulder’s writing is entertaining and accessible, and numerous sidebars about bicycle trivia and notes on the ways bikes have impacted the author’s life add to the substantial information offered. Simultaneously available: Down to Earth: How Kids Help Feed the World. Ages 8–12. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"The introduction sets a personal tone that Mulder returns to throughout the book in the many sidebars concerning her experiences and those of her friends and family...The quality of the color photographs is quite good...The book's international focus is valuable, and students will find material here that is both interesting and potentially useful for reports."

Booklist

"Opens the door to so many interesting discussions...Filled with beautiful stories and pictures about life in various countries. Children will be amazed by how much a person can carry while bicycling!"

Christy's Houseful of Chaos blog

"Packed with facts, colorful photographs, and personal narratives from the author...which adds flavor and authenticity to the text."

Library Media Connection

A bike's design is to get you from A to B, concedes Mulder, but it can also mix a smoothie, spin a centrifuge, grind grain and even change the world. Mulder's evolutionary survey of the bicycle is, like the subject in question, a piece of many parts: a cultural history, a course in mechanics, a soupçon of physics, a spotlight on economic class and a springboard for innovation. In a bouncy, friendly tone, she proceeds roughly chronologically but has no hesitation to follow a thread or a whim, often in colorful boxed asides. The main narrative--an easygoing, fundamental examination of the bike's impact on America's history and the world today (without running too deep)--is shot through with archival and modern photographs. Some are just priceless, like the father and son riding penny-farthing bikes fit to their size. They range from stiletto-sharp photos of bread couriers balancing huge trays of loaves on their heads to a salesman whose bike is festooned with plastic bags full of water and goldfish. Mulder twines the mechanics of bicycles with cultural phenomenon, the environmental benefits of cycling and even the change in women's fashions. It publishes simultaneously with Nikki Tate's Down to Earth: How Kids Help Feed the World as part of the Orca Footprints series. A smart, tangy history of our two-wheeled friend. (Nonfiction. 8-14)

Kirkus Reviews

"An excellent book for upper elementary and middle school students. The history of bicycling and the importance of bicycles in emerging nations are clearly presented. The pictures and drawings are clear. The book contains "Bike Facts," extra information which might intrigue the reader. The author also shows many ways that bicycles are used which might not have occurred to the reader. The book contains an excellent resource list and a very good index."

Southwestern Ohio Young Adult Materials Review Group

"This very cool tome for inquisitive children shares a brief history of the bicycle, with interesting facts...From Nepal to Kenya and many countries in between, bicycles are enabling people to run home-based businesses and give them pedal power!"

The International Educator

"Visually appealing...This book would be a great addition to an elementary library as an excellent resource for students learning about the history of cycling and the benefits of using bicycles to man and the environment."

Resource Links

"Mulder is a bike enthusiast who has written a hugely entertaining and informative nonfiction book about bicycles...Hang onto your handlebars! Pedal It! is a must-read for kids and adults alike. Now go dust off your bike!"

CM Magazine

"The introduction sets a personal tone that Mulder returns to throughout the book in the many sidebars concerning her experiences and those of her friends and family...The quality of the color photographs is quite good...The book's international focus is valuable, and students will find material here that is both interesting and potentially useful for reports."

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