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Quick answer: The best picture Books About Bicycles include Duck on a Bike by David Shannon, Bear on a Bike by Stella Blackstone, Mrs. Armitage on Wheels by Quentin Blake and twelve more picks chosen for story quality and age fit. Each book below has a short description, a suggested age range and who it suits best, with a comparison table to help you choose quickly.
Learning to ride a bike is one of childhood's biggest milestones. These picture books celebrate wobbly first rides, races, family bike trips and the joy of riding, and some even share real stories about how bicycles changed communities.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table
| Book | Author | Ages | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duck on a Bike | David Shannon | 3-7 | young animal lovers |
| Bear on a Bike | Stella Blackstone | 2-5 | toddlers who like rhymes |
| Mrs. Armitage on Wheels | Quentin Blake | 4-8 | kids who like silly inventions |
| Curious George Rides a Bike | H.A. Rey | 3-7 | Curious George fans |
| Bicycle Race | Donald Crews | 3-6 | kids who love colours and numbers |
| Franklin Rides a Bike | Paulette Bourgeois | 3-7 | kids nervous about learning |
| My Bike | Byron Barton | 2-5 | the youngest readers |
| The Bicycle Man | Allen Say | 5-9 | readers who like true-feeling stories |
| Pedal Power | Allan Drummond | 6-10 | kids interested in real places |
| Bicycle Book | Gail Gibbons | 5-9 | curious kids |
| Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen | Cari Best | 4-8 | kids who outgrow a bike |
| Bike On, Bear! | Cynthea Liu | 3-7 | kids who keep practising |
| Tricycle | Elisa Amado | 4-8 | thoughtful readers |
| Along a Long Road | Frank Viva | 4-8 | fans of bold art |
| The Bear's Bicycle | Emilie Warren McLeod | 3-6 | bike safety lessons |
How We Chose These Books
We looked for real, widely available titles that match the theme and the age range, and we favoured books with clear storytelling and strong reputations with parents, teachers and librarians. Age ranges are suggestions, not rules, so you know your reader best. Previewing a book before you hand it over is always a good idea, especially for sensitive topics.
The 15 Books
1. Duck on a Bike by David Shannon
Duck rides a bike around the farm, and the other animals want a turn. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: young animal lovers.
2. Bear on a Bike by Stella Blackstone
Bear rides to exciting places in a simple rhyming story. Recommended ages: about 2-5.
Best for: toddlers who like rhymes.
3. Mrs. Armitage on Wheels by Quentin Blake
Mrs. Armitage keeps adding gadgets to her bike until it all goes wrong. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: kids who like silly inventions.
4. Curious George Rides a Bike by H.A. Rey
George gets a new bike and ends up in an animal show. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: curious George fans.
5. Bicycle Race by Donald Crews
Twelve racers pedal around a track in this bright picture book. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: kids who love colours and numbers.
6. Franklin Rides a Bike by Paulette Bourgeois
Franklin is embarrassed that he still needs training wheels. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: kids nervous about learning.
7. My Bike by Byron Barton
Jim rides his bike through town to his job at the circus. Recommended ages: about 2-5.
Best for: the youngest readers.
8. The Bicycle Man by Allen Say
Two soldiers delight children with bike tricks at a school sports day in Japan. Recommended ages: about 5-9.
Best for: readers who like true-feeling stories.
9. Pedal Power by Allan Drummond
How Amsterdam became one of the world's great bicycle cities. Recommended ages: about 6-10.
Best for: kids interested in real places.
10. Bicycle Book by Gail Gibbons
A clear nonfiction look at how bikes work and how to ride safely. Recommended ages: about 5-9.
Best for: curious kids.
11. Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen by Cari Best
Sally Jean builds a new bike from old parts when hers gets too small. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: kids who outgrow a bike.
12. Bike On, Bear! by Cynthea Liu
Bear reads every bike book he can find, but practice is what he needs. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: kids who keep practising.
13. Tricycle by Elisa Amado
A girl notices the differences between her family and her neighbours. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: thoughtful readers.
14. Along a Long Road by Frank Viva
A cyclist follows one long road through towns and countryside. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: fans of bold art.
15. The Bear's Bicycle by Emilie Warren McLeod
A boy and his bear show the right and wrong ways to ride. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: bike safety lessons.
How to Choose the Right Book
For toddlers, start with Bear on a Bike, My Bike and Bicycle Race. Kids who are learning to ride will connect with Franklin Rides a Bike and Bike On, Bear!, while Bicycle Book and The Bear's Bicycle teach safety. For older readers, The Bicycle Man and Pedal Power share stories about bikes in the real world.
Tips for Choosing and Sharing These Books
- Read it first. A quick skim lets you spot anything that might need a conversation.
- Match the book to the child. A reader who loves jokes may prefer a funny pick, while a quiet reader may prefer a gentler story.
- Read together. Pausing to ask what a character might feel or do next turns a story into a conversation.
- Visit the library. Borrowing a few titles from this list lets you find the ones your child returns to.
- Revisit favourites. Children often ask for the same book again and again, and rereading builds confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book on this list to start with?
Duck on a Bike by David Shannon is a strong place to start, and every book on this list is a good option.
What age are these books for?
The books on this list suit roughly ages 2 to 10, and each entry shows its own suggested range.
Should I read these books aloud?
Many of them work well read aloud, especially with younger children, and older readers may enjoy reading them independently.
Where can I find these books?
Most of these titles are easy to find at public libraries, school libraries and bookshops, and many are available as ebooks or audiobooks, which can help reluctant or struggling readers.