words and pictures ISBN 9781910277720 £11.99
A young boy is bored, and his mum tells him to go outside. A ‘ball of fur wearing a pink hat’ rides past and the boy hops on his bike and joins him. Although the boy talks to him, the friendly white creature does not speak. The creature eats the bike’s stabilisers and the boy experiences the joy of riding a ‘big boy’s bike’ for the first time. At the end of the journey the white creature has disappeared, but the boy feels confident because the creature has shown him the way. When he gets home he does not tell his mum about the furry friend. Perhaps he never existed at all. The boy has become a more confident rider and has grown up along the way. Bright pink colour threads through the imaginative illustrations. The back endpaper includes a certificate for a Super Cyclist. An unusual picture book about learning and independence that encourages a positive, can do attitude, and offers much for adults to discuss with children aged 3 to 7.
Brenda Marshall, SATIPS Council