Birth of the Bicycle: a Bumpy History of the Bicycle in America 1819–1900 by Sarah Nelson

Birth of the Bicycle: a Bumpy History of the Bicycle in America 1819–1900

Hardcover – Picture Book, July 2, 2024

Sarah Nelson

Candlewick Press · Hardcover · July 2, 2024

Three cheers for the birth of the bicycle!

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Who it’s for
A jaunty, rhythmic history makes bicycle invention feel lively, ingenious, and unexpectedly memorable.
Themes
Bicycle history and development, Invention and engineering, Everyday objects
Pacing
Fast

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About this book

Three cheers for the birth of the bicycle! Hop on for a jaunty, rhythmic ride through a playfully illustrated history. From the pedal-less, brakeless wooden velocipedes of the 1800s to the sleek racing machines of today, from a luxury for the wealthy to a lifeline for the working class, the bicycle’s journey is a study in invention, innovation, and ingenuity.

Continue reading

Sarah Nelson’s affectionate and poetic tribute covers almost a century of the two-wheeler’s development, while Iacopo Bruno’s bold, bright artwork illuminates this marvel of engineering. Cycling enthusiasts as well as budding mechanical engineers, inventors, tinkerers, and dreamers will revel in this fact-packed nonfiction adventure story—complete with a time line and other lively back matter designed to remind readers how truly extraordinary everyday objects can be.

Two Wheels, Many Ideas

A jaunty, rhythmic history makes bicycle invention feel lively, ingenious, and unexpectedly memorable.

Come here for

  • A playful tour from wooden velocipedes to sleek racing machines
  • Bright artwork paired with an affectionate, poetic voice

Expect

  • Fact-packed nonfiction with a timeline and lively back matter
  • A reminder that everyday objects have extraordinary histories

Where it sits

Cycling56%
19th Century U.S.54%
Inventions33%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • How Things Work
  • Cycling
  • Inventions
Authors
Sarah Nelson
Publisher
Candlewick Press
Published
July 2, 2024
Format
Hardcover
Theme
Bicycle history and development · Invention and engineering · Everyday objects
Reading lane
How Things Work