Inthisuniquenonfictionpicturebook,themaincharacterisabicyclethatstartsitslifelikesomanybicyclesinNorthAmerica,asachild’sfavoritemodeoftransportation.Leotreasureshisbicyclesomuchhegivesitaname--BigRed.ButeventuallyLeooutgrowsBigRedanddecidestodonateittoanorganizationthatshipsbicyclestoAfrica.BigRedissenttoBurkinaFaso,inWestAfrica,whereitfindsahomewithAlisetta,whousesittogainquickeraccesstoherfamily’ssorghumfieldandtothemarket.WhenAlisettaearnsenoughforanewbicycle,shegivesBigRedtoamanwhoisfixingupoldbikesforamedicalclinic.ThebicyclefindsitswaytoayoungwomannamedHaridata,whorenamesitLeGrandRougeandgivesitanewpurpose--deliveringmedicationsandbringingsickpeopletothehospital.Thisbookmakesanexcellentchoiceforculturalstudiesclasses;authorJudeIsabellahasprovidedseveralterrificsuggestionsinthebackofthebookforprojectslargeandsmall,whileamapshowsthedistancethebicycletraveledacrosstheAtlanticOcean.Award-winningillustratorSimoneShin’sdigitallycomposedartworkincludesevocativedepictionsofthecharacters’livesinNorthAmericaandBurkinaFaso.Thestoryhighlightsjusthowvaluablebicyclesareasamodeoftransportationallovertheworld,andhowouractionscanmakeadifferenceinotherpeople’slives.Thisbookalsoofferscharactereducationlessonsoncaring,compassionandempathy.ApartoftheCitizenKidcollection.
