BOOKS ON BIKES

A voracious young reader meets a bike rider giving away books—and becomes inspired by his good work.

Lía reads all day, every day: “sitting down, upside down, and before bed almost every single night.” Though summer offers ample time to read, sadly, Lía’s access to books is limited; school is closed, and she lives far from the library. But at a nearby park, she meets Gabriel, a cyclist who rides around making books available to the public. With Gabriel busy visiting other parks, Lía decides to outfit her own bike with baskets filled with books. She recruits other kids, and before long, their idea has spread—across the neighborhood and then to cities all over the world. A plucky hero in the mold of climate activists Xiye Bastida and Greta Thunberg—both referenced in the text—Lía works hard to create the change she wishes to see in the world. Campoy and Howell’s child-friendly testament to the power of collective action concludes with backmatter explaining the real-life inspiration for the tale. Magro’s eclectic art conjures up a setting certain to enchant bibliophiles; various elements, from the roofs of houses to a red tent in which Lía holes up reading, resemble oversize books, while scribbly linework and the use of collage set a whimsical tone. Lía and Gabriel are brown-skinned; Lía’s community is diverse. Publishes simultaneously in Spanish.

An inspiring ode to books and the heroes who make them available to those in need.