Tom is learning to ride his bike, and there’s not much that can stand in his way. Sure, he’s wobbly, still using training wheels, and has already taken a tumble that required a bandage, but he’s back on his bike and raring to go. 

His friends, who are both encouraging and hesitant, help Tom set up an obstacle course to practise his biking skills. When Tom decides to remove his training wheels and take his bike out into the world, his friends wonder if he will ever come back.

Isabelle Arsenault uses a restricted palette to marvellous effect. The images are predominantly in black and white, with peachy orange and green accents. Tom himself stands out in his green shirt and peach helmet, and it is a delight to follow him as he winds his way persistently across the pages. Tom’s friends are likewise charmingly depicted. However, occasionally they say something oddly adult, such as, “No need to rush. You’re still learning,” or “Maybe that’s enough for today.” 

Illustration: Isabelle Arsenault.

While Tom’s friends offer encouragement, they also harbour a good deal of anxiety about what might happen to him when he’s out on his bike. Seriously – they fear the absolute worst! Luckily, Tom suffers no such apprehensions. He doesn’t need instructions about not rushing. And he doesn’t need to be told that’s enough for the day, because it most certainly isn’t. Most importantly, the anxieties of his friends don’t hold Tom back in the slightest. With persistence and patience and help from his friends, Tom eventually manages to achieve his goal of riding around the block all on his own.

Limited text in a comic book–style layout makes this an accessible book for early readers.