Frank and Bert: The One Where Bert Learns to Ride a Bike

Toddler-Gr 1–Another adventure with Frank the fox and Bert the bear. Frank wants to ride on his bicycle. There is just one problem, in that his friend Bert is not good at riding. Frank decides to teach Bert how to ride and it’s going well until they reach a very steep hill and Bert eventually falls over some of the ducks near the pond as well as a rabbit. Bert is disheartened about this and gets discouraged. Frank comes up with an idea of steering and holding Bert’s bike while he rides. Frank notices that Bert is doing quite fine and decides to let go of the bike but as before Bert falls and is quite upset, making the decision never to go on a bike again. This story is as much about negotiating friendship as it is about navigating the learning of a new skill. How the friends support each other, fail one another through miscommunication, and problem-solve are all issues that will resonate for the smallest child. This second book in this series will suit readers of the first one, and remind slightly older readers of Mo Willems’s Elephant and Piggie books. Children will relate to the characterizations: one of the animals is more animated and outgoing whereas the other animal is a bit timid and possibly shy. The book is told in a lyrical comedic flow with bright illustrations to match.