Review Detail

“Birth of the Bicycle: A Bumpy History of the Bicycle in America” by Sarah Nelson, illustrated by Iacopo Bruno, shares the beginnings of bicycles, from those without pedals to the way bikes look today. It was not a simple process to create the bike as it is currently known. There was a lot of innovation that went into the invention, and the beautiful pictures do a wonderful job in allowing readers to visualize the history as it comes alive on the pages.

It is interesting to note that bicycles were once way too expensive for working-class people. They would have cost half a year’s salary! The book also gets a bit into how women’s clothing changed to adapt to riding a bicycle, as they started wearing split skirts instead of petticoats, as an example.

The last three pages of the book, in the back matter, contain more information about bicycles, including a more detailed history, starting in 1817 and running through the current day. There is also a brief bibliography to allow readers to know where they might find further details, if desired.