The Running Machine: The Invention of the Very First Bicycle

by Keith Negley

A story of pluck and determination inspired by the real events of 1815-17, when a young man named Karl Drais invented the very first bicycle. Before there were trains, or cars, or planes, people rode horses to travel from place to place. Then came the Year without a Summer, when a cloud of volcanic ash blocked the sun and crops withered across half the world. With no oats to eat, horses grew too weak to walk. Everyone despaired—how would they get around? But one day, a young forester had a bright idea in the darkness... Inspired by true events, The Running Machine shows how resilience in the face of adversity can lead to something wondrous.

Genres: Picture Books, Stem, History, Nonfiction, Biography, Bicycles, Childrens

40 pages, Hardcover

Published July 23, 2024

About the author

Keith's work has appeared on book covers, children's books, t-shirts, album covers, posters, skateboard decks, and even a watch. He is a frequent contributor to The New York Times and New Yorker in addition to many other national publications. He received his BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in 2000, and his MFA from The School of Visual Arts in New York City in 2013 and doesn’t regret the student debt one bit. He’s won 4 medals from the Society of Illustrators, a medal from the Society of Illustrators West, and 2 medals from the 3x3 International Illustration annual. His book Tough Guys (Have Feelings Too) received a Kate Greenaway Medal nomination in 2016. Keith resides in the mountains of Bellingham Washington with his wife and two boys surrounded by giant spiders and teaches illustration at Western Washington University.

Reviews

[SOYAMRG · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this fiction picture book inspired by true events, we meet Karl Drais, who lives in Baden, Germany, in the early 1800s. A volcano has erupted in Indonesia and created darkness for a year. Horses become weak and unable to pull carts or have riders, so Karl decides to invent something that can take humans places faster than walking. His first attempt was a flop, but his second attempt allowed him to create what we now know as a bicycle.

Accompanied by dark pictures created by pencils, we see the invention process in action. An informative author’s note is provided for the reader, which gives more historical context.

This is highly recommended for any age reader who is interested in bicycles or inventions,

S.T.
School Librarian

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most fascinating thing about this story for me was the fact that in 1816 volcanic ash from Indonesia blocked the sun so effectively that there was a year without summer in Europe and North America. Plants could not grow, therefore horses could not be fed. This was the inspiration for a young German--Karl Drais--to invent the bicycle. When one could not ride a horse, a crude bicycle became a solution.
The story is not told in great detail. The illustrations suggest the mood but are not as realistic as I wished.
ELA tie-in with biography units, reading about real people.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always a sucker for a story about bikes. This one is an inspiring tale of ingenuity in the face of adversity, and I love the collage illustrations.

[Rebecca Caufman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew this is how and why the bicycle was created? Perfection!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned something new! I was intrigued by the first draft of what would eventually become the bicycle.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Volcanic winter in 1815 spurs Karl Drais to invent the velocipede.

[Rolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great combination of historical info (I didn't know about the year without sunlight due to a meteor in the 1800s, much less my kids) and things they can relate to (making things, bikes).