Bibsy Cross and the Bike-a-Thon

Bibsy Cross #2

by Liz Garton Scanlon, Dung Ho (Illustrator)

Meet Bibsy Cross, the precocious, regular-pegular eight-year-old who daydreams of winning her library's bike-a-thon fundraiser in the second installment of this charming chapter book series.

Most things are easy-peasy, regular-pegular for Bibsy Cross. She loves her parents, her cat, her best friend, Natia. She loves school and the library. And she loves riding her bike. Sometimes, she pretends it's her chariot.

Bibsy's library is hosting a bike-a-thon to raise money to buy books. And Bibsy is determined to earn the most donations. That way she can WIN the fundraiser!

But has Bibsy been spinning her wheels with the wrong intentions?

Genres: Chapter Books, School, Friendship, Childrens, Juvenile, Humor, Family

128 pages, Library Binding

First published June 11, 2024

About the author

Liz Garton Scanlon is the author of numerous beloved books for young people, including the highly-acclaimed, Caldecott-honored picture book All the World, illustrated by Marla Frazee, two novels for middle grade readers, and an upcoming chapter book series. Her many other picture books include the ones she's co-authored with Audrey Vernick, like Bob, Not Bob and World's Best Class Plant. Ms. Scanlon is also a poet, a teacher and a frequent & popular presenter at schools, libraries and conferences. She serves on the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts and lives in Austin, Texas.

Reviews

[Willa Scanlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book one left very big shoes to fill but book two stepped right up to the plate! Bibsy explores her competitive edge throughout the book and what sportsmanship can look like when you don’t particularly want to be a good sport. I love how the character shows through example how behavior can be chosen and you don’t always have to want to do the right thing to do it. This will resonate with a lot of kids and introduce more nuance into conversations about competition. Bibsy continues to be authentically herself and I cannot wait to see what she’s up to next!

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's first chapter book, realistic fiction. Bibsy Cross is an elementary school student who loves riding her bike. So when she sees that the local library is doing a "Bikes for Bucks for Books" fundraising event, she immediately signs up to ride as a team with her best friend Natia. Bibsy is determined to win the event, even though Natia and others remind her that the library is the real winner and it's not exactly a competition. When the big day finally arrives, it's rainy and Natia is sick. The day doesn't go at all how she planned, but she finds a way to win after all.

This book features black, white, and yellow illustrations that are a quarter to half page on many but not every spread. Bibsy is very enthusiastic and competitive, which is relatable for many children. I appreciate that she found something she could do to help at her young age. Bibsy also faces some uncomfortable truths abut herself, and is able to sincerely apologize and make amends to those affected. There is another Bibsy Cross book published around the same time so this is a series but I'm not sure that it needs to be read in any order.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm pleased that youngsters will have the chance to continue to get to know third grader Bibsy Cross while maybe learning more about themselves and how to navigate life's challenges through this chapter book series for young readers. Fans of Junie B. Jones and Clementine will dive right into this, the second book in the series, and feel at home as Bibsy learns to ride a bike, finds out that winning isn't everything, and that sometimes classmates who seem to be mean also deserve a helping hand. The Photoshop illustrations endearingly depict Bibsy, her family, and those around her. The text and scenarios she encounters are relatable for the book's intended audience, similar to those that some of them have faced or will face in the future. Her battle with her teacher, Mrs. Stumper, continues in some respects as Bibsy simply can't help asking questions or sharing. As someone who had a similar predilection when I was growing up, I can certainly identify with Bibsy urges, her love for books and reading, and her competitive nature. And her parents' habit of having her share the sweet and sour of her day is simply precious, allowing the events of the day to be reviewed in perspective.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second installment of the BIBSY CROSS series by Liz Garton Scanlon, Bibsy is back in action with her best friend Natia. Bibsy loves to ride her bike and she loves to visit the library, so she’s thrilled to learn that the library is holding a bike-a-thon fundraiser. She and Natia make plans to participate together. Despite reminders from Natia that it isn’t a race, Bibsy is determined to “win” the bike-a-thon and she sets out to collect pledges and ramps up her bike riding in anticipation of the event. In the end, Bibsy finds that coming in first isn’t always the most important thing.

As a librarian, I loved the book’s focus on the magic of libraries! Once again, through events that are relatable to many young readers, Bibsy learns an important lesson. Combined with humor and short, well-paced chapters with illustrations, readers will find themselves rooting for Bibsy and looking for more of her adventures in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an eARC of the book with me.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to read the first book in Liz Garton Scanlon's chapter book series for young readers featuring main character a young girl named Bibsy Cross. In this story, Bibsy and her best friend Natia channel their love for the local library by promoting and participating in a fund-raising bike-a-thon. She sets a goal of winning the bike-a-thon with her friend Natia until events challenge her goal of winning and helps her rediscover the more important goal of doing good. Liz chooses to write the story in verse using short chapters which makes the story very accessible for young readers. Dung Ho's engaging illustration provide ample picture support for the story. This would be a good new series to get a young reader hooked on!

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This book was better than the first but its not my favorite series. In this one, Bibsy and her school are doing a Bike A thon to raise money for the local library. The kids are supposed to get pledges for each lap. I love that they were trying to save the library! But I wish there was more explanation of what a bike a thon was. We are told Bibsy loves riding her bike, but we never really see that. Her BFF is sick and the weather is bad, but Bibsy realizes that as long as the library gets money, its a win. Its not about being the best, etc. These books just need a little more character and plot development!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's through NetGalley.
Bibsy is back and partnering with her best friend, Natia, to "win" the library's bike-a-thon fundraiser. They work together to get pledges for biking laps. Bibsy struggles as she really wants to win the most money donations and forgets about the reason for the bike-a-thon. Readers see her learn to make the right decisions even when it means she may not bike the most laps.
Garton Scanlon captures life for an energetic child of this age. Readers will connect with Bibsy and enjoy the humor and underlying seriousness.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I would definitely purchase this for an elementary school library and love that it not only involved fund raising for a school library but also bicycling, complete with helmets! This would be great for fans of Jacobson Twig and Turtle or Meyerhoff's The Friendship Garden series.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cute realistic fiction series for early readers. The illustrations are adorable and complement the story perfectly. Bibsy is very reminiscent of Ramona Quimby. Readers who enjoy series like Jo Jo Makoons, Judy Moody, Ivy and Bean or Nikki and Deja or will love Bibsy right away and this would be a good next step for kids who have read their way through the Junie B. series.

[Mary Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book two in the fantastic new series by Liz Garton Scanlon. In this book, Bibsy learns lessons about winning and not winning, plus what it means to be a true friend, even to someone who is sometimes a meanie.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
Bibsy wants to win the bike-a-thon fundraiser for her library more than anything. When she faces a decision that could cost her the prize, she has to decide if she's doing the right thing or if she's staying the course.

[Georgia Rizzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

IT WAS A LITTLE ESSAY TO READ.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in a very cute, illustrated series about a precocious 3rd grader named Bibsy Cross. This is not a graphic novel but is filled with black and white illustrations. The chapters are short and almost free verse.

I have not read books 1 or 3 yet -- but I have learned that Bibsy is short for Elizabeth and that Bibsy definitely has opinions about the name Elizabeth! But then Bibsy has opinions about most things!
She and her mom and dad live in a suburban neighborhood (along with her beloved cat). They are very close - and it is clear that Bibsy - an only child - is cherished. She also attends a local public school and has a somewhat contentious relationships with her teacher because of Bibsy's rather outspoken opinions on pretty much everything! Though she does raise her hand... she gets quite a bit of eye signals from her teacher on when she should stop sharing her opinions.

Bibsy also loves to ride her bike with her best friend, Natia. And they LOVE the library - so they are thrilled to learn that the library is hosting a bike-a-thon fundraiser to raise money to purchase new books for the library. Bibsy and Natia sign up as Team Batia and start their fund-rasing efforts. Bibsy is determined to WIN the fundraising - even though Natia reminds her that the bike-a-thon is not about them - it's about the library.

On the day of the event, things do not go as planned and Bibsy is put into a character revealing situation. Will she do the right thing? Or stay fixated on her goal of winning?

It's a quick read - and I think K and up would enjoy Bibsy's adventures. Plus there's a lot of room for discussion about the choices Bibsy makes. Bibsy's family appears to be Caucasian but her best friend and other classmates are diverse.