My Sister's Rusty Bike: A Novel

by Jim Aylesworth, Richard Hull (Illustrator)

America's a big country full of all sorts of different people. Our hero in this book tells us about a dozen or so he met during a zany, zigzag trip around the country on his sister's rusty bike. As he says:

"I met some gals. I met some guys."

"I met their critters too."

"And though you may be dubious, "

"I swear that it's all true."

Whether the truth gets stretched a bit or not, children will be amused by such regular folks as Pat McDuff, whose cats are, well, rather different. In Granite Falls, Minnesota, Jojo Jones's pet toads would be the envy of any toad in the land. And then there's Benny Finn of Toonerville, Colorado, whose house gets rather lively whenever he sets out to vacuum the rugs. Jim Aylesworth's witty, homespun rhymes blend perfectly with Richard Hull's quirky, stylized illustrations to introduce this gathering of Americans who, in their own eccentric way, suggest the breadth of the land.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Poetry

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1996

About the author

Jim Aylesworth was born in Jacksonville, Florida but as an infant moved from the state. He lived in many places during his childhood: Alabama, Indiana, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas... but by the time Aylesworth was 15 his family had settled in Hinsdale, Illinois and that is where he graduated from high school in 1961.

In 1965, he graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a B.A. in English. He returned to Hinsdale and began a career as a stockbroker. By 1970, however, Aylesworth was thinking about what he really wanted to do. After a series of assignments as a substitute teacher, Aylesworth ended up in a primary classroom. He began teaching first grade students in Oak Park, Illinois in 1971 and entered Concordia College in River Forest, Illinois, to earn a graduate degree in elementary education -- a goal he reached in 1978.

But it was his work with children that brought him the most reward. It was Aylesworth's experiences as a teacher that eventually led him to writing children's books.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice illustrations and fun story, but each page is its own little poem. I'm not sure how it would go over in a story time, I might try it and paperclip a few spreads together because it's a little long.

[Melissa Perez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good illustrations.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I once rode around America on my sister’s rusty bike. I found some crazy places and some folks I think you’ll like.”

The author then proceeds to tell the reader about cats with purple fur is Massachusetts, pink pet sheep in West Virginia, pigs dancing jigs in Alabama, horses watching TV in Oklahoma and a white crow that quote Poe in California, etc. etc. etc.

Fun stuff!

[AMY · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a silly story about a guy who is riding his sister's bike to different states and meeting all kinds of silly people. The illustrations are colorful and whimsical. There is a lot going on there. This rhyming book is full of drama and interesting events. Recommended for Grades K-2.

[Marilyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

The beginning of each page was the same! Ugh!

[wildct2003 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crazy rhymes

[Emma Apple · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a coincidence that I picked up 3 of this authors books, but I’m glad I did! The illustrators for each one do such a brilliant job, the writing is clever and witty and fun. Just, a great author! This story is a journey around the United States, that a man takes on, you guessed it, his sister’s rusty bike. We learn the name of one place in each state he visits, and each time, we’re told about a quirky person who lives there (the places are real, but I don’t think there’s really a person with pigs who dance jigs). Another really fun book, definitely check out this authors books when you’re at the library or bookstore next time, or click the title to check them out on Amazon.

(This review is from my Picture Book Blog series. Read more here: http://creativemuslimwomen.com/pictur... )

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations are in a style of which I am not overly fond. The text also gets a bit repetitive after the first few pages. The people that the main character meets and their pets may get some laughs out of kids, and the little bit of a geography lesson is nice. However, overall there are better picture books out there.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned about this book a few years back, when Jim Aylesworth read it as a guest artist at our school. My students love the repeated pattern and the humorous situations.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhyming text tells the journey through some of the United States on a rusty old bike.

[Jen]

verse about a trip around the country

[Luis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good illustrations. Rhyming text that describes the journey of the character as he travels around the country.

[Cora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading this to my students and I love to rhythm of it. A fun little read!

[Danielle Mootz · Rating 5 out of 5]

We had a great time reading this book. The kids caught on to the repetition and chimed right in.

[Tracy Holland · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy treks across the US on his sister's rust bike, as the title suggests. With rhyme, and rhythm, the author highlights different cities and sites as seen by narrator as he treks across the country.