Lotta's Bike

Barnen på Bråkmakargatan #3

by Astrid Lindgren, Ilon Wikland (Illustrator)

Lotta is quite confident that she knows how to ride a bike, but unlike her older brother and sister, she doesn't have one. On her fifth birthday, Lotta gets a picture book, a swing, and a shiny red handbag -- but no bicycle. However, Lotta's neighbor Mrs. Berg keeps a bicycle in her shed, and she takes long afternoon naps. Lotta decides to act on her own. But that's when she discovers that not all bicycles, stolen or otherwise, are equally easy to ride!

The determined Lotta's many scrapes and her charming small-town surroundings are portrayed with a great deal of sympathetic detail.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Swedish Literature, Fiction, Sweden, Classics, German Literature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

About the author

Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren, née Ericsson, (1907 - 2002) was a Swedish children's book author and screenwriter, whose many titles were translated into 85 languages and published in more than 100 countries. She has sold roughly 165 million copies worldwide. Today, she is most remembered for writing the Pippi Longstocking books, as well as the Karlsson-on-the-Roof book series.

Awards:
Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (1958)

Reviews

[♡ Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lotta hat bald Geburtstag. Sie wird fünf. Und sie wünscht sich von Herzen ein neues Fahrrad, denn ihr Dreirad mag sie nicht mehr. Doch dann bekommt sie zum Geburtstag zwar viele schöne Geschenke, aber leider kein Fahrrad. Lotta ist enttäuscht und mopst sich heimlich das alte Fahrrad ihrer Nachbarin Tante Berg...
❤️ Wieder eine zuckersüße Lotta-Geschichte. Ich mag Lotta. Sie ist sehr selbstbewusst, auch ein bisschen vorlaut und frech, und doch kann man ihr einfach nicht böse sein.
Sehr schöne Geschichten, die man immer wieder lesen und vorlesen kann.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh that Lotta. What a brave and determined little girl. Sure, now she expresses herself by crying and stealing (I'm sure it was justified in her mind that the bike wasn't getting used anyway). But she's just turned five, after all! And it is her birthday, and she does appreciate all her other presents. I just wonder how she's going to turn out. She might go diva or bridezilla, but I doubt it. I bet she'll be strong enough to make her own way, but still as nice as her loving family and as her adopted granny, Mrs. Berg next door.

And of course the pix by Wikland make my heart both sing and ache.

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up with Lotta. As far as I can remember, this was my first book of her.

And damn do I still love it. I wish I had it with me atm. But fortunately I know it by heart. :3

What I especially like is that Lindgren always, always clearly wrote with the best interest for children in her mind. She showed that hitting children is wrong, that children will always do stupid and reckless things because that is the only way you can learn sometimes.
That life can be just fun.

Lotta is realistic in her brattiness. She is demanding, loud, a bit arrogant, lies and wants to be special - though, granted, she's the youngest and a bit spoiled.
And she doesn't just demand things - if she doesn't get them, she'll go get them herself. While that is not always the smartest thing to do, it makes for a not only believable but absolutely charming child and character. There's nothing interesting in characters who only let things happen to them, safe it's when it's used to illustrate their problems in life.

Lotta's adventures are a must-read for every child, and a must-give to children for every parent. Astrid Lindgren's views on children and how they should be treated should be exemplary to everyone.
And it's just so friggin' funny!

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lotta is a 5 year old who wants to ride a bike like her older siblings. She hatches a plan to ride a bike on her birthday and suffers the consequences.

The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful. The story is cute and entertaining.

This is a great one for your child's personal library. I also think this would make a good gift, because its so wonderful and uncommon and about birthdays.

[Barbara Garvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lotta was my hero when I was little and this was my favorite book for years.

[AURORA RU · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kā Astrīdai Lindgrēnai tas mēdz būt - trakulīgs un ļoti nepedagoģisks- nepamācošs stāsts, toties tik mīlīgs un omulīgs. Un ar karsta temperamenta varoņiem - man šī Lota arvien vairāk patīk! Kritieni no riteņa aprakstīti un uzzīmēti patiešām bīstami, bet beigas ir laimīgas.

[Jelka · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite books when I was little!

[briz · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the risk of being bludgeoned in the comments, the art is much livelier and beautifuler here than in the Pippi books. Wait, did Astrid Lindgren illustrate her stories as well? Or no? I actually haven't even checked this.

Anyway, Lotta is a girl turning 5. She lives in some charming, small Scandi town. She is gung ho on getting and riding a bike for her birthday. She lies in bed telling her stuffed pig (extremely cute) about these desires - this determination!! She is a very determined little girl. On the day of her birthday, she gets an impressive haul: giant breakfast in bed, giant cake, swing in the backyard, bracelet, some other stuff. BUT NO BIKE. How will Lotta cope? Not well, she's 5. But not, like, godawful terribly; she's not 2.

This book is just a bit too hard for me, German-wise, and just a bit too long for my kid. But, again, it features violence - even blood!! - and that basically ensures its spot in the bedtime book rotation. I mostly admire the gorgeous art.

[Cecilia Lattari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letto nella traduzione italiana, Britta in bicicletta, con la stessa copertina e le stesse illustrazioni - di Ilon Wikland - dell'edizione inglese; meraviglioso. A partire proprio da queste, illustrazioni ispiranti, ricche di dettagli, di fiori, di petali e primavera, sono quasi disegni in movimento. Questo piccolo racconto è un'ode alla determinazione, alla gioia di vivere e alla forza di chi è piccolo. ci ricorda che è necessario cadere per imparare! Ho molto amato la relazione tra Britta/Lotta e la signora Berg, la vicina di casa, un'anziana signora che saggiamente riconosce quanto sia importante desiderare, in ogni età della vita. Non a caso, nel suo giardino cresce una grande pianta di rosa, che è pianta voluttuosa e che allo stesso tempo sa proteggersi.
Bellissimo, ad Astrid Lindgren non finiremo mai di dire grazie.

[madziar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lotta chce robić wszystko to, co jej starsze rodzeństwo - Jonas i Mia-Maria. Jest mała, więc wiele rzeczy robi "po kryjomu" i opowiada o wszystkim ukochanej przytulance, Niśkowi. Gdy na piąte urodziny odkrywa, że wsród prezemtów nie będzie upragnionego małego roweru, postanawia zwędzić stary rower cioci Berg. Gdy ciocia zasypia, wyprowadza po kryjomu stary rower cioci i puszcza się na nim w dół ulicy Awanturników. Wszystko kończy się niegroźnym wypadkiem, ale najbardziej boli zgubienie bransoletki i przekonanie, że to najgorsze urodziny w życiu...

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lotta was soon to be 5 and she wanted more than anything to have a bicycle to ride, just like her older brother and sister. When her birthday came and she didn't get a bike, she decided to steal the big bike her nice neighbour owned and take it for a ride down the steep street. But Lotta was little and the bike was so big!
Wonderful illustrations.

[Denise {børnelitteraturformidler} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sødeste lille Lotte kan SELVFØLGELIG godt cykle - i smug i hvert fald <3

Dejlig fortælling om Lottes stærke vilje, der både får hende til at komme til skade, men også viser alle andre, at hvis man virkelig gerne vil noget, så skal man nok også lære det (også selvom det kræver tid, blod og tårer!)

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The extremely precocious Lotta reminds me a lot of the young Ramona Quimby. Nothing is going to stop this young lady (barely turned 5 years old) from getting a bicycle! The colorful and detailed illustrations follow Lotta's birthday adventures and misadventures with humor and compassion.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sally and I found this at the library about 35 years ago.

[Kristal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Lotta learn a lesson the hard way about not taking other people’s things. Also, they really didn’t like helmets in the 70s, did they?

[Andreea Olteanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a nice and funny book! Lotta is quite a girl: determined and self aware! Amazing book for little girls

[Kaligule · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is clearly a book for young children, yet 30 year old me was spellbound by it.

[Agris Fakingsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

..bērnišķīgi jauks stāsts par Loti, viņas dzimšanas dienu un riteni. | 4,5*

[Marta Fridrihsone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dikti forša un dauzonīga tā mazā Lota! Tāds mīlīgs un nesarežģīts stāsts ar skaistām ilustrācijām.

[Elize · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0 stars

[Emkoshka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute and delightfully European in its depiction of a sleepy village and the ubiquitous bicycle; what a liberating and joyful part of childhood that was! Lotta is a bit of a brat, but she does have a lot of spunk and self-belief for a 5-year-old.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance]

A 1001 CBYMRBYGU.

Lotta is disappointed that she did not get a bike for her birthday. When she sees her neighbor has an old bike stored away in the garage, Lotta concocts a scheme to steal the bike and ride it.

[Marie_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mein erstes Schwedisches Buch

[BetweenLinesAndLife]

This was a cute little story perfect for its audience including the moral message within (although I do have some questions regarding that! Lotta is basically stealing a bike? And kind of getting away with it?)
I definitely appreciated the illustrations in this a whole lot!

[Skylar Burris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too wordy. No real consquence for stealing, except she does at least feel ashamed. Not one I'd read again to my kids.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend got me this staple of my childhood for Christmas, and it was as lovely as I remember it to be.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story! I liked Lotta.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

adorable little precocious child! But I love the illustrations by Wikland the most.

[Lise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute picture book about Lotta