Young Kayla has outgrown her small pink bike with training wheels. After her “pink pony” is put out to pasture, she “wrangles a new one from the herd” (a.k.a. the bike shop). She saddles her new blue bike with the name “Wild Blue,” but it’s not quite happy trails, at least initially. Wild Blue bucks, and Kayla is on the ground. Taming Wild Blue takes time and courage. Finally, at the sight of other bicyclists passing by in the park, “Wild Blue lifts her head. Sniffs the wind. She trills her bell, a wild bike whinny.” Wild Blue and Kayla are both ready to ride. Along with the wordplay in the extended metaphor, the illustrations marvelously showcase this small brown-skinned girl’s big imagination. Kayla’s red helmet becomes a red cowgirl hat, and, as her confidence grows once she starts pedaling, her new bike becomes a swift, muscular steed that she joyfully rides. (Ages 4-7)

In a charming take on a milestone moment, a young girl summons a cowpoke’s courage to tame her intimidating new bicycle.


Kayla loves riding her pink pony, a three-wheeled bike, up and down the street, day after day. But then Daddy announces that it’s time for a big-kid bike, one with just two wheels. At the store, Kayla selects her mount, but when she tries to ride it, she is thrown—again and again. Can she tame this intimidating set of wheels? Or is the new blue bike just too wild? Tender and relatable, Wild Blue captures the emotions of moving up in the world through an endearing character with a boundless imagination. Despite falls, bumps, and bruises, Kayla takes her time learning the ropes, until she finally has the confidence to let go of her fear, climb back on, and ride again. Her story will delight and reassure readers transitioning from trikes or training wheels and inspire them to manage setbacks with patience and creativity.