As the title suggests, Molly (Molly Goes Shopping, 2003) is learning to ride a bicycle the hard way. Unfortunately, and fortunately, she crashes right into a driving instructor who clues her in to the secret of navigation—don’t look directly at whatever it is you’re trying not to run into, or, “Keep your eye on the road!” The best part of this simple story is the soft, old-fashioned colored-pencil illustrations of Molly, a charming young pig wearing a pumpkin-top helmet, and her kind, kerchief-sporting, blue-frocked Grandma, who might be a bear. Details such as the startled mouse waitress’s joggled ice cream sundaes as Molly hits the instructor, and the scrappy stance of the mean kids who taunt Molly, are priceless. Youngsters may be comforted to discover that riding a bike may not be easy, but with a little practice and some sound advice, they might even surpass Grandma down the road. A quirky, winsome crash course for aspiring cyclists. (Picture book. 5-7)
