Pedal, Balance, Steer

December 15, 2023
A cycling novice takes up an extraordinary challenge. Two men offered $10,000 to the first woman to circumnavigate the globe by bike. Annie Londonderry--full name Annie Cohen Kopchovsky Londonderry (1870-1947)--a 24-year-old Jewish homemaker, had never ridden a bike, but she needed that money. The deal had a few stipulations: She had to earn $5,000 while traveling and return in 15 months or less. As a child, Annie had faced challenges learning English as a recent Latvian immigrant. Now she mastered cycling--in two lessons. On June 25, 1894, Annie left Boston with only an extra pair of undergarments. Roads were rough; she ate sparingly and occasionally slept on the ground. Eventually, Annie doffed her skirts, instead opting for bloomers. She traded her bike for a lighter, faster, brakeless men's racer, changed directions, and boarded a Europe-bound ship, where she gave paid lectures. She made her way through Asia, sailed the Pacific, and crossed the United States. Journalists reported on the exploits of Annie, who continued earning money by lecturing. On September 12, 1895, she completed her journey, 14 days early. This fast-paced, well-written tale tells the story of a remarkable, determined woman. The quirky, lively illustrations, rendered in oil paint with varnish, sometimes presented as vignettes, nicely capture period settings and details. The mantra "pedal, balance, steer" "careens" throughout the artwork, the words and letters playfully stretching out; quotes from Annie are interspersed throughout. A fascinating, larger-than-life personality is deservedly brought to readers' attention in this fine offering. (author's note; brakes, bloomers, and other bicycle bits; timeline; bibliography) (Informational picture book. 6-10)

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January 1, 2024
Perseverance and a willingness to try new things win the day in this lively picture-book biography. Latvian Jewish immigrant Annie Cohen Kopchovsky (1870�? 1947) is a hard worker with a determined spirit, and when she sees an advertisement that the first woman to bicycle around the world in fifteen months will win ten thousand dollars, she immediately signs up for cycling lessons. Despite never having ridden a bicycle before, Annie (now with a new last name given to her by an advertiser) soon starts a grueling journey from Boston with many setbacks, from injury to thievery to overzealous customs officials. She builds support wherever she goes by connecting with other cyclists, completes her journey in the allotted time, and begins her new life as a celebrity journalist championing women's independence. Kirkfield's text picks up on attention-grabbing details, such as the single pair of underwear that is the only thing in Annie's pocket as she begins her ride, and keeps the story focused with a repeated chorus of "Pedal. Balance. Steer!" That refrain is often worked into the illustrations, the words winding beside Annie's bicycle in Jay's characteristic flat oil paintings with a crackled varnish that adds to the sense of history. Direct quotes are often included in speech bubbles in a cursive text (which can be difficult to decode). Back matter includes an author's note with more information on Kopchovsky, the history of biking and of women riding bikes, a timeline, and an extensive bibliography. Laura Koenig

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 15, 2024
Using the titular refrain, this stirring chronicle highlights the tenacity of record-breaking cyclist Annie Londonderry (1870–1947) via the Latvian-born biker’s arduous round-the-world journey. Motivated by the substantial prize offered to the first woman to cycle around the globe, mother of three Londonderry decides to give it a try, despite not knowing how to ride. She sets off from Boston after only two cycling lessons, a single pair of underwear tucked into her pocket. The trip is not without challenges: she’s robbed, set upon by bandits, has her bike confiscated, and endures many accident-induced bruises and injuries. En route, she also hones valuable storytelling, presentation, and entrepreneurial skills, and Kirkfield articulates the inspiration she offered to those following news of her progress. Jay employs oil on paper with a crackled effect in delicate stylized renderings. Concluding lines reinforce a motivational takeaway: “She’d proven that she could do anything she put her mind to.” Secondary characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author’s note concludes. Ages 7–10.

January 1, 2024
Grades 2-5 On June 25, 1894, young wife and mother Annie Kopchovsky (later known as Annie Londonderry) set off from her Boston home in an effort to become the first woman to cycle around the world. Buoyed by the promise of $10,000 if she completed the journey within 15 months, she pedaled first to Chicago, before backtracking to New York and sailing for France. Throughout her journey, she took full advantage of the rules, enabling her to travel by train and boat when necessary. She also supported her trek by accepting sponsorships from cycling companies, changing her name to reflect Londonderry bicycles, and giving public lectures where she frequently exaggerated her exploits. Jay's varnished alkyd oil illustrations, rendered in sepia tones and greens with navy accents, capture the feel of the 1890s, when women in pants were a novelty. She also depicts maps that give a sense of Annie's adventures around the world and incorporates printed documents and text into the artwork. With generous back matter, this is a good addition to history and sports units.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 21, 2024

Gr 1-4-In illustrations with a finish that resembles craquelure, a crackled effect like that in ceramics, the story of Annie Londonderry, the first woman to ride a bicycle around the world, unfolds. Her real name was Annie Cohen Kopchovsky; with experience in advertising, she adopted the name Londonderry in exchange for $100 from the Londonderry Lithia Spring Water Company, and added a sign to her bike. The adventure began in 1894, when Londonderry, originally from Latvia, heard of the contest that would pay $10,000 upon the completion of the global journey. Two bike lessons later, pedal, balance, steer, she commenced. An author's note, time line of important historical moments in women's suffrage, and bibliography will help children who want to know more. The main narrative is a clipped third-person perspective, but speech bubbles convey Londonderry's own words, sourced in the back. What an industrious person! On the journey, she switched corset for bloomers, a heavy bike for a lightweight men's frame, and earned money as a speaker; after, she used the money to move her three children to New York where she worked for a newspaper. The scenes have a lovely, old-fashioned sensibility, but the elongated, Giacometti-like forms of the people dashing about in settings all over the world are dynamic and full of fun. VERDICT Bike trip, roller-coaster ride, feminist voyage-this story has it all, and it's true. For the biography shelves, this is full of heart, humor, and can-do spirit.-Kimberly Olson Fakih

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2024
Perseverance and a willingness to try new things win the day in this lively picture-book biography. Latvian Jewish immigrant Annie Cohen Kopchovsky (1870-1947) is a hard worker with a determined spirit, and when she sees an advertisement that the first woman to bicycle around the world in fifteen months will win ten thousand dollars, she immediately signs up for cycling lessons. Despite never having ridden a bicycle before, Annie (now with a new last name given to her by an advertiser) soon starts a grueling journey from Boston with many setbacks, from injury to thievery to overzealous customs officials. She builds support wherever she goes by connecting with other cyclists, completes her journey in the allotted time, and begins her new life as a celebrity journalist championing women's independence. Kirkfield's text picks up on attention-grabbing details, such as the single pair of underwear that is the only thing in Annie's pocket as she begins her ride, and keeps the story focused with a repeated chorus of "Pedal. Balance. Steer!" That refrain is often worked into the illustrations, the words winding beside Annie's bicycle in Jay's characteristic flat oil paintings with a crackled varnish that adds to the sense of history. Direct quotes are often included in speech bubbles in a cursive text (which can be difficult to decode). Back matter includes an author's note with more information on Kopchovsky, the history of biking and of women riding bikes, a timeline, and an extensive bibliography.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)