Pedal, Balance, Steer

“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.” —Kirkus Reviews

“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.” —School Library Journal

“Perseverance and a willingness to try new things win the day in this lively picture-book biography…Kirkfield’s text picks up on attention-grabbing details…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.” —The Horn Book

“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.” —Booklist

“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…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.'” —Publishers Weekly