Bella Grows a Bicycle (Lellie Lopter, illus Chiara Franceschetti, Five Mile)

In Bella Grows a Bicycle, Lellie Lopter delivers a warm and imaginative picture book about creativity, sustainability and problem-solving. Bella dreams of owning a new bicycle, but after her dad explains it is too expensive he helps her find an alternative way to make her dream come true. What follows is a gentle tale of resourcefulness. Bella plants a seed, which grows into a radish, which she swaps for a lemon, and so on, until she eventually gets a bike. By exchanging one item for another, Bella and the reader learn about upcycling, sustainability, resourcefulness, problem-solving, financial stability, entrepreneurial skills and community. Chiara Franceschetti’s bright, lively illustrations add an extra layer of joy to the story. At a time when it can feel as though consumerism has become the norm, Bella Grows a Bicycle offers a refreshing message about caring for what we have and recognising the beauty and potential in old and used items – that someone’s trash is another person’s treasure. The book is an optimistic reading experience that encourages children to view the world in new ways and includes thoughtful discussion prompts to help families and educators spark conversations. With its positive themes and practical lessons, this is a valuable addition to school, library and home collections.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Nikki Taylor is an avid reader and reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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