Ryan and Robbie's Bike Ride Adventure and Lao Lao's Chinese Secrets

by Roger Hackett, Keri Clark (Editor), Jared Beckstrand (Illustrator)

When your heart is beating fast with fun, then your adventure has just begun... Ryan and his younger brother, Robbie, love pot stickers, sweet rice cakes, and riding their bikes. But during their latest neighborhood adventure, they face a number of challenges, from a big pile, of leaves that need raking to a soccer ball that's stuck in a tree. Luckily, Ryan and Robbie each have a special necklace-and their Chinese grandmother's secrets-to help them tackle any problem!

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Roger Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Roger Hackett
Illustrator: Jared Beckstrand
Publisher: Ryan and Robbie
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9820254-6-8
Pages: 64
Price: $15.99

Author's website
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Ryan and Robbie have new bikes, and can hardly wait to have some adventures. But before they leave, their mother has a special gift for them. She is Chinese, and she gives them each a pendant with a symbol on it, and shares a bit of secret wisdom. As they bike around the neighborhood with their dad, they discover situations that require this wisdom, and they use it to solve problems together.

I liked the fact that this is a multi-cultural family, and that their Chinese mom wants to share her traditions with her children. The message of teamwork and being a good older sibling is also presented in a non-preachy manner. But I had a hard time seeing this bike ride as an adventure. Nothing particularly adventurous happens and their dad is with them the whole time.

Ryan & Robbie's Bike Ride Adventure also comes with a read-along CD, so kids can listen as they read. Jared Beckstrand's illustrations are bright and crisp, and complement the text well. Overall, this story is a good read for kids.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

[Victoria Simcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ryan & Robbie's Bike Ride Adventure and Lao Lao's Chinese Secrets," by Roger Hackett, illustrations by Jared Beckstrand is an unforgettable adventure not only into the lives of two brothers, but also into a global, multi-cultural world, children may otherwise not see or know. A rare treat for any child's library!

Robbie & Ryan learn timeless lessons from their ancestors & cultivate a new appreciation for "working together" through a very special gift!

The inclusion of the Chinese language is incorporated perfectly, exposing young readers to the beauty and fluency of other nationalities. It brings a big world much closer & reveals the appreciation found in non-western cultures & their practices.

The simplicity of the story is perhaps most beautiful, offering global lessons through youthful, understandable & relateable dialogue.

However, what was most captivating was the professionalism, color, & appeal of the illustrations. The pictures illuminate the page & compel its readers forward completely effortlessly.

In the end, readers will grow in a new appreciation for other cultures but will also learn delightful lessons on cooperation, compatibility, & compassion. A well worth purchase for any child!

[Barbara Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful multicultural book for children! We are all from somewhere and we all come with a different ancestry complete with our own unique traditions from our part of the world. This book teaches some of the cultural differences and yet shows how we are all similar despite the traditions we know from where our family originated. It’s a small world and this mingling has made it a very interesting world to live in. This book also teaches how delightful a routine day can be and how much we can learn through interaction with others in the course of a normal day. Children and adults alike will love this book. And the illustrations are terrific!

[Steven Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming book. I am from Los Angeles and am particularly pleased with its multicultural approach. Ryan and Robbie's family is loving and supportive. The introduction of Chinese culture is a treat and hints at a gentle magic. I recommend this book to parents of young children who are looking for something that promotes positive values in a fresh and colorful way.