Bella Grows a Bicycle

Bella Grows a Bicycle by Lellie Lopter, illustrated by Chiara Franceschetti (Five Mile Press) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781923457720

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

In this warm and imaginative picture book, Bella Grows a Bicycle introduces young readers to early financial literacy concepts in a lively and fun way. Bella asks her father for a bicycle, but it’s too expensive. Instead, Dad plants a small ‘bicycle’ seed, saying, when it results in a radish, that he says is a ‘swap-berry.’

The story shows Bella’s resilience, perseverance and resourcefulness as the young entrepreneur swaps belongings and upgrades with each swap. She swaps the radish for a lemon, then swaps lemonade for a T-shirt, then makes a tote bag from the T-shirt… and so on.  Eventually, she swaps a scooter for a bicycle, which she and her dad clean and oil. The twist at the end of the tale is that Bella must now work out how to acquire a ‘helmet seed.’

In Bella Grows a Bicycle, Lellie Lopter explores the themes of creativity, sustainability and problem-solving. She demonstrates that versatility and hope, combined with proactivity and faith, can result in a desired outcome. It shows, too, that one can recognise potential in used and old items. As they say, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. 

In her dedication, the author writes, ‘For the dreamers who say, “I want”; and the doers who make it happen.’ This wonderful book shows precisely that

Chiara Franceschetti’s bright, lively illustrations add an extra layer of delight to the story.

With its positive themes and practical lessons, this book is a valuable addition to personal, school, library, and home collections.