Vera Rides a Bike
on Goodreads (51)
What’s inside...
Vera learns to ride her new bicycle, but she has a little trouble stopping.
Why read this book
- Encourages independence and resilience in young children.
- Highlights the joy and challenges of learning new skills.
- Inspires perseverance through relatable childhood experiences.
- Beautiful illustrations enhance engagement and comprehension.
Discussion points
How did Vera feel when she first tried riding the bike, and have you ever felt the same way when trying something new?
What are some of the challenges Vera faced, and how did she overcome them?
Why is it important to keep trying even when something is difficult?
How did Vera's friends and family help her in learning to ride a bike?
What would you like to learn next, and how can you apply Vera's determination to your own goals?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the discussion by sharing a personal story about learning something new, making the conversation relatable and encouraging open responses.
Highlight the importance of perseverance displayed by Vera. Praise your child when they show determination in any task, linking back to Vera's story.
Ask your child to draw a picture or describe a scene from the book that they found interesting. Use their artwork or description as a basis for further discussion about the book's themes.
Encourage your child to think about how they can support their friends, just like Vera's friends supported her, fostering a sense of empathy and community.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: The main character, Vera, faces challenges while learning to ride her bike but she persists despite the difficulties.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by tackling their own challenges, such as learning a new skill or dealing with setbacks in school or sports, with determination and persistence.
Example Lesson: Self-confidence
Explanation: As Vera practices and improves, her self-confidence grows, showing how achieving small goals can boost self-esteem.
Real-World Application: Kids can learn to set achievable goals and grow their self-confidence by celebrating small victories in tasks such as completing homework, participating in class, or learning a musical instrument.
Example Lesson: Learning from mistakes
Explanation: Vera makes several mistakes as she learns to ride her bike, but each mishap teaches her something new about riding successfully.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to view mistakes as learning opportunities, helping them to embrace challenges in academic subjects or other learning activities without fear of failure.
Example Lesson: Support and encouragement
Explanation: The support from Vera’s family and friends plays a crucial role in her journey to learn bike riding.
Real-World Application: Children can understand the importance of giving and receiving support and can practice encouraging their peers and siblings in school projects, sports, or other group activities.
Example Lesson: Joy in achieving goals
Explanation: When Vera finally learns to ride her bike, she experiences immense joy, which highlights the emotional reward of achieving goals.
Real-World Application: This can motivate children to work toward their own goals, understanding that the journey might be tough, but the outcome can bring great joy and satisfaction.