Where There's a Wheel, There's a Way

In Where There's a Wheel, There's a Way, author Claudia Knott gives young readers a tale about tackling new activities and knowing it's perfectly all right to be frightened of new things. In this case, Timmy is embarrassed by the fact that he can't seem to figure out how to ride a bike. Wild dreams begin to play out in Timmy's head as he tries to deal with both his fear of learning and the shame of not knowing. While unsure about bike riding, Timmy does know that he is an excellent basketball player. Instead of dealing with his two-wheeled demon, he decides to stick to the basketball courts; that is, until he learns that Ernie, an older kid who happens to be the neighborhood's speediest cyclist, stinks at basketball. The difference is that Ernie isn't a bit afraid to ask Timmy for help on his jump shot and free throws. Maybe if Timmy helps Ernie master a skill, Ernie will help Timmy master one, too.