Cover Image: A Potato on a Bike

A Potato on a Bike

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Member Reviews

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don't know why this is a board book. This would be more successful geared to preshool. I guess it's a bit too simple for that age group, but it could have been a really fun story.

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Cute book with appealing illustrations for preschool kids. It has all of these little characters...a pickle, a cupcake, a fork...doing things they wouldn't normally be able to do..like drive cars and use skateboards. Kids would giggle at this of course. Each one starts out with "Have you ever seen?" Then shows the pic...ie: Have you ever seen a pickle playing hockey? The next page says, "NO WAY!" That is the way the book goes as you turn the pages. But, I agree with a few other reviews. I think it does end a little abruptly. It's cute. I do recommend it. I think very little kids would like it and it's good for language.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for a digital to read for review.

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This is a fun, silly book that ends with the reader tickling the baby being read to.

Good for toddler storytimes.

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A Potato on a Bike is a cute book for a toddler. Each page offers funny pictures of things that you would would always say would never happen, like poop wearing glasses. After each picture you see the words "No Way".

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A Potato on a Bike by Elise Gravel is a board book currently scheduled for release on October 8 2019. The text's repeated asking Have you ever seen…? preceding the refrain No way! will have toddlers yelling "No way!" themselves as you read through these silly situations. Celebrated artist Elise Gravel brings the silly to a new level in A Potato on a Bike, because really, has anyone ever seen a broccoli counting to ten or a sausage reading a book? But wait, how about a...baby being tickled?! Uh-oh, I think the answer for that is—yes way!

A Potato on a Bike is a book I read because of the Gravel name. I had yet to be disappointed by her work. The illustrations are as cute as I expected, and the text was silly and nonsensical. Since it is a board book it is intended to be silly and simple for the youngest of readers, but I have to admit that I was kind of hoping for something more just because Gravel usually blows me away. It is a collection of silly situations that no one has ever seen, followed by one that most of us have. Simple, cute, and fun but no quirky twist or fact to tie it all together for me- although it would be the great precursor to some tickling.

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This book contains silly pairings such as wings on a toothbrush and a pickle playing hockey. Each extravagant sight is followed by “No Way!”

Children will enjoy repeating the phrase “No Way!” after each page. They will laugh about the funny things the objects are doing. The illustrations are simply and effective with just a few colors used on each.

My only issue (and it is not only with this book) is the latest trend to use poop in children’s books. I don’t understand the necessity in adding “Poop wearing Glasses?”

Even so, I would still recommend the book for toddlers and young preschoolers who are beginning to understand pairs and what things go together.


I received an ARC from Orca Book Publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book.

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I received a copy of this arc from Netgalley for an honest review. I love everything that Elise Gravel does and I can add this to the list. Kids will love the questions and they will all get a laugh out of them.

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THis one definitely has a board book feel. It doesn't really have a plot. It's a series of silly questions, designed only to elicit giggles from a toddler. THe illustrations are simple and humorous.

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It was alright. There was a potato. The potato rode a bike. It was super short and sweet and had some mildly interesting illustrations, though it just didn't feel like a special story that I'd share with anyone.

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We love Elise Gravel at my school and I like how quirky she is. This book is no exception. I know the kids will get a kick out of this. Especially the poop jokes!

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My three year old and I have very different opinions on this book. He absolutely loved every aspect of it. While I appreciated the illustrations and get the humor it was going for, it just didn’t hit home for me. He on the other hand, he was belly-laughing. It is not one I would want to read repeatedly, but he gives it a rave review.

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As an adult, I thought this book was just dumb, but my grandchildren thought it was hilarious. There was repeated text that they could shout or read along with me. They thought the illustrations were pretty funny, although, I thought they were very simplistic. Having said all that, I had to read it three times before they let me move on to a different book. This would make a great beginning reader book with the repetition and I can see my grandson reading this to his little sister by the end of the year. I would rate this one a two star, but being as it is not geared to adults and the kids loved it, I give it 4 stars.

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While there were some cute characters doing cute things, some of the characters were not so appealing. There was no need to include poop or a character on a toilet. There are plenty of other options in children's books that would better suit my preferences.

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This would make a very fun story time read. I could really see the audience getting in on the “No Way” portions. And it could easily be turned into a puppet or storyboard story. It is very similar to the Down By the Bay song where it asks over and over again if you have ever seen something ridiculous. The illustrations are spot on simple, making this a very enjoyable read.

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As other reviewers have stated, this is a simple little book. The illustrations are cute and I really enjoyed them. However, the repetitiveness, lack of connection from page-to-page, and potty talk was not my jam. My 8-year-old is definitley beyond the target crowd for this and thought it was silly. Definitely a baby/toddler book for families that are ok with potty talk. I was given the chance to review a digital Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley to share my honest opinions with you.

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Simple language filled with imaginative scenarios targeted to the babies and toddlers but would also be a useful book in assisting beginning readers due to the repetitive style and language choice. As poop and a toilet are mentioned it would also be perfect for the potty training set.

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I can’t say I was overly impressed with this book. I was expecting a twist ending that would be really funny but it didn’t come. I could see reading it one on one and tickling them at the end with the story, however it isn’t something I’d use as a read aloud and I didn’t think the premise was very wonderful.

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4 stars!!

This was such a cute a fun book that toddlers and preschoolers will LOVE! Especially the repetitiveness of the saying after asking a question. My daughter loved waiting for me to ask , "Have you ever seen- a potato on a bike or a flying toothbrush?" And then giving the "NO WAY !!" Response. I think this would be a great interactive book for story or circle time. I would definitely recommend it!

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Ce livre est ludique et charmant! Un must pour les petits qui sauront apprécier l'humour de cette histoire.

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Mom: I read through this book before handing it off to MyChild. She is clearly outside the intended audience, but who doesn’t love a cute board book now and again. Honestly, I don’t know that I would have purchased this book even when she was the “right” age.
MyChild: I thought it was kind of funny. My favorite part was the Ball on a Toilet!
Mom: I guess I should never discount how funny potty humor and jokes can be – at any age.
I do really like the style of Ms. Gravel’s work, so I will be looking into other works of hers in MyChild’s age/reading level.

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