{"id":283784,"date":"2026-07-01T17:10:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T17:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/283784\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T17:10:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T17:10:15","slug":"this-new-book-captures-the-joy-of-biking-in-brooklyn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/283784\/","title":{"rendered":"This New Book Captures The Joy of Biking in Brooklyn"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brooklyn author and podcaster Dan Saks explores how biking can help children build confidence and independence in his new book “On Our Bikes.”<\/p>\n

In his debut picture book, On Our Bikes<\/a>, author Dan Saks<\/a> pulls from his personal experience of riding with his children in Brooklyn to celebrate the joy of learning how to ride a bike.<\/p>\n

The book is colorful and constantly in motion, following children at every stage of a bike-riding journey. Its lyrical writing is a nod to \u201cI Got a Bicycle,\u201d a song written by Saks who is also a music education specialist and creator of the children\u2019s podcast Noodle Loaf<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The idea for On Our Bikes (Penguin Random House, with illustrations by Jo\u00e3o Fazenda<\/a>) originated when Saks would record his call-and-response chants, a compositional technique, while riding his bike with his children. The recordings eventually evolved into the echo-style songs his podcast is known for, and some of those original lyrics made their way directly into the book, he told BK Reader.<\/p>\n

Like Saks\u2019 previous board books, the theme of the new book similarly centers on family and community. This time, he chose the picture book format to reach a slightly older audience (ages 2 to 5) so children can see themselves in its pages and feel proud of joining what he calls \u201cthe great parade of humanity riding around on two wheels.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s my love letter to bike riding,\u201d said Saks. \u201cThis book is more for that age group that is really starting to feel the joy of bike riding firsthand.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\nA page from “On Our Bikes” by Dan Saks. Photo: Book Supplied by Penguin Random House\/ Photo by Emily Suhr for BK Reader <\/p>\n

Although Saks has lived in many places, none inspires his creativity quite like Brooklyn. The borough\u2019s \u201cvisually diverse\u201d community and use of shared spaces, like the parks, shape his work. The book even includes subtle local shoutouts, like an illustration of the Lofty Pigeon Books<\/a>\u00a0bookstore in Kensington.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiving in Brooklyn, it gives me just this real feeling of appreciating our differences\u2026how rich it makes my life, personally, to be able to live someplace with all these different kinds of people,\u201d said Saks. \u201cI don’t even like really calling them differences, ’cause I think it’s the things that make us the same in some ways.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n. Photo: Emily Suhr for BK Reader <\/p>\n

The appreciation for biking goes beyond just riding. Saks also hopes readers will help make streets safer for cyclists.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’d like drivers to open their doors with their right hand,\u201d said Saks. \u201cSo, with their right arm, you look over your shoulder before opening your door. I’d like everyone to, that’s my [public service announcement].\u201d<\/p>\n

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