Young Kayla has outgrown her small pink bike with training wheels. After her “pink pony” is put out to pasture, she “wrangles a new one from the herd” (a.k.a. the bike shop). She saddles her new blue bike with the name “Wild Blue,” but it’s not quite happy trails, at least initially. Wild Blue bucks, and Kayla is on the ground. Taming Wild Blue takes time and courage. Finally, at the sight of other bicyclists passing by in the park, “Wild Blue lifts her head. Sniffs the wind. She trills her bell, a wild bike whinny.” Wild Blue and Kayla are both ready to ride. Along with the wordplay in the extended metaphor, the illustrations marvelously showcase this small brown-skinned girl’s big imagination. Kayla’s red helmet becomes a red cowgirl hat, and, as her confidence grows once she starts pedaling, her new bike becomes a swift, muscular steed that she joyfully rides. (Ages 4-7)