She’s eager, she’s resilient, she has a two-wheeler and a red feathered friend—but Elena, the enthusiastic purple elephant star of this early reader, still has a ways to go to polish her cycling skills. . . . Medina captures substantial emotional highs and lows in this inspiring tale of persistence, one that’s just right for those taking on another learning curve: reading.
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Spare but engaging prose that includes just a few words or simple sentences per page effectively captures the experience of learning to ride. . . Elena’s persistence offers an important message to anyone attempting to master a new skill, including those just learning to read. . . . This cheerful story with colorful illustrations will appeal to new readers and to parents looking for a read-aloud about perseverance.
—School Library Journal (starred review)
Well designed. . . a stimulating mix of rhyme, alliteration, repetition, and onomatopoeia that is playfully printed and positioned on the page in a manner that underscores its meaning. Medina also captures the many relatable emotions Elena feels throughout the story, from excitement and determination to frustration and joy. A fresh, new offering for the Elephant and Piggie set.
—Booklist
Storytime listeners will be enthralled. . . . Sensational for reading aloud, with dramatic onomatopoeic opportunities aplenty.
—Kirkus Reviews
Gives new readers an inviting, cheerful take on the developmental milestone of learning to ride a bike. . . The text is minimal, to the point, and appropriate for a new reader, but it’s also musical, playful, and fun to read aloud. . . . Repetition of words and sound blends serves the needs of children who are building confidence sounding words out. . . . There are plenty of books about learning to ride a bike, but this one’s approachability for its intended audience, bright imagery, and good humor place it near the front of the peloton.
—The Horn Book
Cheered on by a little red bird, purple elephant Elena tackles the challenges of learning to ride a bike with an exuberance and determination that may remind fans of Juana, the star of Juana Medina’s marvelous ‘Juana’ series set in her native Bogota, Colombia. Medina’s droll illustrations and simple text, clearly showing that spills and frustration are part of the learning process, are perfect for beginning readers.
—The Buffalo News
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