The Bicycle Man

The Bicycle Man, written by Allen Say in 1982, is a children's picture book that served as part of my author study for a class project. Prior to reading this story, I had never read any other works by Allen Say, however after reading this text, I truly became a fan of Allen Say's writing style.  This book in particular portrays Say's writing style as he incorporates many Japanese elements into his writing. The main context of this story is based around Japanese students who fall in love with two American soldier's who bring bicycles onto their school ground. This story shows how even a year after a vital war, two separate countries are able to put their differences aside and come together for the benefit of children while showing them the skills that can be accomplished while riding bikes. The infusion of two separate countries with one another within the texts illustrates the importance of global connections while truly having an understanding for the diversity present within the world. Aside from it's plot, this story also serves as a notable piece of literature that could be incorporated into many social studies units as it deals with issues surrounding the war and invites readers to understand a piece of Japanese history.