Susan Kesselring - Being Safe on Wheels

Published by The Childs World
1980 Lookout Drive Mankato, MN 56003-1705
800-599-READ www.childsworld.com

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Childs World: Mary Berendes, Publishing Director
The Design Lab: Design and production
Red Line Editorial: Editorial direction

Copyright 2011 by The Childs World
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
utilized in any form or by any means without written permission from
the publisher.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Kesselring, Susan.
Being safe on wheels / by Susan Kesselring;
illustrated by Dan McGeehan.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-60954-371-6 (library bound)
1. SportsSafety measuresJuvenile literature. 2. Childrens
accidentsPreventionJuvenile literature. 3. WheelsJuvenile
literature. I. McGeehan, Dan, ill. II. Title.
GV344.K465 2011
796.028'9dc22 2010040480

Printed in the United States of America
Mankato, MN
December, 2010
PA02069

About the Author

Susan Kesselring loves
children, books, nature, and
her family. She teaches K-1
students in a progressive
charter school down a little
country lane in Castle Rock,
Minnesota. She is the mother
of five daughters and lives
in Apple Valley, Minnesota,
with her husband, Rob, and a
crazy springer spaniel named
Lois Lane.

About the Illustrator

Dan McGeehan spent his
younger years as an actor,
author, playwright, and
editor. Now he spends his
days drawing, and he is
much happier.

H ow do you like to
ride? Is in-line skating your
thing? Do you zoom down
the street on your bike? Or
do you like riding ramps and
doing tricks on your skateboard?

Rolling on wheels is tons of fun. But
you can get hurt if youre not careful.
Thats why you should learn how to be
safe on your favorite wheels!

Hi! Im Buzz B. Safe.
Watch for me! Ill tell
you how to have fun and
be safe on wheels.

Does your bike fit you? Make sure it
does. A salesperson can help you pick
a bike that is the right size for you.

Check out the bikes seat. It should
be tall enough so your knees bend just
slightly when the pedals are closest
to the ground. Next, look at the
handlebars. They
should be as
high as the
seat. Lastly,
sit on your
bike. Make sure
you can place your feet
flat on the ground.

Keep your music player
off until after youre done
wheeling. Headphones can
keep you from hearing cars
coming your way.

Whatever wheels you ride, be sure to
wear the right safety gear. Always
wear a helmet. It can save your life if
you fall hard.

Your helmet should fit snug on
your head. The front of the helmet
should sit about one inch
above your eyebrows.
Only one or two fingers
should fit between the
strap and your chin.

Some kids might think
helmets look silly. But
nothings cooler than something
that can save your life! In
some states, its the law to
wear a helmet.

Next steppads. On a scooter, wear
elbow and knee pads. Add wrist guards
for skateboarding and in-line skating.
Pads can keep you from breaking bones
and getting major cuts if you crash.

When using your bike,
skateboard, or scooter, wear shoes
that stay on your feetnot flip-flops or
slip-ons. You dont want to scrape your
toes. Tie those laces tight so they
dont get caught in the pedals.

Great! Youve got your safety gear on.
Now its time to check a few things.
Try the brakes on your bike or scooter
to make sure they work. Feel the tires.
They should be full
of air. Check
your wheels
to make sure
theyre free of
sticks, rocks, and
other things.
Youre ready
to roll!

Its not a good idea
to ride your wheels at
night. It is hard to see
where you are going in the
dark. Cars cant see you
as well, either.

No matter what kind of wheels you
ride, stay on pavement. Avoid dirt,
gravel, and potholes. If you hit a bump,
you could lose your balance and crash.
Avoid wheeling through water. It could
be slippery.

Most wheels are built
for one person to ride.
Dont let friends ride your
bike, skateboard, or scooter
with you.

On a bike and a scooter, its always
best to keep both hands on the
handlebars at all times. You might
have to quickly steer away from
something. Its easier to do this with
both hands on the handlebars.

Ride away from the road. Focus on
the path in front of you as you ride. If
you need to carry anything, put it in
a backpack or bike basket. That way
your hands are able to steer the bike.