Frank, a fox, and Bert, a bear, are best friends who like to ride bikes together, but Bert wobbles terribly. Frank wants to help Bert, so Frank promises to hold on to Bert’s bike and stay right behind him. Off they go… until Frank lets go and Bert crashes. Bert refuses to ride his bike again because Frank didn’t keep his word. To apologize, Frank puts a seat on the back of his bike for Bert.

Off they go again… until Frank must carry the much heavier Bert up a steep hill. When Frank collapses at the top, Bert refuses to leave him. Bert puts Frank in the passenger seat and sets off down the hill. Frank is sure Bert will crash, but Bert rides safely, all because his best friend was right behind him.

Chris Naylor-Ballesteros has written a charming tale about friendship and never giving up. The illustrations compliment the text well, by filling in unwritten details of Bert’s zany rides and provide one final visual joke that creates the perfect, ironic ending. Fortunately, this is the fourth Frank and Bert book for those little readers may want to know more about these two best friends.

(Review originally published on Manhattan Book Review and book donated to Maltby Food Bank.)