Tillie the Terrible Swede: How One Woman, a Sewing Needle, and a Bicycle Changed History

When Tillie Anderson came to America, all she had was a needle. So she got herself a job in a tailor shop and waited for a dream to find her. One day, a man sped by on a bicycle. She was told ‘bicycles aren t for ladies,’ but from then on, Tillie dreamed of riding—not graceful figure eights, but speedy, scorching, racy riding! And she knew that couldn t be done in a fancy lady s dress. . . . With arduous training and her (shocking!) new clothes, Tillie became the women s bicycle-riding champion of the world.
Sue Stauffacher s lively text and Sarah McMenemy s charming illustrations capture the energy of America s bicycle craze and tell the story of one woman who wouldn t let society s expectations stop her from achieving her dream.

When Tillie Anderson came to America, all she had was a needle. So she got herself a job in a tailor shop and waited for a dream to find her. One day, a man sped by on a bicycle. She was told ‘bicycles aren t for ladies,’ but from then on, Tillie dreamed of riding—not graceful figure eights, but speedy, scorching, racy riding! And she knew that couldn t be done in a fancy lady s dress. . . . With arduous training and her (shocking!) new clothes, Tillie became the women s bicycle-riding champion of the world.
Sue Stauffacher s lively text and Sarah McMenemy s charming illustrations capture the energy of America s bicycle craze and tell the story of one woman who wouldn t let society s expectations stop her from achieving her dream.