Tillie the Terrible Swede

Tillie the Terrible Swede

How One Woman, a Sewing Needle, and a Bicycle Changed History

Grades K–3
Ages 5–8

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.

Award Winner

ISBN 9780307982483 (Ebook)
Published on Nov 28, 2012
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages 40
Age Range 5-8 years
Grade Grades K-3
Reading Level Lexile: 760L

Sue Stauffacher

Sue Stauffacher is a children’s book author who writes the Animal Rescue Team series. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Arizona in Tucson. In addition to writing books, Stauffacher has worked as a journalist, book reviewer, and teacher. She lives with her husband, Roger, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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