Author Event – Gabrielle Rossi Reading from “Lizzie Learns to Ride”

Dr. Gabrielle Rossi is the author of Lizzie Learns to Ride, a children’s book about a girl who’s terrified of riding but finds the courage to try. It’s published with Strong Girl Publishing, which is dedicated to creating empowering content for young female athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. 

Rossi is an educator and founder of Girls in Gear, a national nonprofit helping girls discover joy, confidence, and freedom through bicycling. Having spent over a decade leading youth-centered organizations that use movement and play as tools for personal growth, she brings a deep, research-backed understanding of how learning to ride can shape resilience, courage, and self-belief. Girls in Gear will offer a $25 program or clinic voucher with every book purchase made at the store.

A former hesitant rider herself, Rossi has now taught hundreds of girls across the country to find joy on the bike, cheering on first-time pedalers, celebrating fearless climbers, and reminding young riders that bravery often begins with big feelings and tiny steps.

“I wrote this book because I know exactly what it feels like to be the kid who isn’t sure she’s ready,” said Dr. Gabrielle Rossi. “Learning to bike is really learning to trust yourself. With a little bravery, and maybe your favorite stuffie, anything is possible.”

Illustrated by Emjay Haislip, a Washington D.C.–based artist known for vibrant, emotion-forward storytelling, Lizzie Learns to Ride follows one girl’s journey from uncertainty to confidence as she takes her first wobbly pedal strokes. Haislip shared, “It’s the first picture book I’m illustrating that will be published, which is a huge dream of mine. I love creating stories that help kids navigate big emotions or new challenges, and I think Lizzie will be a great encouragement to young riders everywhere.”