When you’re talking about kids’ books on mobile devices, don’t forget the good old stand-by: the bicycle!

These days there is a lot of talk about the topic of “what constitutes a book.” Most discussions center around digital vs. print. Here’s a unique creation from Karl Edwards, who has combined his two passions of bicycle restoration and illustrating children’s books into a beautiful and functional masterpiece.

Drawing on some content from a prior story of his about bugs riding bikes, Edwards used the entire frame of the bicycle for his  watercolor illustrations. He explains, “The interactions of these bugs lays out a story. The loose organization of the characters enables the viewer to invent their own story line.”

Once the illustrations were completed, he hired a professional bicycle frame painter to spray a protective clear porcelain-type coat over the surface to protect it from both scratches and UV rays which would fade the watercolor.

Read more about his process on Edwards’ blog.