How Mr. Felix Entered a Bicycle Race

Peter Svetina was born in 1970 in Ljubljana. He is an author of short stories, novels, picture books and poetry for readers of all ages. He obtained his PhD in early Slovenian Literature at the University of Ljubljana. Since 2007, he has been a lecturer at the University of Klagenfurt in Austria and also works as a translator and editor. Svetina’s writing often reflects occurrences and images from his everyday life, and he is known for his distinctive storytelling that combines nonsense with realism. To date, he has published over 20 books for children and young people. Three of his stories have been adapted for puppet shows and much of his work has been translated into other languages. His books have received some of the most prestigious national and international awards and are immensely popular among literary critics as well as young readers.Ana Razpotnik Donati is an illustrator who has focused mainly on children’s and young adult illustration since 2005. She has illustrated works by Janja Vidmar, Peter Svetina, Tatjana Kokalj, Ida Mlakar, Sebastijan Pregelj, Mateja Gomboc, Miroslav Košuta, and many others. She also regularly illustrates various children’s magazines and participates in solo and group exhibitions. Her tongue-in-cheek style is characterised by humour, distinct colours, and an eye for detail. She received the Best Book Design Award in the Children’s and Young Adult category for The Lie and Her Groom, which she illustrated as part of Fran Milčinski’s Bootale series (2009–2013). Several of her works have received the Golden Pear Rating, and she has been nominated for the Kristina Brenkova Original Slovenian Picture Book Award.

"An eccentric man surprises the residents of his town by entering—and excelling in—a bike race. Mr. Felix leads a solitary but satisfying life; his pleasures include acquiring books, braiding his beard, and entertaining local students with “wild, wacky facts.” On the day of the Grand Bicycle Race, Mr. Felix spontaneously borrows a rusty bike and tries to catch up with the racers, who have already taken off. Why? “He had never considered himself a good cyclist, but maybe this was his chance to try something new.” That understatement is followed by a scene of Mr. Felix easily passing the other cyclists, from stragglers to leaders. Here begins a clever sendup of hyper TV commentators (“If he had wings, he would simply fly off! Unbelievable! Un-be-lie-va-ble!”) and fickle crowds. Everyone is excited until Mr. Felix calmly pauses at a cafe for refreshment. After dispersing in disappointment, the spectators reappear as our protagonist regains his lead. The ending may baffle readers immersed in a culture of competition, but it will delight those who march to the beat of a different drummer. This is not a retelling of “The Tortoise and the Hare,” but rather a provocative and wildly original tale of a hero who truly finds pleasure in the journey. Svetina’s wordy but graceful text, translated from Slovenian, is best suited for older or more advanced readers. Donati’s lighthearted, stylized art depicts an idyllic, diverse community; Mr. Felix is pale-skinned and red-haired. Humorously subversive." —Kirkus Reviews"Mr. Felix has a lot of interests and hobbies, but his neighbors didn’t know bicycling was one. Still, with minimal prompting, he grabs a rusting, abandoned bike and joins the town’s race. His speed surprises everybody—as does his nonchalant attitude when it comes to winning. Mr. Felix’s perpetual smile and flowing red beard stand out in the active illustrations of this winking picture book, about a quirky hero who models pedaling to the beat of your own drum." —Foreword"This is a cute tale with lots of heart. Mr. Felix is odd but lovable. He radiates kindness and friendliness to win over listeners and readers right away." —Tonja R Drecker, Blogger"This was silly and fun, with gorgeous illustrations." —Bookblurbist, Reviewer