How Mr. Felix Entered a Bicycle Race by Peter Svetina

Today's read seems to take a silly turn with an unique character...and that's why I couldn't help but take a peek. This one promises to offer some words for wisdom through an endearing tale. Plus, why is that man lying on his back with the bike when he's in a race? These are questions that must be answered! 

So, let's take a look and see where his speed and the race went.

HOW MR. FELIX ENTERED A BICYCLE RACE

by Peter Svetina

Illustrated by Ana Razpotnik Donati

Albatros Media

Picture Book

24 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING MARCH 17, 2026!!!

Slow and Steady Wins the... Fun! Discover the Hilarious Story of Mr. Felix's Unconventional Bicycle Race! 

Get ready for an exciting adventure with Mr. Felix, a charmingly eccentric man who stumbles his way into a bicycle race! Forget about speed and competition; Mr. Felix pedals to the beat of his own drum, happily pausing for refreshing lemonade breaks, spontaneous swims in the lake, and delightful detours along the way. Young readers will be captivated by Mr. Felix's carefree spirit and learning that embracing life's little joys and going at your own pace can lead to the most unexpected and delightful victories. Perfect for young readers who love a good laugh and stories that celebrate individuality. How Mr. Felix Entered a Bicycle Race is a heartwarming reminder that sometimes, the best way to win is to simply enjoy the ride!

• A Hilarious Adventure: Join Mr. Felix on his laugh-out-loud journey through a bicycle race unlike any other!
• Celebrates Individuality: Encourages children to embrace their own pace and unique way of experiencing the world.
• Heartwarming Message: Teaches valuable lessons about enjoying the present moment and finding joy in unexpected places.
• Perfect for Story Time: Award-winning writer Peter Svetina's engaging writing and quirky characters make this a delightful read-aloud for families.
• A Fun Twist on Competition: Shows that "winning" isn't always about being the fastest, but about savoring the experience.

For over 75 years, Albatros Media has been crafting original and innovative children's books that are both playful and educational, fostering curiosity and a thirst for knowledge in young minds. We deliver the highest quality children’s books from novelty, picture, pop-up, and how-to books, to non-fiction, and fairy tale books.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With light silliness and moments to make listeners/readers go 'huh', this is a fun read with a lovely message.

Mr. Felix is a bit of an odd person, who loves to live between boxes in his house and likes to carefully braid his beard. But he's not unloved, by any means. When he enters a bike race, people aren't sure what to think, especially since he doesn't have a bike. This isn't really a problem, since someone is more than ready to let him borrow their rusty one. And off he goes! He surprises all onlookers not only with his amazing speed but his constant habit of being distracted. It makes for an intriguing race with onlookers' emotions all over the place.

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. The silliness of the situation is also clear from the get-go, although his sudden speed definitely surprises. It also adds the perfect fuel to keep the extreme back-and-forth going though out. The tale is interesting the entire way through with my only criticism at how quickly and suddenly it ends. Twenty-four pages is short for this type of read, and a few more pages really would have made it sit wonderfully.

Despite the shortness, this isn't a light read for the picture book audience and holds a bit heavier text. It still works great as a read-aloud, even for slightly impatient listeners. Readers, who want to tackle it on their own, will need to have a pretty good handle on their word skills, too. The illustrations also are nicely done and bring the scenes across with fun, letting the moments come across right. Especially Mr. Felix's attitude shines. I received a DRC and wasn't able to view all of the illustrations but most of them.

It's a fun read with a hint of silliness and tons of heart.

And here he is...

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.