AGASSI AND THE GREAT CYCLE RACE (SILLY BILLY SERIES)

What’s in a name? Plenty.

Agassi Joel Roy hates his first name and wants everyone to call him Joel. He hates tennis too―and most other sports. But when he hears about the cycling competition in his town, he decides to take part.

So what if he doesn’t know cycling? Or doesn’t own a working cycle? With a borrowed cycle―accompanied by a rather unexpected companion―and ample courage, Joel begins his lessons, with his neighbour Zeba as his tutor.

Will Joel reach the finish line or will cycling join the list of most hated sports?

Khyrunnisa A. is an award-winning writer of children’s fiction and the author of the hilarious Butterfingers books. Howzzat Butterfingers! (2010) is the first novel in the series. She created the popular comic character Butterfingers for Tinkle. Her two books for adults are Tongue in Cheek: The Funny Side of Life (2019) and Chuckle Merry Spin: Us in the U.S. (2022). The Lizard of Oz and Other Stories (2019), The Crocodile Who Ate Butter Chicken for Breakfast and Other Stories (2020), Baby and Dubdub (2021) and The Couch Potato Who Said Ouch and Other Funny Stories (2023) are some of her delightful books. She is a full-time writer and lives in Thiruvananthapuram. Visit her at www.khyrunnisa.com and connect with her at khyrubutter@gmail.com.

Saumya Oberoi is an artist and designer based in both Pune and Bangalore. She studied animation at the IDC School of Design, IIT Bombay, where she graduated from in 2023. She adores toying with colours, solving puzzles and aspires to use illustration, animation and storytelling to create lovely art that can reach many people. She has illustrated Ruskin Bond’s Animals in the House, a Puffin title. She’s also a drummer, a Bharatnatyam dancer, a loving cook and an avid seafood enjoyer. You can find her work at somuberry.me, or get in touch with her at saumyaoberoi20@gmail.com.