Recommended Readings - Booktober 2024
Booktober Reading Lists
'Bookbassadors'
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The first chord
Jonathan Martinez
Ode & Melody: The First Chord introduces readers to the magical world of Symphonia, where music holds incredible powers. The story follows Ode and Melody, two recent graduates of the Bards College, as they embark on their first adventure. Eager to use their musical talents to make a difference, they travel through lush landscapes, helping those in need with the power of song.
As they set out on their journey, readers are invited to join in the fun. The book features the original song “Let’s Go!”, which can be sung along to or learned using the sheet music provided.
With beautiful illustrations and an engaging story, this first book in the Ode & Melody series is designed to inspire young readers to explore their own creativity, while emphasizing the importance of kindness and teamwork. The First Chord is the beginning of an exciting, musical journey!
Author bio:
Jonathan Martinez is the creative force behind the Ode & Melody books, where his talents as an author, illustrator, and songwriter shine. Blending his passion for music and storytelling, Jonathan crafts narratives that inspire children to embrace their creativity and build self-confidence. Each book in the series features captivating stories and original songs, designed to engage young minds and encourage musical exploration.
Drawing from his own experiences overcoming childhood challenges, Jonathan is deeply committed to helping others through the powerful mediums of art and music. His mission is to provide children and their families with tools to navigate obstacles and nurture emotional growth.
He lives in Sydney, Australia, with his wife and two children, whose learning challenges have inspired much of his work. Jonathan believes in the transformative power of creativity and hopes his books serve as a source of encouragement for both parents and children to dream big, work together, and thrive.
ALL THE COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW
Pre Order Now - Out in January 2025
Rae White
People are like rainbows - each colour is different, and you can choose to be any colour of the rainbow. A gentle look at gender diversity and acceptance by non-binary transgender poet Rae White, with illustrations from award-winning artist Sha'an D'Anthes.
Jem is a kid who sometimes loves wearing yellow dresses and sometimes loves wearing blue jeans. They feel like a girl when searching for bugs and lizards in the rain, and like a boy when running around under the sun. And when there’s a rainbow in the sky, they feel like a boy and a girl, like both and neither.
Some adults in Jem’s life only want to see in black and white, leaving Jem confused about what choices they have, until Mum helps them with a different and wonderful way of seeing the world.
Author Bio:
Rae White is a non-binary transgender writer, educator and zine maker. Their poetry collection Milk Teeth won the 2017 Arts Queensland Thomas Shapcott Poetry Prize, was shortlisted for the 2019 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards and commended in the 2018 Anne Elder Award. Rae’s second poetry collection Exactly As I Am was shortlisted for the 2023 Prime Minister‘s Literary Awards and 2023 Queensland Literary Awards.
Rae has poems published in Nothing to Hide – Voices of Trans and Gender-Diverse Australia and also contributed a piece to Dear Lover. Rae’s short story ‘The Body Remembers’ placed second in the 2019 Rachel Funari Prize for Fiction. They have had poetry published in many journals, including Australian Poetry Journal, Cordite, Meanjin, Overland, and Rabbit.
Rae is the Creative Director and Founder of community poetry initiative Uplift Poetry, and the Founding Editor of #EnbyLife, a journal for non-binary and gender diverse creatives.
James Knight
It’s the start of an Australian summer, and a drought is raging in the bush. For strapping farm boy, Jack Riordan, swinging a cricket bat is the best way to escape from daily hardships. But what happens when an Indian family arrives in the small town of Stony Creek to begin a new life? Suddenly, Jack is no longer the number one player in the district. That honour belongs to Ajeet Sharma who quickly becomes the star of the local school.
Despite jealousies and misunderstandings, the boys must somehow work together on the field. As their journey progresses, they learn each has painful secrets that have affected their lives. What are they? And what can the boys learn from them? The answers come from the strength of human spirit.
From the author of My Life: Brett Lee comes the story of Ajeet and Jack, and the unpredictable fortunes of the Stony Creek Public School cricket team.
Author Bio:
James Knight is a veteran Australian cricketer whose best---and only---performances for his country came while he was asleep. Although his childhood dreams of wearing the Baggy Green cap didn't become a reality, he still went on several tours with the Australian cricket team during the 1990's. That is, as a television reporter and a more than willing net bowler.
James was raised on a farm in Gunnedah, country NSW. With a bag pipe-playing vet as a father and a poetry writing painter as a mother he had a colourful childhood that dashed between calved cows, charcoal thumbprints, and many, many words. He entered the media as a cadet journalist and sports commentator for Radio 2DU, Dubbo in 1988. Three years later, whilst also playing grade cricket he began his first Sydney media job as a journalist/news reader at radio 2SM. In 1992 he joined Channel Ten Television as a news and sports reporter/presenter. During eight years with the network he travelled extensively, primarily with the Australian team to the Indian subcontinent, South Africa, the West Indies and England.
In 1999, he left full-time television to concentrate on his life-long dream of becoming an author. After gaining further experience as a cricket reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald, he wrote two cricket biographies: Lee2 (Shane and Brett Lee at the beginning of his career); and Mark Waugh. Since then, he has written four other books: The Dragon's Journey, an inspirational account of the life of Vietnamese boat person Duy Long Nguyen, who now lives in Australia; Just Doing My Job, a collection of short biographies about people in Australia's Police, Ambulance and Fire Services; A Theory of Moments, which recalls a year-long backpacking adventure James took his wife, Clare through South America and Africa; and together with Brett Lee, an autobiographical account of the former test cricketer's world from childhood to the present: My Life.
James continues to work part-time in television as a long-form producer. He is also a popular public speaker.
Away from work he is an avid runner who has completed eleven marathons and also The North Face 100 (100 kilometres), considered one of the toughest one day endurance runs in the world. During this event, James raised nearly 10 thousand dollars for the Steve Waugh Foundation. He is also an ambassador for the international charity, Room to Read.
James lives in Sydney with Clare and son Iggy and, their dog Tango.
Lesley Gibbes and Stephen Michael King
Lesley’s latest picture book ,On the Hunt for Santa is hitting bookshelves for Christmas 2024.
Once upon a snowy day, three friends set out on a journey.
Hare, Cat and Pig are on the hunt for Santa. It’s snowing and the journey is filled with danger. Will they give up? Of course they won’t!
From Lesley Gibbes and Stephen Michael King, creators of the bestselling and much-loved book Scary Night, comes another story about three brave friends- who never give up!
A library card is your ticket to adventure. Don’t miss out on the ride!
Author Bio:
Lesley Gibbes is a bestselling, award winning children's author, teacher and presenter at the Australian Writers’ Centre.
She is the author of seventeen books for children. Her books include CBCA Honour Book Scary Night, CBCA Shortlisted Book Searching for Cicadas, Whitley Award Winner Fluke, A Boat of Stars (poetry anthology) and the hilarious, best-selling chapter book series Fizz.
Lesley’s writing has received acknowledgement from The Children’s Book Council of Australia, The Royal Zoological Society of NSW, The Wilderness Society, Speech Pathology Australia, International School Libraries Network Singapore and The American Booksellers Association.
She is a sought-after, dynamic presenter ideal for school author presentations, storytelling, writing workshops, festivals, professional development and parent forums.
Lesley grew up in Sydney’s Northern Beaches and Wagga Wagga in country NSW.
She spends her days reading, writing and mucking about with her family and two naughty Jack Russell terriers.