Daniel Ricciardo: F1 Legends

Daniel Ricciardo: F1 Legends by Kit Cross, illustrated by Leigh Hedstrom (Allen & Unwin) PB RRP $12.99

ISBN 9781761181351

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Daniel Ricciardo: F1 Legends is a biography with a book layout designed for junior readers. It is divided into ten short chapters which are filled with facts, statistics, quotes, and stories about the legendary F1 racing driver. It covers his early days of racing, starting with go-karts as a nine-year-old, then moving on to Formula Ford, Formula BMW, Formula Three, Formula Two, and eventually onto his dream of racing in Formula One. The book also includes fun facts like why he chose the number 3 for his car, his favourite ice cream flavours, what type of music he listens to, his nicknames, and much more!

This book, narrated by ‘Gary the Goat’, would appeal to sports enthusiasts aged 8 years and older. Each chapter has plenty of illustrations and text boxes to break up the main body of text. The fun format creates a gentle introduction to the more comprehensive and text-laden biographies that children may be interested in in the future.

Daniel Ricciardo: F1 Legends forms part of the Legends of Sports Series, which includes other Australian sporting stars; Mary Fowler: Football Legends, Sam Kerr: Football Legends, and Ben Simmons: Basketball Legends. Note: This series is independent and unofficial. For more information check out legendsofsportbooks.com.au

Football Legends: Mary Fowler

Football Legends: Mary Fowler by Kit Cross and Leigh Hedstrom (Albert Street Books, Allen and Unwin) PB RRP $12.99 ISBN: 9781761181344

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

Do you want to become a trivia whizz when it comes to Australian sports legends? The ‘Legends of Sports’ series is just what you need – and Football Legends: Mary Fowler is perfect for all that essential soccer knowledge about the game and about one of the youngest players to ever join the Matildas.

For example, can you answer these questions about Mary Fowler?

·       Who is Mary Fowler’s role model? (Hint: she’s known as the greatest female footballer of all time.)

·       How old was Mary when she started her professional football career – and which club did she sign with?

·       Which Olympics was Mary selected for?

·       Why does Mary wear black gloves when she’s playing?

·       Which country wanted Mary in their soccer team before she went with the Matilda’s instead?

No? What about these ‘soccer buff’ questions?

·       What is the most popular sport in the world? (I’ve given you an easy one here.)

·       How long ago were the earliest versions of soccer played – and where?

·       In soccer, what is the difference between a ‘pitch’ and a ‘playing field’?

·       What causes a player to get ‘red carded’ and what happens when they do?

·       What does FIFA stand for?

If you can’t answer all the questions – or even if you know most of the answers – you’ll need to check out Football Legends: Mary Fowler for the answers and plenty more.

Once again, author Kit Cross has gone above and beyond with their research, sharing information that will really resonate with a young audience, with Leigh Hedstrom’s illustrations and layout drawing attention to all the fun facts, stories and stats.

Full disclosure: I am not a soccer (football) fan, although my son and daughter both played for a while. However, even I was drawn in and wowed by much of the information. So, if you or your child are football fans – whether you play or spectate – you’ll love Football Legends: Mary Fowler.

Designed for independent readers aged 6–10 years, this series is sure to become a favourite with readers and sports fanatics of all ages.

Daniel Ricciardo: F1 Legends

Daniel Ricciardo: F1 Legends by Kit Cross, illustrated by Leigh Hedstrom (Allen & Unwin) Paperback RRP $12.99 ISBN 9781761181351

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Kit Cross, a children's writer based in Melbourne, is the author of the Legends series. Leigh Hedstrom is a freelance illustrator from the Sunshine Coast. She loves illustrating because she's able to work across different industries: publishing, education, advertising, and more recently, toy design. Leigh is also the illustrator of the bestselling Stevie Louise series.

This book dives into everything young readers would love to know about Daniel Ricciardo, an Australian F1 driver who has won eight Grand Prix races and finished on the podium 32 times. The biography includes stats, facts and amazing stories about Ricciardo and Formula 1 racing.

Kit Cross has an easy-to-read writing style that makes Daniel Ricciardo: F1 Legends a fun, easy read for young readers. She combines facts with a narrative flair, the text flows and is entertaining so that young readers will want to read and learn about Daniel.

The book introduces Daniel Ricciardo and shares why he is a legend. It’s designed so that you can open the book anywhere and read the pages as you choose or read the whole book from the start. Cross shares Ricciardo’s skills and his history from child to star. I love her flair for giving an insight into Daniel Ricciardo’s personality and his Australian quirks and traits.

The facts about racing cars and tracks and events are fascinating. Because Formula 1 racing is broadcast live all over the world, the information in the book gives a much greater understanding of these events. Did you know that a Formula 1 team can consist of 600 people? A glossary at the back is informative and helpful. The text plays well with the images, and this is another great book in this series.

Leigh Hedstrom’s illustrations are warm, funny, and engaging. She has a talent for character, text layout, and design. Her attention to detail shows and a full-page illustration leads into each chapter. The book is eye-catching and similar in appeal to junior readers as a graphic novel.

Daniel Ricciardo: F1 Legends is book four in the Legends of Sport paperback series for children aged 6-10 years. It is a fun read for children who love sports and outdoor recreation. Teachers will find this series a handy classroom resource. Books like this could inspire children to give different sports a go, too. 

Basketball Legends: Ben Simmons

Basketball Legends: Ben Simmons by Kit Cross and Leigh Hedstrom (Albert Street Books, Allen and Unwin) PB RRP $12.99 ISBN: 9781761181276

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

Think you know a lot about basketball? Basketball Legends: Ben Simmons might have you thinking again. Not only is it jam-packed full of intriguing information about Australian basketball legend, Ben Simmons, but every fact and statistic you’d want to know about the sport in general is contained within a mere 123 pages.

For example, do you know what a double-double is? Or, for that matter, what a triple-double is?

And do you know where the Philadelphia 76ers got their name?

Perhaps – from the title – you can guess who was the first Australian to not only win Rookie of the Year in the NBA, but also receive an All-Star selection?

But, do you know which city has produced the most NBA Number 1 Draft Picks in the world?

No? You’ll need to get yourself a copy of this book then.

Fascinating facts and stats aside, author Kit Cross has done an amazing job of researching information that will really resonate with her audience and presenting it in a way that is accessible to younger readers – but she does not dumb things down. Leigh Hedstrom’s illustrations and the layout go a long way to supplementing the information, making the facts stand out and shine.

Full disclosure – prior to picking up this book, I knew a little about basketball (being a fan of the Canberra Cannons back in the day and, more recently, the UC Capitals), but I’d never heard of Ben Simmons! (Sssh – don’t tell anyone.) Moreover, I wondered whether the information in the book would be engaging enough to hold my interest.

I was pleasantly surprised. The blend of general sport facts and a closer and more personal look at one of the many legendary players means that the book is likely to resonate with a wider audience. Despite my initial hesitancy, I found that I devoured the facts in a very short time and was pleased to discover that there are at least three more books in this series by Kit Cross and Leigh Hedstrom – something for everyone with different sports represented, along with both male and female legends.

If you or your child are basketball fans, you’ll love Basketball Legends: Ben Simmons. If not, you will be by the time you’ve finished this easy but fascinating read. You may even be encouraged to head out and watch a game or sink some hoops. At the very least, you will be a walking factsheet about all things Ben Simmons and basketball.

Designed for independent readers aged 6–10, Basketball Legends: Ben Simmons is sure to be enjoyed by fans of all ages and is an excellent introduction to the world of factual texts. Readers may decide to read the book from cover to cover, or just dip in and out at will, and I fully expect to see some of these facts turn up at school trivia nights.