Matildas captain Sam Kerr. Photos: Supplied.
Whether it’s about legends or superstars, when it comes to sporting champions, Australia is known globally as a nation of high achievers and sports lovers. In fact, four in five — 80 per cent — of Australians agree that sport is a significant part of Australian culture.
Sport is an important part of life Down Under. It improves our physical and mental health, benefits the economy and helps to strengthen our national pride and international relationships.
According to figures from the Department of Health and Aged Care, about 90 per cent of adults participate in sport at least once a year. Annually, about 13.5 million adults and 3.6 million children take part in sport; and more than three million volunteer in sport and active recreation each year.
When it comes to books, there’s an endless selection of titles, from memoirs, insights, biographies and awe-inspiring moments in sport to historical, factual and policy insights into Australian sport.
Written by Simon Mugford and Kit Cross, and illustrated by Dan Green and Leigh Hedstrom, these four books offer more than facts, stories and stats on Sam Kerr, Daniel Ricciardo, Mary Fowler and Ben Simmons. In a simple narrative style, they feature fun cartoons and a cast of characters chipping in with quotes, jokes and comments.
Reading like a graphic novel, Football Superstars: Kerr Rules tells the unofficial story of Australian soccer icon and Chelsea forward Sam Kerr. Peruse the amazing story of how Kerr switched from Aussie rules football to association football at the age of 12 and grew into a global icon in the game.
The Australian forward is one of the all-time legends in the history of the sport. She holds the distinction of being the only female football player to win the Golden Boot in three different leagues across three different continents, having played in Australia, the US and England.
The series is aimed at building a love of reading from a young age, especially among football-loving children who are reluctant readers. A quiz also tests your knowledge.
Football Superstars: Kerr Rules, by Simon Mugford, illustrated by Dan Green, Hachette Australia, $12.99
Australian race driver Daniel Ricciardo.
Australian racing driver Daniel Ricciardo has won eight Formula One Grands Prix across 14 seasons. He has finished on the podium 32 times.
Describing him as a “total legend”, Daniel Ricciardo: F1 Legends tells you all about him. He began competitive kart racing at the age of nine and graduated to junior formulae in 2005, winning his first championship at the 2008 Formula Renault 2.0 West European Cup with SG Formula.
Some interesting facts are that he’s entered more F1 Grand Prix races than any other Australian driver and he can eat half a litre of ice-cream in one go!
Daniel Ricciardo: F1 Legends, by Kit Cross, illustrated by Leigh Hedstrom, Allen & Unwin, $12.99
Australian professional soccer player Mary Fowler.
Did you know Mary Fowler is one of the youngest players to ever join the Matildas, Australia women’s national soccer team? Another interesting fact about her in Mary Fowler: Football Legends is she can speak Dutch fluently.
She plays for English Women’s Super League club Manchester City and the Australia national team. Mainly a forward, she can also play as a midfielder. After being selected for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, Fowler scored the winning goal in a pre-World Cup friendly against France in July of that year.
Fowler began playing football at the age of seven and scored her first World Cup goal in Melbourne in a 4–0 win.
Mary Fowler: Football Legends, by Kit Cross, illustrated by Leigh Hedstrom, Allen & Unwin, $12.99
Australian basketball small forward Ben Simmons.
Ben Simmons, an Australian professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association, says he has loved this sport his whole life. It’s been a “wild and wonderful” journey.
Learn more about him in Ben Simmons: Basketball Legends. He was born in Melbourne and was picked first overall in the NBA draft. He is also a triple-double machine, and the first Australian to ever win Rookie of the Year.
Ben loves animals and playing video games.
Ben Simmons: Basketball Legends, by Kit Cross, illustrated by Leigh Hedstrom, Allen & Unwin, $12.99
