Don’t miss our 6-Part Podcast Series: A Conversation about Diversity in Children’s Books

Episode 1: Dr Randa Abdel Fattah – Listen here now

In episode 1, Bestselling author and academic, Dr Randa Abdel Fattah talks to Cheryl about being Muslim in post 9/11 Australia, the lack of diversity in Australia’s school curriculum, and how it’s time for Muslim authors to be given a voice.

Dr Randa Abdel Fattah is a prominent Australian Palestinian advocate and a multi award-winning author of 11 books. She is well known for her commentary as a public intellectual, her media appearances and her essay and op-ed writing across a wide range of genres.

Episode 2: Maxine Beneba Clarke – Listen here now

In episode 2, Maxine Beneba Clarke and Cheryl discuss growing up as a POC in Australia, what happens when a child is underrepresented in what they read, and how the publishing industry needs to diversify their content.

Maxine Beneba Clarke is a widely published Australian writer of Afro-Caribbean descent. Maxine’s short fiction, non-fiction and poetry have been published in numerous publications including Overland, The Age, Meanjin, The Saturday Paper and The Big Issue.

Episode 3: Will Kostakis – Listen here now

In episode 3, Will Kostakis talks to Cheryl about LGBTQ+ representation in schools, how diversity is constantly changing, and why we must get beyond ‘the struggle story’ when creating diverse stories for kids.

After dabbling in celebrity journalism and reality TV, Will Kostakis now writes for young adults. His first novel, Loathing Lola, was released when he was just nineteen, and his second, The First Third, won the 2014 Gold Inky Award. It was also shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year and Prime Minister’s Literary awards. The Sidekicks is his third and latest novel for young adults.

Episode 4: Laura Bloom – Listen here now

Laura Bloom is the mother of an autistic son who has an intellectual disability. Here Laura talks to Cheryl about the importance of disabled characters in books, and how both her and her son are active in the Every Australian Counts movement for People With Disability.

Laura Bloom is the author of eight critically acclaimed and bestselling novels for adults and children, and an award winning screenwriter for film and television. Her most recent novel, Mika and Max, about an unlikely friendship which springs up between a young girl and a boy with autism, is published by Walker Books and is on sale now. Her next novel, The Women and The Girls, will be published by Allen and Unwin in 2021.

Episode 5: Deborah Abela – Listen here now

In episode 5, Deborah Abela talks to Cheryl about the benefits of diversifying children’s literature, and her work with young people in Sydney’s west with organisations such as WestWords.

After completing a teaching degree, Deborah Abela went to Africa where she was caught in a desert sandstorm, harassed by monkeys and thrown in jail … twice! She produced and wrote a national kids’ TV show before leaving to write twenty-six books including the Max Remy Superspy and Jasper Zammit (Soccer Legend) series and Grimsdon, New City and Final Storm, about kids living in a climate-changed world.

Episode 6: Rachel Bin Salleh and Magabala Books – Listen here now

In episode 6, Rachel Bin Salleh from Magabala Books talks to Cheryl about her journey to becoming a publisher, the importance of giving diverse authors a voice, and what the publishing industry can do to support those authors.

Rachel Bin Salleh is descended from the Nimunburr and Yawuru peoples of the Kimberley region of Western Australia. She has worked in publishing for over 20 years and is passionate about Indigenous people telling their stories. Rachel lives in Broome with her family. Alfred’s War is her first book.

If you enjoy the series, please leave us an Apple Podcasts review.

Acknowledgment of Cultural Fund support

Better Reading acknowledges the support provided by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.