Internationally renowned chef and bestselling author, Jamie Oliver, has two highly anticipated new books publishing with Penguin Random House Canada on Tuesday, November 14: a mouthwatering new cookbook, 5 Ingredients Mediterranean via Appetite by Random House, and his children’s fiction debut novel, Billy and the Giant Adventure via Tundra Books. Thanks to a unique partnership between the author, Penguin Random House Canada, and Canada's National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS), a digital and physical braille edition of each book will publish simultaneously on November 14.

NNELS is thrilled to partner with Jamie Oliver’s new publishing home, Penguin Random House Canada, as part of their mandate to publish as inclusively and equitably as possible.

5 Ingredients Mediterranean, a celebration of hero Mediterranean flavours and ingredients, contains over 125 quick and easy recipes for exciting everyday cooking. It will publish in standard print, eBook, and braille on November 14. The digital braille edition will be available for readers with print disabilities through the NNELS repository.

Billy and the Giant Adventure, Jamie Oliver’s first children’s book, contains one pinch of adventure, a dash of friendship, a sprinkle of mystery and a HUGE spoonful of magic. There are also kid-friendly recipes at the back of the book, and illustrations throughout. Publishing on November 14, the standard print edition has a dyslexia-friendly typeset, and the audiobook features a number of different voices, including Jamie Oliver as the narrator. The digital braille edition will be available for readers with print disabilities to download from the NNELS repository.

“As Jamie Oliver’s newest publishing home, we’re so proud to offer his latest books as physical and digital braille publications in conjunction with the release of the standard print editions. Our partnership with NNELS is an extension of Jamie Oliver’s personal mission to create a more inclusive and equitable space for all readers, allowing them access to his latest recipes and stories in a format that is most accessible to them. We’re excited to see the response to these milestone editions and look forward to partnering with NNELS again on future projects.”
— Beth Lockley, Vice-President, Marketing
Penguin Random House Canada

There is often a delay between when a title is published in conventional formats to when it is available in braille. Braille readers are often waiting months, years, or longer for a book to be developed into good quality, human-transcribed braille. With the support of the Government of Canada’s Social Development Partnerships Program – Disability Component, NNELS established the Braille for Forthcoming Publications Project to help close this gap. Under this project, 5 Ingredients Mediterranean will be the first cookbook NNELS has produced in braille simultaneously with its print counterpart.

"We are thrilled to announce the simultaneous release of two exceptional books by Jamie Oliver in braille format! The partnership with Penguin Random House Canada to make this possible is a testament to our unwavering commitment to make books accessible to all readers, regardless of ability. Braille is a vital bridge to knowledge and empowerment for people who are blind, and we are proud to have these braille titles in the NNELS collection, so that blind individuals can experience the joy of reading these remarkable books.”
— Daniella Levy-Pinto, Manager
National Network for Equitable Library Service

In Canada, the embossed copies of both titles are available through interlibrary loan. Thanks to Cochrane Public Library in Cochrane, Alberta for hosting these books! We are also very happy to share that at Jamie Oliver’s request, physical braille editions of 5 Ingredients Mediterranean and Billy and the Giant Adventure will be donated to the library collection of the Braille Institute, a non-profit organization based in the United States whose mission is to positively transform the lives of those with vision loss. The digital braille editions of both books will also be available to other countries around the world through the service provided by the Accessible Books Consortium, a public-private partnership led by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).