Valerie: Australia’s Bravest Sausage Dog by Lucinda Gifford

Title: Valerie: Australia’s Bravest Sausage Dog

Author: Lucinda Gifford

Genre: Creative Non-fiction

Publisher: Allen and Unwin

Published: 10^th February 2026

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Price: $19.99

Synopsis: Inspired by the amazing true story of the tiny dog who captured the heart of a nation.

Join Valerie on her unforgettable journey and discover just how far a brave little dog can go!

Living the beach life and riding the swells.
Practising backstroke and digging up shells.
Dining on oysters and fancy ice cream…
Valerie knew she was living the dream.

Suddenly, Valerie heard urgent cries.
Hastily, Valerie grabbed a disguise.
‘What missing doggie? I don’t think that’s me…
I’m on an adventure with lots more to see!’

All over Australia and all around the world, people fell in love with Valerie – the bold-hearted dachshund who escaped a campground on Kangaroo Island and roamed the wilderness for over 500 days before being reunited with her loving owners.

In this gloriously warm-hearted romp of a picture book, bestselling author and illustrator Lucinda Gifford has imagined Valerie’s adventures and brought them to vivid and hilarious life, as she befriends dolphins, eats her fill, and explores the wilds… before finding her way safely home again.

Why you will love Valerie:
– Full of grit, determination, curiosity and joy (and a keen interest in sausages), Valerie is a hero for the ages.
– Told in rollicking and delightful rhyme, this picture book is perfect to read aloud at bedtime, or anytime.
– Everyone who was glued to the true story of Valerie’s escapades on Kangaroo Island will enjoy this fanciful retelling of a very Australian story.
– Worthy to join the classic canon of famous picture book dogs, like Hairy Maclary and Harry the Dirty Dog.
– A true classic in the making

This is an independent and unofficial work, not authorised by, or associated with, the subject.

~*~

Valerie is a very special pup. She’s a sausage dog who loves a good, barbecued bit of meat, and is keen for adventure! One day, whilst chasing something on the wind, she finds herself running across the beach, and being swept into a grand adventure across the land. She’s missing and everyone is looking for her. But where has she gone? And what is she doing?

Lucinda Gifford’s latest picture book is based on a true story about a little sausage dog that escaped from a campground on Kangaroo Island and was missing and living in the wilderness for 500 days. She was eventually reunited with her owners, but Lucinda’s story imagines what this time was like through the eyes of Valerie. It’s a joyous romp through the Australia bush and wilderness as she explores freedom and new things, new tastes and meets new people, unaware of the search happening for her. She is a determined little pup, eager to explore and learn, have fun and ultimately, get home to her beloved family.

This book is a delightful story of grit and determination to make it through, and to get home. A sense of curiosity and adventure as well as joy, and dog’s love for sausages! Valerie is a hero for everyone, capturing that wonderful essence of adventure and bravery. Like many picture books, it is told in rollicking rhyme, which makes the story flow well and draws readers in. This can capture readers of all ages, their imaginations, so it is the perfect book to read at any time, with anyone and for any reason. It’s fun and whimsical, and a good reminder to never give up. To follow your dreams and heart.

Valerie is set to join that classic canon of famous picture book dogs, like Hairy Maclary, Harry the Dirty Dog and any others you can think of, because dogs and animals work so well in picture books. There have been all sorts of animals in starring roles over the years, but it seems that dogs are timeless and always going to have a role to play in these stories. And it illustrates how people manage to stick with the tricky things, even when they are scared. It’s a story of bravery and resilience when things seem like they’re tough, and whilst based on a true story, this is an unofficial retelling and an independent work. As a result, it is an imagined account told through Valerie’s eyes in an upbeat style that suits the age group it is written for. This is a fun romp through the Australian wilderness as well, and it can inspire people to look up more about Valerie.

It’s one that I think readers will enjoy getting into and finding out more about Valerie after reading it. So it will sit well with other picture books that are based on fact and that bring the stories to life for new generations.