THE RIDING GALLERY BY SALLY MURPHY, ILLUSTRATED BY MARINA HEIDUCZEK, PUBLISHED BY WALKER BOOKS

The Riding Gallery captures a moment in Australian history. World War I is just about to start and Anton Weniger has nearly finished his dream project. He arrived in Australia in the late 1890s and bought with him the knowledge and enthusiasm for merry-go-rounds. Now, as a naturalised Australian he has made his home in St Kilda. He has gathered parts from around the world, the steam engine is assembled, and an automotive expert has agreed to put it all together. Anton has only ever wanted to see the joy and laughter on children’s faces as they ride his extraordinary merry-go-round or riding gallery.

Evelyn has just moved to St Kilda with her family and is so excited about Mr Weniger’s new riding gallery. She forms a friendship with her next-door neighbour Rory, and together they spend the summer playing at the beach. When war with Germany is declared, Rory’s brothers sign up and anti-German sentiment begins to rise.

Sally Murphy’s new verse novel is an imagining of a real-life event. Written from three points of view, it explores each character’s reaction and feelings when war comes to Australia. It heralds a time when Australia no longer existed in isolation but joined the world stage and in a sense lost some it her innocence and spirit.

The illustrations by Martina Heiduczek capture the emotions of the characters and the feeling of the era beautifully. The newspaper reports are interesting as well. They were created using words from actual news reports and constructing ‘found poems’. Readers who enjoyed novels like Little Wave by Pip Harry or historical fiction like 11 Ruby Road will be drawn into this small-town story that encompasses so many themes and raises interesting questions about loyalty, family, friendship and war.

For Ages: 8 - 12 years

Number of Pages: 176

Published: July 2024 Walker Books

Themes: War, friendship, prejudice, family

Purchase here: https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/the-riding-gallery-by-sally-murphy-and-martina-heiduczek-9781760657345