Just So Stories

Allen & Unwin

Imprint: Albert St Books

February 2026

ISBN:9781761182594

RRP: $19.99

Valerie the dachshund reunited with owners after Kangaroo Island rescue

There can’t be many people who didn’t hear Valerie’s story – not just in Australia but this little weiner became world-famous. Not many little pampered pooches could survive in the wild for almost two years and come out pretty much unscathed.

This delightful picture book will absolutely enchant your Smalls with its fun fictional take on Valerie’s extended ‘holiday’ on Kangaroo Island. Lucinda has woven a terrific take on this cheeky dog’s adventure.

Having owned a dachsie, I know they can be a wee bit wilful [understatement!] and it was no surprise to anyone who has also been under the paw of one these little tyrants that Valerie led all her would-be rescuers a very merry dance all over the bushland in which she’d been doing her own canine Bear Grylls challenge.

Swimming with dolphins, surfing, stealing food, raiding campsites and generally roistering all over the place – it all started with a stolen sausage. Just loads of fun from the first page to the last.

I don’t know that you would actually be doing any serious teaching activities with this but there are some suggestions. Personally I would be sharing it just for the pure enjoyment factor and an opportunity to talk about the real-life rescue and all those who were involved, news reports of the more ‘human (canine?) interest’ type and the geography aspect. The activity sheets would be engaging for Smalls of course. I think it’s a 4 🐶🐶🐶🐶rating for readers from Prep upwards and after all, don’t they all love a dog story?