120,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Overnight NZ-wide delivery 🚀 Auckland Bookstore • Open 7 days, 8:30am–5pm

The Riding Gallery

Brief Description
Exploring the true story of the St Kilda merry go round during World War 1, by Australia's most revered verse novelistIn Melbourne's St Kilda, as World War 1 begins, Anton, a German immigrant fulfils his dream of creating the most beautiful steam-driven “riding gallery” - a... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$1899
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 4-6 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Exploring the true story of the St Kilda merry go round during World War 1, by Australia's most revered verse novelist

In Melbourne's St Kilda, as World War 1 begins, Anton, a German immigrant fulfils his dream of creating the most beautiful steam-driven “riding gallery” - a merry go round – in the world. Evelyn, who has just moved to the city befriends local boy Rory, but the war, and anti-German sentiment, soon takes its toll on the children, Anton, their families, and the riding gallery itself.

Based on true events, this is a cleverly structured, multiple point-of-view story, including poems created from contemporaneous newspaper headlines, and Sally Murphy at her finest form.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781760657345

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 July 2024

Country: Australia

Imprint: Walker Books Australia

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 173g

Pages: 176

About the Author

Sally Murphy grew up loving books, babies and beaches, and nothing much has changed. Now she is grown up (though she tries hard not to be), she thinks a perfect day is one which involves reading, writing, walking or swimming at the beach, time with her six (also grown up) children, her grandchildren, and her animal babies. When she isn’t doing these things, Sally is a university academic, teaching teachers how to teach.

Martina Heiduczek grew up in a small village on the Baltic Sea in Germany. Here you could find her mostly galloping through the forests with flying piggy tails on her Shetland pony, drawing or reading. She studied illustration and graphic design in Hamburg. These days she is living with her family on the Gold Coast, Australia, creating illustrations that are quirky, poetic at times, textured and mostly colourful.

Also by Sally Murphy

View all
  • Looking Up
    Looking Up by Sally Murphy Pete is hoping—desperately hoping—for a telescope. There's nothing he wants more for his birthday. But when a mysterious card arrives in the mail, what Pete wants is turned totally upside down.
    Paperback
    $1799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Meet... Mary MacKillop
    A picture book series about the extraordinary men and women who have shaped Australian history, including St Mary MacKillop. Mary MacKillop is Australia's first saint. Mary was born in the 1800s and devoted her life to teaching children. She believed everyone should have the chance to learn, no matter how rich or poor they are. In 1866, she set up...
    Paperback
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Pearl Verses the World
    At school, Pearl feels as though she is in a group of one. Her teacher wants her to write poems that rhyme, but Pearl's poems don't. At home, however, Pearl feels safe and loved, but her grandmother is slowly fading, and so are Mum and Pearl. When her grandmother eventually passes away, Pearl wants life to go back to the...
    Paperback
    $1899
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Toppling
    John is obsessed with dominoes. But not with playing the traditional game, he is obsessed with toppling. He spends hours setting up spirals, ramps, patterns and lines of dominoes all for that satisfying toppling beginning with a small push in the right direction - everything falls as it is meant to. When John's friend Dom falls sick and is diagnosed...
    Paperback
    $1899
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Worse Things
    Worse Things is a story about connections, the ways they are made, and what happens when they are lost or illusive, from the award-winning author of Pearl Verses the World and Toppling.Winner of QLD CBCA Bilby Award for Younger Readers 2021Worse Things follows the lives of three main characters: Blake, an Aussie Rules football player who suffers a devastating injury;...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • If I Could Eat the Stars
    Illustrated by Briony Stewart, this is a collection of fun and relatable Australian poetry for middle readers, featuring poems by a mix of award-winning, established and brand new writers. Defend a Goal with Sally Murphy, rocket through space with Amber Moffat or get radioactive with Cristy Burne. Walk the dog with Deb Fitzpatrick and play with your food with James...
    Paperback
    $2300
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Sage Cookson's Snow Day
    Age range 7+ Sage Cookson's Snow Day revolves around Sage Cookson, a ten-year-old with a rather unique lifestyle. Her parents are television chefs with a deep passion for food. They spend much of their time travelling across Australia and the world, sampling cuisine, learning new cooking techniques, and sharing their newfound knowledge with a vast television audience. For Sage, this...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Sage Cookson's Singapore Sensation
    Sage Cookson's Singapore Sensation takes you on an exciting adventure with Sage as she travels to Singapore with her TV chef parents. Fame seems to follow them everywhere, with people recognising her parents wherever they go. Their popularity is soaring, as evidenced by posters advertising their upcoming cookbook and a feature story about the Cooksons in the inflight magazine. However,...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

More from Children's Books

View all
  • The Case of the Tall Stranger: Violet and the Velvets 4
    New Release
    The Case of the Tall Stranger: Violet and the Velvets 4
    But disaster strikes when guitarist Jack breaks his wrist and can no longer play. On top of that, all their hard work fundraising has fallen short! When help comes from unexpected channels, the Velvets make it to the Big Apple just in time to compete against the best kid bands in the whole world, including their new rivals the Blazer...
    Paperback
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $1899
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Gruffalo Granny
    The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay." Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years, and meet Gruffalo Granny as she visits the Gruffalo family. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure...
    Hardback
    $2499
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    Backorder
    Ships early October
  • New Release
    The Comeback Kid
    Charlie Boy might be just an ordinary kid, but he's about to get into some EXTRA-ordinary trouble... Get ready for this funny, fast-paced, friendship adventure with lots of kick. Meet Charlie Boy: skinny, small, looks like a strand of spaghetti. He and his best friend, Rocky the Lower Hutt Chief, are good at getting into trouble together. But when Charlie...
    Paperback
    $1799
    Elsewhere:
    $1999
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    The Neverfear
    A world of richly-imagined wonder Cressida Cowell It’s the Midsummer Feast on the Islet of Glimt and on this magical moonlit evening, the word on everyone’s lips is bandits. Reports of masked men burning villages are spreading throughout the Archipelago, but worse is still to come: Christopher and Anya are ambushed and one of the people they love most is...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Pocket Observology
    New Release
    Pocket Observology
    Pocket Observology is a practical field guide designed for those who love to explore and understand the natural world around them. Slip this guide out of your pocket to identify, measure, compare, or find clues to the things you encounter every day in nature. This pocket guide is a useful tool and a fun reminder of how to engage with...
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Minecraft Annual 2027
    New Release
    Minecraft Annual 2027
    The official Minecraft Annual 2027, full of updates, builds, activities, and more! Discover all there is to know about the past year of Minecraft in this exciting annual. Stuffed to the brim with updates, activities, step-by-step builds, and tips and tricks for the game, this book is a must-have for any minecrafter. This year’s annual includes: Mob guides on happy...
    Hardback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Giant Heart
    Meet Jonah Lomu, one of the greatest All Blacks of all time. His speed and strength on the rugby field made him famous around the world, and his fun and generous personality made him beloved, but all the while he faced a big battle with his health. “[David Hill’s] stories are wonderful, full of action and are always teaching the...
    Hardback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Ms Rachel: My First Little Library
    New Release
    Ms Rachel: My First Little Library
    Learn about colours, animals, words and numbers with Ms Rachel in this early learning boxset. This little set contains four board books that help introduce children to early concepts. Perfect for younger readers, each chunky book will keep little hands occupied at home, or on the move. And, once you’re done reading (and re-reading), the four books come together to...
    Board book
    $1599
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Protector of Beyond 1
    New Release
    Protector of Beyond 1
    Experience fierce magical creatures, perilous trials, and a heroine to root for in this 1st instalment in a new blockbuster fantasy series. The moment you enter the Arbiter, your fate is sealed. If you spark, you fight! And 12-year-old Elder Triss produces a spark like no other. Transported to the mysterious Beyond, Elder has no choice but to train for...
    Paperback
    $2199
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Animalia 40th Anniversary Edition
    A beautiful, foiled collector's edition to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Graeme Base's classic and bestselling Australian picture book, Animalia. Embark on a fantastical alphabetic adventure where each turn of the page unveils a rich tapestry of intricate illustrations tied to a unique letter of the alphabet. More than 5 million copies sold worldwide Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA)...
    Hardback
    $2999
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Little Kiwi Builder
    New Release
    The Little Kiwi Builder
    Oh no, the little kiwi builder's house is falling down! His screws have all come loose - what can he do? When the brickie, the plumber, the roofer, the sparky and the painter all come to help, it's looking good! Until, that night ... uh-oh! Perfect for: Anyone who likes fun and silly rhyming stories Reading aloud with little ones...
    Paperback
    $1899
    Elsewhere:
    $2199
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • You Choose Party Time You Choose Party Time
    New Release
    You Choose Party Time
    It's time to celebrate - Party Time is a brand new You Choose adventure! It's Party Time and you choose what happens! What kind of party will it be? Who will you invite? Which cake would you like to eat? Will you dance to a steel pan band or bagpipes? The possibilities are endless in this magical storytelling toolkit which...
    Hardback
    $2599
    Elsewhere:
    $3400
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.