Zadie Ma and the Dog Who Chased the Moon

From one of Australias most esteemed and award-winning childrens authors and Australian Childrens Laureate for 2022-23 comes a heartwarming story set in postwar Melbourne about courage, friendship, the magic of stories and one girls unwavering love for her dog.

Zadie Ma has a special talent for telling stories . . . and it seems that some of Zadies stories come true. Zadies dearest wish is to have a dog of her own and so she starts to write the story of a poor unwanted dog called Jupiter, whos just waiting to be rescued by a loving girl like Zadie.

One morning when shes supposed to be minding the family shop for her mother, Zadie sets off to look for Jupiter. The scene that unfolds isnt quite the same as in her story but she does find a real dog, and his name is Jupiter. Once Zadie has rescued him, she realises she cant just take Jupiter home because her mother wont let her keep a dog. Luckily her bold new friend Sparrow lets Zadie keep Jupiter at her house till Zadie can work things out.

But a series of unlucky events means that Zadie cant write the happy ending she dreams of for her story, and now she may lose her beloved Jupiter forever.

Can Zadies most important story of all finally come true

Gabrielle Wang is the Australian Childrens Laureate for 2022-23.