Awesome Emu - Gregg Dreise

Awesome Emu
by Gregg Dreise

Published by Magabala Books - October 2021 - Hardcover - 32pp - 28.5cm x 21cm

Age range 6 to 9

A charming morality tale that reminds us to be humble about our successes. Way back, before once-upon-a-time time, there was the Dreamtime, and during this period lived a very confident emu called Dinewah. He was tall, fast and colourful. Most animals thought he was a show-off, but he was too busy talking about himself to take any notice… Dinewah was determined to run and fly the furthest and the fastest. He even tried to fly to the sun, but he never made it. Today, he is still up there in Father Sky. If you look carefully on dark nights, when the moon isn’t very bright, you can see the Awesome Emu. Many people know him as the Milky Way. We still know it as Djiraboo Dinewah — Awesome Emu.

Gregg Dreise is a gifted artist, storyteller and musician, and he features the didgeridoo and guitar in his performances at schools, libraries and festivals. He is a descendant of the Kamilaroi and Euahlayi people of south-west Queensland and north-west New South Wales. He is the author and illustrator of Awesome Emu; Cunning Crow; Kookoo Kookaburra; Mad Magpie; and Silly Birds. All these stories are about teaching morals. They address self-image, friendship, kindness, bullying and Indigenous culture.