This is the first book in the new 'Scales and Tails' series by award-winning children’s book author Gregg Dreise and the first in a new square format. Told with heart and humour, Super Snake will be a family favourite.
A charming morality tale, this book tells the tale of the Rainbow Serpent and the creation of the Darling/Barka River.
In the Dreamtime, the bush was in the middle of a drought. A storm came and Mundegutta Gooriya the Super Snake was created.
Way back, before Once-upon-a-time there was the Dreamtime and the bush was in the middle of a drought.
After a storm, one large rainbow curved down. The Super Snake slithered down that rainbow on to the earth and promised the Elders he could help them find water. That Super Snake called out, ‘You can’t have a rainbow without water.
‘Dhurraluwi guuma-li — Come together! Wantima — Rise up! Woorri — Share.’
Like many, Gregg read The Rainbow Serpent by Dick Roughsey in primary school. He has always wanted to make a Rainbow Serpent book from his own Culture to highlight to people the diverse Countries and Cultures across Australia. Although people around the world may think of Aboriginal people as all being the same, there are hundreds of Countries on this continent.
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 Cunning Crow; Silly Birds; Kookoo Kookaburra; Mad Magpie and My Culture and Me. All these stories are about teaching morals. They address self-image, friendship, kindness, bullying and Indigenous culture.
Gregg is also the illustrator of the classic story Tiddalik the Frog (Pearson Publishing) and has poetry with his illustrations in the anthology A Boat of Stars; and illustrations in High 5 to the Boys and contributions towards Why I Love Australia. He has a Children’s Music CD titled Sing. Dance. Walk Together.