‘Way back,
before once-upon-a-time time,
there was The Dreamtime
and during this period lived a
very confident emu called Dinewah.’

Dinewah was magnificently coloured and very fast. He also was a bit of a show-off. When he met Bundar, the fastest kangaroo, he ran past him calling, ‘I am Djiraboo Dinewah! I am faster than you! I am the fastest runner on the land!’ He did the same when he met Maliyan, the eagle. He boasted he was the fastest flyer in the sky. Whoever he met he reminded them how awesome he really was. But Waan, the wise black crow, told him that he couldn’t just call himself awesome. He had to earn it. Perhaps, he suggested, he could fly to the sun to bring back some fire. Nobody had done that! Everyone was watching. Dinewah flapped his wings and took off towards the sky.

Gregg Dreise tells us that if we look carefully on a dark night we might see Awesome Emu which many people know as the Milky Way. His head is right near the Southern Cross. He also says to all the young ones out there … ‘You don’t have to be “the best”, your best is all that matters.’

This story and Gregg Dreise’s bright and gorgeous illustrations are his best.

Reviewed by Merle Morcom
Age Guide 5+

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I love being an Author, come take a look,

I love to sit and create, another little book.

I love to retell stories, from Dreamtime to new,

I love to give imagery, tell a yarn is what I do.

I love to sit and paint, while I am creating,

I love to work to relax – not for a rating.

I love to build up a picture, through my hands,

I love to create imagery, from my lands.

I love to create music, from my guitar,

I love to sing and dream, of being a star.

I love to play the drums and the didgeridoo,

I love to create music, about me or you.

Visit Greg Dreise’s website