Stormy clouds whirl across the sky and lightning lights up the ridges above the drought-riven land as a large rainbow appears and curves down to the ground. Mundegutta Gooriya the Super Snake slithers down. He tells the elders he can help them find water. They are frightened yet climb upon his back. He takes them east, travelling through the Goomelroi and Ngarabal Country where more elders climbed upon his back.

As they reach where the rivers meet the ocean, he teaches them about ocean water that Yirray, the sun, sucks up leaving salt behind. Water needs to be shared. ‘You can’t have a rainbow without water,’ he calls out.

Using his body, Super Snake carves out the land to make a river. When tired, he lays down creating great lakes beside the ocean as he massages his aches away. He continues to carve the land as he heads west. When he looks back and sees the water being sucked up by Yirray he ‘thrust his body down to create an underground water system’. Again, he teaches the elders how precious water is. ‘You can’t have a rainbow without water.’

This dreamtime story tells of the creation of the Darling River that begins its life in Southern Queensland, travelling through New South Wales and ending in South Australia.

The illustration are luscious and earthy, filling every page and the story reminds us that we need to share our resources and care for them as they are not unlimited. Super Snake is the author’s first book in a ‘Scales and Tails’ series and I am very much looking forward to more.

Reviewed by Emily Ross

Age Guide 5+

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Greg Dreise is an author, artist and song writer –

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