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Sun Mother Wakes the World: An Australian Creation Story
At the beginning of the world, it was dark and silent and nothing stirred anywhere, until a voice roused the sleeping Sun Mother in the sky, telling her it was time to wake up all the creatures of the earth. The indigenous people of Australia believe that their first ancestors created the world and its laws. They also believe that the world is still being created in a continual process they call The Dreamtime. Renowned storyteller Diane Wolkstein has crafted a powerful retelling of an Australian creation story, illuminated by illustrator Bronwyn Bancroft's authentic, beautifully realized paintings.
32 pages, Library Binding
First published March 1, 2004
2 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Diane Wolkstein
43 books36 followersDiane Wolkstein was a folklorist and author of children's books. She also served as New York City's official storyteller from 1968–1971.
As New York's official storyteller, Wolkstein visited two of the city's parks each weekday, staging hundreds of one-woman storytelling events. After successfully talking her way into the position, she realized "there was no margin for error," she said in a 1992 interview. "I mean, it was a park. [The children would] just go somewhere else if they didn't like it."
She also had a radio show on WNYC, Stories From Many Lands, from 1968 until 1980, and she helped create the Storytelling Center of New York City.
Wolkstein authored two dozen books, primarily collections of folk tales and legends she gathered during research trips. She made many visits to China, Haiti and Africa.
Wolkstein was born in Newark, New Jersey and grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey. Her father Henry was an accountant and her mother Ruth was a librarian. She received a bachelor's degree from Smith College and a master's degree in education from Bank Street College of Education. While living in Paris, she studied mime under Étienne Decroux.
Wolkstein was in Taiwan to research a book of Chinese folk stories when she underwent emergency surgery for a heart condition. She died in the city of Kaohsiung at the age of 70.
As New York's official storyteller, Wolkstein visited two of the city's parks each weekday, staging hundreds of one-woman storytelling events. After successfully talking her way into the position, she realized "there was no margin for error," she said in a 1992 interview. "I mean, it was a park. [The children would] just go somewhere else if they didn't like it."
She also had a radio show on WNYC, Stories From Many Lands, from 1968 until 1980, and she helped create the Storytelling Center of New York City.
Wolkstein authored two dozen books, primarily collections of folk tales and legends she gathered during research trips. She made many visits to China, Haiti and Africa.
Wolkstein was born in Newark, New Jersey and grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey. Her father Henry was an accountant and her mother Ruth was a librarian. She received a bachelor's degree from Smith College and a master's degree in education from Bank Street College of Education. While living in Paris, she studied mime under Étienne Decroux.
Wolkstein was in Taiwan to research a book of Chinese folk stories when she underwent emergency surgery for a heart condition. She died in the city of Kaohsiung at the age of 70.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 28, 2024
“My children, I woke you as a seed is woken in the spring.”
Folklorist Wolkstein travelled to Australia multiple times to gather and authenticate the myths of the Sun Mother in order to create this beautiful adaptation. It’s enhanced by indigenous Australian artist Bronwyn Bancroft’s colorful paintings.
One of my favorite memories is the way my mother woke me in the mornings--gently, with a whisper. So I loved the way, in this story, the world began with a soft voice whispering to Sun Mother to wake up, and wake the earth. Off she went to do just that, first waking the flora, then the fauna. She goes back to the sky and reappears each day as the sun, eventually creating the moon and morning star so there will always be light.
Lovely and inspirational, for adults as well as children.
Folklorist Wolkstein travelled to Australia multiple times to gather and authenticate the myths of the Sun Mother in order to create this beautiful adaptation. It’s enhanced by indigenous Australian artist Bronwyn Bancroft’s colorful paintings.
One of my favorite memories is the way my mother woke me in the mornings--gently, with a whisper. So I loved the way, in this story, the world began with a soft voice whispering to Sun Mother to wake up, and wake the earth. Off she went to do just that, first waking the flora, then the fauna. She goes back to the sky and reappears each day as the sun, eventually creating the moon and morning star so there will always be light.
Lovely and inspirational, for adults as well as children.
December 17, 2021
This book is beautifully illustrated.
February 6, 2013
Diane Wolkstein's Sun Mother Wakes the World is an Australian creation story told through a combination of vibrant illustrations (by Bronwyn Bancroft) and poetic narrative. The storytelling begins in darkness and introduces Sun Mother, whose light awakens earth and its creatures. Each painting swirls in warm bright colors amidst the darkness of life's dark and empty beginnings. As new creatures wake from the corners of the world, they come to rely on Sun Mother for the happiness she creates through plant and animal life. But soon Sun Mother returns to the sky, leaving the earth in its state of darkness. Hearing the cries of the living below, she allows them to take on a form with features of their choosing--creating new species, and the first humans. Each morning Sun Mother promises to bring light to the earth, explaining why we have day and night.
After reading the first page and observing the beautiful paintings accompanying the text, I was hooked. The story is told in a form that would be appropriate and engaging for young readers. Even though true understanding of the creation story may need to be discussed with younger students, the text includes dialogue and sound effects that put the reader/listener within the story. I could see this book being used as a read aloud over a wide span of grade levels from early elementary to middle school. Older students would be able to discuss symbolism that would likely go over the heads of younger children.
After reading the first page and observing the beautiful paintings accompanying the text, I was hooked. The story is told in a form that would be appropriate and engaging for young readers. Even though true understanding of the creation story may need to be discussed with younger students, the text includes dialogue and sound effects that put the reader/listener within the story. I could see this book being used as a read aloud over a wide span of grade levels from early elementary to middle school. Older students would be able to discuss symbolism that would likely go over the heads of younger children.
November 6, 2016
Title: Sun Mother Wakes the World: An Australian Creation Story
Author: Diane Wolkstein
Illustrator: Bronwyn Bancroft
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Australian folklore, creation, Australian aborigines, nature, day and night
Opening line/sentence:
The indigenous people of Australia believe that their first ancestors created the world and its laws.
Brief Book Summary:
Everything on Earth was sleeping until Sun Mother awoke from her spot in the sky. She flies down onto the Earth and wakes all of the living things with her light, but darkness returns when she has to return to the sky. However, Sun Mother creates Moon and Morning Star to give living things light at night, and the Sun Mother promises to return each day to provide light for the earth.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
This Creation story begins in darkness and silence. A voice wakes Sun Mother, who brings light to awaken the sleeping earth, plants, and trees. Then the voice sends Sun Mother into dark caves, to bring forth insects, snakes, animals, and other creatures. Sun Mother then returns to the sky. The animals fear the dark she leaves behind, but she returns to visit each day. When they quarrel, she allows them to choose their own forms. Then she gives birth to Moon and Morning Star, for light at night. Finally they give birth to the first man and woman. Sun Mother welcomes them, but tells them that they must keep the earth alive and look after their birthplace. Bancroft, an indigenous Australian, draws upon the symbols and colors of the Aboriginal Dreamtime tradition in her double-page painted illustrations. They maintain much of the mystery of the verbal narrative, exploiting encapsulated shapes, dot patterns and designs, simple animal outlines, and strong color contrasts for mystical but emotionally moving exotic imagery. A note on the Dreamtime tries to explain this concept, which is so different from Western tradition. There is also an extensive note on the author's sources. This story is interesting to compare to other Creation tales and it's interesting as an explanation of the ecological concerns of native Australians.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
From Horn Book Guide Online:
(3) K-3 Illustrated by Bronwyn Bancroft. Dealing with the explanation of day and night, the characteristics of Australian animals, and the beginnings of human life, this story is illustrated with vibrant paintings by an artist with Aboriginal roots. Wolkstein, as usual, is careful to give the provenance of the story in full detail, thus telling the reader that the story may have European themes as well as Aboriginal origins.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
This creation story was applauded for its vibrant illustrations done in paint, and both reviewers mentioned how powerfully the colors represented Aboriginal tradition. Both reviewers mention the author’s introduction page about the indigenous people of Australia’s beliefs regarding the world, and I agree that without this background information, the story could not be followed as easily. Even though this story explains how day and night came to exist, I think the reviewers overlooked the fact that there are other creation explanations within the story, such as when the Sun Mother gave the animals a chance to change their bodies. These changes allowed by the Sun Mother could explain why kangaroos have a pouch or why wombats have strong claws today.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
Because it is a creation story, the theme of the story revolves around the idea of the creation of night and day. The beginning of the story opens with short, powerful phrases to describe the darkness of the earth, which gets the reader engaged especially with an all black background and white text. The Sun Mother is portrayed using the color yellow, which could represent life, and her outline and features are all rounded lines, which creates a sense of safety when the reader sees the character. The illustrations have a lot of patterns included in them, which represents the Aboriginal culture and traditions, adding to the overall theme.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
I would use this book in a second to fourth grade classroom to teach about myths and culture-specific folktales. After reading the story out loud, I would ask students to analyze the illustrations and point out how they differ from traditional picture book illustrations (patterns, colors used, curvy lines). I would want to go in depth about the Aboriginal culture and traditions by reviewing what they believe in by reading their creation beliefs on the first page of the book. Furthermore, students could independently research other folktales and myths and share with the class one of a different culture’s beliefs.
Author: Diane Wolkstein
Illustrator: Bronwyn Bancroft
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Australian folklore, creation, Australian aborigines, nature, day and night
Opening line/sentence:
The indigenous people of Australia believe that their first ancestors created the world and its laws.
Brief Book Summary:
Everything on Earth was sleeping until Sun Mother awoke from her spot in the sky. She flies down onto the Earth and wakes all of the living things with her light, but darkness returns when she has to return to the sky. However, Sun Mother creates Moon and Morning Star to give living things light at night, and the Sun Mother promises to return each day to provide light for the earth.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
This Creation story begins in darkness and silence. A voice wakes Sun Mother, who brings light to awaken the sleeping earth, plants, and trees. Then the voice sends Sun Mother into dark caves, to bring forth insects, snakes, animals, and other creatures. Sun Mother then returns to the sky. The animals fear the dark she leaves behind, but she returns to visit each day. When they quarrel, she allows them to choose their own forms. Then she gives birth to Moon and Morning Star, for light at night. Finally they give birth to the first man and woman. Sun Mother welcomes them, but tells them that they must keep the earth alive and look after their birthplace. Bancroft, an indigenous Australian, draws upon the symbols and colors of the Aboriginal Dreamtime tradition in her double-page painted illustrations. They maintain much of the mystery of the verbal narrative, exploiting encapsulated shapes, dot patterns and designs, simple animal outlines, and strong color contrasts for mystical but emotionally moving exotic imagery. A note on the Dreamtime tries to explain this concept, which is so different from Western tradition. There is also an extensive note on the author's sources. This story is interesting to compare to other Creation tales and it's interesting as an explanation of the ecological concerns of native Australians.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
From Horn Book Guide Online:
(3) K-3 Illustrated by Bronwyn Bancroft. Dealing with the explanation of day and night, the characteristics of Australian animals, and the beginnings of human life, this story is illustrated with vibrant paintings by an artist with Aboriginal roots. Wolkstein, as usual, is careful to give the provenance of the story in full detail, thus telling the reader that the story may have European themes as well as Aboriginal origins.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
This creation story was applauded for its vibrant illustrations done in paint, and both reviewers mentioned how powerfully the colors represented Aboriginal tradition. Both reviewers mention the author’s introduction page about the indigenous people of Australia’s beliefs regarding the world, and I agree that without this background information, the story could not be followed as easily. Even though this story explains how day and night came to exist, I think the reviewers overlooked the fact that there are other creation explanations within the story, such as when the Sun Mother gave the animals a chance to change their bodies. These changes allowed by the Sun Mother could explain why kangaroos have a pouch or why wombats have strong claws today.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
Because it is a creation story, the theme of the story revolves around the idea of the creation of night and day. The beginning of the story opens with short, powerful phrases to describe the darkness of the earth, which gets the reader engaged especially with an all black background and white text. The Sun Mother is portrayed using the color yellow, which could represent life, and her outline and features are all rounded lines, which creates a sense of safety when the reader sees the character. The illustrations have a lot of patterns included in them, which represents the Aboriginal culture and traditions, adding to the overall theme.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
I would use this book in a second to fourth grade classroom to teach about myths and culture-specific folktales. After reading the story out loud, I would ask students to analyze the illustrations and point out how they differ from traditional picture book illustrations (patterns, colors used, curvy lines). I would want to go in depth about the Aboriginal culture and traditions by reviewing what they believe in by reading their creation beliefs on the first page of the book. Furthermore, students could independently research other folktales and myths and share with the class one of a different culture’s beliefs.
November 8, 2016
Goodreads #10
Summary:
This book is a folklore about the beliefs of the indigenous people of Australia. They believe that the world is still being created and that it is a continual process. The book tells the story of Sun Mother who woke up one day and woke the rest of the world. She started by waking the grass, plants, and trees and when she was finished she rested. Then she was told to wake the sleeping animals in the caves. She woke the grubs, beetles, and caterpillars and then went to the next cave to wake the reptiles. She woke the birds and the mammals and then she was finished and went back into the sky. While she was gone not a single animal moved and wished for her return. Then the next day she returned and the animals began to not worry every night when the Sun Mother would leave them. As time passed, the animals began to compare themselves to other animals and they cried to the Sun Mother. The Sun Mother said to them, “My children, I love each of you. I wish you to be happy. If you are unhappy with your shape, you will have a chance to change. Consider very carefully what you choose, for the form you choose will be yours for a long time.” Once the animals were happy the Sun Mother created something new, she created the moon and starts that would give light during the night. The Moon and Stars gave birth to twins which were the first humans to walk the world.
Themes:
The theme in this book is an Australian Folklore about the creation of the world. It expresses the beauty of nature and how it was created according to the indigenous Australian people.
Personal Response:
I never really learned about the beliefs of other cultures in elementary school. So when I moved to Tokyo, I was very shocked by the different beliefs held by the Japanese. At first hearing these new beliefs made me wonder how people could believe something different than what I had grown up with. However, I was able to understand that although we had a couple differences, we had more things in common.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to a class who is learning about the beliefs of other cultures or about folklores. The illustrations are colorful and tell the story of the indigenous people of Australia. It is a great example of what a folklore is and has many examples a teacher could pull from to teach about what makes a folklore a folklore.
Summary:
This book is a folklore about the beliefs of the indigenous people of Australia. They believe that the world is still being created and that it is a continual process. The book tells the story of Sun Mother who woke up one day and woke the rest of the world. She started by waking the grass, plants, and trees and when she was finished she rested. Then she was told to wake the sleeping animals in the caves. She woke the grubs, beetles, and caterpillars and then went to the next cave to wake the reptiles. She woke the birds and the mammals and then she was finished and went back into the sky. While she was gone not a single animal moved and wished for her return. Then the next day she returned and the animals began to not worry every night when the Sun Mother would leave them. As time passed, the animals began to compare themselves to other animals and they cried to the Sun Mother. The Sun Mother said to them, “My children, I love each of you. I wish you to be happy. If you are unhappy with your shape, you will have a chance to change. Consider very carefully what you choose, for the form you choose will be yours for a long time.” Once the animals were happy the Sun Mother created something new, she created the moon and starts that would give light during the night. The Moon and Stars gave birth to twins which were the first humans to walk the world.
Themes:
The theme in this book is an Australian Folklore about the creation of the world. It expresses the beauty of nature and how it was created according to the indigenous Australian people.
Personal Response:
I never really learned about the beliefs of other cultures in elementary school. So when I moved to Tokyo, I was very shocked by the different beliefs held by the Japanese. At first hearing these new beliefs made me wonder how people could believe something different than what I had grown up with. However, I was able to understand that although we had a couple differences, we had more things in common.
Recommendation:
I would recommend this book to a class who is learning about the beliefs of other cultures or about folklores. The illustrations are colorful and tell the story of the indigenous people of Australia. It is a great example of what a folklore is and has many examples a teacher could pull from to teach about what makes a folklore a folklore.
September 30, 2019
The world was filled with darkness until a voice told Sun Mother to wake up and wake the sleeping earth. Sun Mother sped to Earth and traveled in every direction to spread the plants and wake all the animals. Sun Mother returned to the sky after waking everyone for spring, but animals cried for her to come back and darkness returned. Sun Mother glided across the sky often and the animals learned to not be sad when she left, knowing she would be back. However, the animals soon became unhappy and Sun Mother came back and made changes to all the animals who wanted to change, and gave birth to the Moon and Morning Star who would give light to the Earth in the night. Sun Mother’s two children then had twins, making the first man and woman on earth who would care for the earth and keep it alive after Sun Mother woke it up every morning.
This book was filled with intricate illustrations that looked like tribal symbols, not often seen in regular childres’ books. This would benefit children if they were learning about other countries or learning about how others believed the world was created. I recommend this book to elementary age children, all the way up to middle school, as it can teach children that everyone has their own beliefs on how the world was created and it is okay to have these different beliefs. This can give knowledge about other places around the world and teach acceptance.
This book was filled with intricate illustrations that looked like tribal symbols, not often seen in regular childres’ books. This would benefit children if they were learning about other countries or learning about how others believed the world was created. I recommend this book to elementary age children, all the way up to middle school, as it can teach children that everyone has their own beliefs on how the world was created and it is okay to have these different beliefs. This can give knowledge about other places around the world and teach acceptance.
May 4, 2017
This book has no known awards and is appropriate for 4-7 year old children. It is basically a fantasy based on the belief that when the sun mother smiles, the world gets brighter and it is not dark anymore. Sun mother sleeps and rests, and when she wakes, travels all around the Earth. The sun then enters dark caves and wakes the animal spirits, such as insects, lizards, frogs, snakes - all who eventually learn not to be afraid of the darkness and understand that she will come again to give them light. The illustrations, full of warm, beautiful colors, are magical, mystical, and almost spiritual. I love that this book makes it easier for children to understand the concept of 24 hours in a day and when we are awake or asleep. I think this would be an excellent book before bedtime. One in class use could be to read this book on Earth Day. Another in class use could be to read this book when trying to understand the sun and moon rotation during a science lesson.
June 28, 2018
The art transforms this myth into a masterpiece. I found myself longing to drop into one of the pages and feel the dots racing ecstatically and the lines writhing like goannas. I haven't felt so artistically inspired in ages! The sibling marriage thing, common to so many cultures' myths, might make this one a book for older kids or at least kids who understand that rules are often different in mythology. Recommended for all teens and adults without reservation.
July 7, 2025
There are similar books written and illustrated by actual native Australians themselves. I recommend reading them instead.
At least there's a deferential author's note professing research and respect. And the pictures are pretty. The text is longish, but pretty straightforward, not laden with spiritual metaphor or cryptically written.
At least there's a deferential author's note professing research and respect. And the pictures are pretty. The text is longish, but pretty straightforward, not laden with spiritual metaphor or cryptically written.
January 7, 2025
I was glad to be able to find a book about an Indigenous Australian creation story.
June 29, 2016
Title: Sun Mother Wakes the World An Australian Creation Story
Author: Diane Wolkstein
Illustrator: Bronwyn Bancroft
Genre: Myth
Theme: Creation, nature, day and night
Opening line/sentence:
The indigenous people of Australia believe that their first ancestors created the world and its laws.
Brief Book Summary:
Sun Mother came down from the sky and brought light and life to the earth. When she returned to her home in the sky, the animals were upset because everything became dark again. They then realized that Sun Mother would visit them every day. In the end, she creates Moon and Morning Star to give the animals light at night.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Janice M. Del Negro (The Bulletin of the Center for Children s Books, May 2004 (Vol. 57, No. 9))
In this creation myth from the indigenous people of Australia, Sun Mother is called to wakefulness by a loving voice that tells her to "wake the sleeping earth." This she does by walking: "Sun Mother began to travel. With each step she took, grass, plants, and trees sprouted in her footprints." When her work is complete, Sun Mother returns to the sky, coming back to earth each day to light the daytime hours. Memories, even among the animal folk, are short: "As time passed, the animals forgot the joy they had felt when they first received the gift of life. They looked at each other, and they wanted what they did not have." Their cries of discontent reach Sun Mother, who returns to shape them into their chosen, permanent forms. She gives birth to Moon and Morning Star, who in turn give birth to twins, the first man and the first woman. Sun Mother exhorts the first man and first woman to "care for the land for the sake of your grandparents as well as for your children and grandchildren," telling them that they must "walk the land to keep it alive." Wolkstein s lyrical adaptation has a stately but gentle pace suited to Sun Mother is gentle cajoling of creation. The text is illumined by Bancroft s pictographic art, wherein stamp-like motifs enliven the geometric shapes of the earth s emerging life forms. Swirls of wave and cloud, circles of fish, and the flame-like verticals of trees keep the compositions in constant motion. Swaths of opaque blue and green are brightened by the glowing yellow of Sun Mother herself. Wolkstein opens with a page providing cultural context and concludes with an extensive source note on the origin of the tale.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Gillian Engberg (Booklist, Apr. 15, 2004 (Vol. 100, No. 16))
In spare, rhythmic words, veteran folklorist Wolkstein retells an Aboriginal Australian creation myth that begins "when the earth was asleep." When a "soft voice" tells Sun Mother that it's time, she travels to Earth, leaving a wide path of lush greenery and vibrant animal life in her footsteps. Returning to the sky, she continues to pass over Earth in cycles of light that become day and night. There are final adjustments. Sun Mother allows the animals the free will to choose their own features ("Platypus couldn't decide . . . so she chose everything!"), and she creates Moon and Morning Star, who give birth to the first humans. Wolkstein bolsters her beautifully paced telling with a clear introduction that explains the concept of Dreamtime, and Aboriginal artist Bancroft's swirling, patterned, abstract paintings vibrantly suggest life's astonishing beginnings, from cell and egg to tree and animal. An author's note gives precise, extensive source information. Pair this with Phyllis Root's delightful Big Momma Makes the World (2003) for a multicultural story hour about the beginning of life.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviews enjoyed this Australian myth about Sun Mother. I agree that the illustrations really add to the story as well. The first page gives background information on the myth and is very helpful. Without that background story, I can see the story being confusing.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
Being a creation story, there is a clear theme. There is also a main character, Sun Mother, but we are also introduced to animals, Moon, and Morning Star. The setting is a combination of the sky and land.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
For this story, I would explain the transition from day to night to my students. I would have them create both a daytime and nighttime picture with construction paper. You could also bring up other creation stories from around the world and compare their main ideas.
Author: Diane Wolkstein
Illustrator: Bronwyn Bancroft
Genre: Myth
Theme: Creation, nature, day and night
Opening line/sentence:
The indigenous people of Australia believe that their first ancestors created the world and its laws.
Brief Book Summary:
Sun Mother came down from the sky and brought light and life to the earth. When she returned to her home in the sky, the animals were upset because everything became dark again. They then realized that Sun Mother would visit them every day. In the end, she creates Moon and Morning Star to give the animals light at night.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Janice M. Del Negro (The Bulletin of the Center for Children s Books, May 2004 (Vol. 57, No. 9))
In this creation myth from the indigenous people of Australia, Sun Mother is called to wakefulness by a loving voice that tells her to "wake the sleeping earth." This she does by walking: "Sun Mother began to travel. With each step she took, grass, plants, and trees sprouted in her footprints." When her work is complete, Sun Mother returns to the sky, coming back to earth each day to light the daytime hours. Memories, even among the animal folk, are short: "As time passed, the animals forgot the joy they had felt when they first received the gift of life. They looked at each other, and they wanted what they did not have." Their cries of discontent reach Sun Mother, who returns to shape them into their chosen, permanent forms. She gives birth to Moon and Morning Star, who in turn give birth to twins, the first man and the first woman. Sun Mother exhorts the first man and first woman to "care for the land for the sake of your grandparents as well as for your children and grandchildren," telling them that they must "walk the land to keep it alive." Wolkstein s lyrical adaptation has a stately but gentle pace suited to Sun Mother is gentle cajoling of creation. The text is illumined by Bancroft s pictographic art, wherein stamp-like motifs enliven the geometric shapes of the earth s emerging life forms. Swirls of wave and cloud, circles of fish, and the flame-like verticals of trees keep the compositions in constant motion. Swaths of opaque blue and green are brightened by the glowing yellow of Sun Mother herself. Wolkstein opens with a page providing cultural context and concludes with an extensive source note on the origin of the tale.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Gillian Engberg (Booklist, Apr. 15, 2004 (Vol. 100, No. 16))
In spare, rhythmic words, veteran folklorist Wolkstein retells an Aboriginal Australian creation myth that begins "when the earth was asleep." When a "soft voice" tells Sun Mother that it's time, she travels to Earth, leaving a wide path of lush greenery and vibrant animal life in her footsteps. Returning to the sky, she continues to pass over Earth in cycles of light that become day and night. There are final adjustments. Sun Mother allows the animals the free will to choose their own features ("Platypus couldn't decide . . . so she chose everything!"), and she creates Moon and Morning Star, who give birth to the first humans. Wolkstein bolsters her beautifully paced telling with a clear introduction that explains the concept of Dreamtime, and Aboriginal artist Bancroft's swirling, patterned, abstract paintings vibrantly suggest life's astonishing beginnings, from cell and egg to tree and animal. An author's note gives precise, extensive source information. Pair this with Phyllis Root's delightful Big Momma Makes the World (2003) for a multicultural story hour about the beginning of life.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviews enjoyed this Australian myth about Sun Mother. I agree that the illustrations really add to the story as well. The first page gives background information on the myth and is very helpful. Without that background story, I can see the story being confusing.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
Being a creation story, there is a clear theme. There is also a main character, Sun Mother, but we are also introduced to animals, Moon, and Morning Star. The setting is a combination of the sky and land.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
For this story, I would explain the transition from day to night to my students. I would have them create both a daytime and nighttime picture with construction paper. You could also bring up other creation stories from around the world and compare their main ideas.
October 13, 2015
Title: Sun Mother Wakes the World
Author: Diane Wolkstein
Illustrator: Bronwyn Bancroft
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Creation story, Australian Indigenous culture
Opening line/sentence:
The Indigenous people of Australia believe that their first ancestors created the world and its laws.
Brief Book Summary: All of the earth was sleeping until Sun Mother awakes from her spot in the sky. She descends onto the earth, awaking all the creatures, plants, and living things and giving birth to the Moon and Morning Star, who give birth to the first man and women. Sun Mother tells the first humans to take care of the earth, then leaves but keeps her promise to return each day to provide light for the earth.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2004 (Vol. 72, No. 5))
In this more-or-less tranquil creation myth from Australia, Sun Mother, wakened by an unidentified parent, in turn wakes the Earth's animals, gives them new shapes after they become dissatisfied with what they already have, then gives birth to the Moon and Morning Star, who produce the first humans. Veteran folklorist/storyteller Wolkstein retells the tale in a terse, formal way, with strong but understated feeling and glints of humor; Bancroft, an artist of Aboriginal descent, depicts Sun Mother as a graceful, golden form, bringing light to a swirling, distinctively stylized, brightly patterned world. A respectful, eye-opening alternative to Biblical versions of the creation, such as Gerald McDermott's Creation (2003), with similarly sweeping art, and a female Creator to boot. (introduction, source note) 2004, HarperCollins, 32p, $15.99. Category: Picture book/folktale. Ages 7 to 10.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
(3) K-3 Illustrated by Bronwyn Bancroft. Dealing with the explanation of day and night, the characteristics of Australian animals, and the beginnings of human life, this story is illustrated with vibrant paintings by an artist with Aboriginal roots. Wolkstein, as usual, is careful to give the provenance of the story in full detail, thus telling the reader that the story may have European themes as well as Aboriginal origins.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
This story of creation is certainly eye-opening, because it tells a tale that is not often heard. The artist of the illustrations does used bright, swirling colors to add to the Aboriginal feel of the story. I find these reviews to line up with my opinion of the book- it's a unique, bright story packed with details about certain beliefs on Creation.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The story was very well written, and opens with a few short sentences that are immediately captivating to readers. I loved the illustrations and thought they were a perfect fit to the mood of the story, and helped paint a good picture of the setting and origins of the story. Overall, I thought the author and illustrator did a fantastic job of retelling this story to a younger audience and especially to young readers.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This book could be used in the subject area of History/Social Studies if discussing the Aboriginal culture in Australia. Students could read the book together as an intro to the topic, or as a way of ending/wrapping up their findings about this particular culture. Additionally, students could use this book as a starting point for research on Aboriginal tribes and could be encouraged to find other mythical books such as this.
Author: Diane Wolkstein
Illustrator: Bronwyn Bancroft
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Creation story, Australian Indigenous culture
Opening line/sentence:
The Indigenous people of Australia believe that their first ancestors created the world and its laws.
Brief Book Summary: All of the earth was sleeping until Sun Mother awakes from her spot in the sky. She descends onto the earth, awaking all the creatures, plants, and living things and giving birth to the Moon and Morning Star, who give birth to the first man and women. Sun Mother tells the first humans to take care of the earth, then leaves but keeps her promise to return each day to provide light for the earth.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, March 1, 2004 (Vol. 72, No. 5))
In this more-or-less tranquil creation myth from Australia, Sun Mother, wakened by an unidentified parent, in turn wakes the Earth's animals, gives them new shapes after they become dissatisfied with what they already have, then gives birth to the Moon and Morning Star, who produce the first humans. Veteran folklorist/storyteller Wolkstein retells the tale in a terse, formal way, with strong but understated feeling and glints of humor; Bancroft, an artist of Aboriginal descent, depicts Sun Mother as a graceful, golden form, bringing light to a swirling, distinctively stylized, brightly patterned world. A respectful, eye-opening alternative to Biblical versions of the creation, such as Gerald McDermott's Creation (2003), with similarly sweeping art, and a female Creator to boot. (introduction, source note) 2004, HarperCollins, 32p, $15.99. Category: Picture book/folktale. Ages 7 to 10.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
(3) K-3 Illustrated by Bronwyn Bancroft. Dealing with the explanation of day and night, the characteristics of Australian animals, and the beginnings of human life, this story is illustrated with vibrant paintings by an artist with Aboriginal roots. Wolkstein, as usual, is careful to give the provenance of the story in full detail, thus telling the reader that the story may have European themes as well as Aboriginal origins.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
This story of creation is certainly eye-opening, because it tells a tale that is not often heard. The artist of the illustrations does used bright, swirling colors to add to the Aboriginal feel of the story. I find these reviews to line up with my opinion of the book- it's a unique, bright story packed with details about certain beliefs on Creation.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
The story was very well written, and opens with a few short sentences that are immediately captivating to readers. I loved the illustrations and thought they were a perfect fit to the mood of the story, and helped paint a good picture of the setting and origins of the story. Overall, I thought the author and illustrator did a fantastic job of retelling this story to a younger audience and especially to young readers.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This book could be used in the subject area of History/Social Studies if discussing the Aboriginal culture in Australia. Students could read the book together as an intro to the topic, or as a way of ending/wrapping up their findings about this particular culture. Additionally, students could use this book as a starting point for research on Aboriginal tribes and could be encouraged to find other mythical books such as this.
February 2, 2013
Sun Mother Wakes the World: An Australian Creation Story is a unique tale because after all of my research and reviews of creation myths, this was the only Australian creation myth that I found! I was drawn to it right away because it was not a culture area that I had read much about.
Sun Mother Wakes the World tells the story of how the sun came to the Earth. The story starts with how the Earth and Sun Mother are asleep. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a voice wakes up Sun Mother and tells her that it is time to awaken the Earth. Then, Sun Mother begins to slowly wake up the Earth with her rays and the Earth goes from silent, still, and gray, to bright, stirring, and breathing. Sun Mother starts by waking the plants, then she wakes the bugs, and then she finally wakes the animals. Later in the story, Sun Mother gives birth to Moon and Morning Star. Together, Moon and Morning Star create the first humans.
The illustrations in the book are stunning. From the first moment, the text and the illustration match together and compliment each other very well. The first page begins with when the Earth was asleep and dark and the page is black with quiet swirls along the border.
This book would be a beautiful celebration of multicultural literature for any age classroom! I think this book could be used as a good compare and contrast activity for students to see how different creation myths depict the start of the Earth, the Sun, plants, animals, etc. I would be careful though, because I could see some students wanting to start conversations about what their particular religion says about the creation of plants, animals, and the first humans.
Overall, I think that because of the mention of the first creation of humans and how many students may have very specific views about their own religion and beliefs. I would read this book to a more mature group of students who were ready to understand that people all over the world have many different beliefs, and that’s perfectly great!
Sun Mother Wakes the World tells the story of how the sun came to the Earth. The story starts with how the Earth and Sun Mother are asleep. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a voice wakes up Sun Mother and tells her that it is time to awaken the Earth. Then, Sun Mother begins to slowly wake up the Earth with her rays and the Earth goes from silent, still, and gray, to bright, stirring, and breathing. Sun Mother starts by waking the plants, then she wakes the bugs, and then she finally wakes the animals. Later in the story, Sun Mother gives birth to Moon and Morning Star. Together, Moon and Morning Star create the first humans.
The illustrations in the book are stunning. From the first moment, the text and the illustration match together and compliment each other very well. The first page begins with when the Earth was asleep and dark and the page is black with quiet swirls along the border.
This book would be a beautiful celebration of multicultural literature for any age classroom! I think this book could be used as a good compare and contrast activity for students to see how different creation myths depict the start of the Earth, the Sun, plants, animals, etc. I would be careful though, because I could see some students wanting to start conversations about what their particular religion says about the creation of plants, animals, and the first humans.
Overall, I think that because of the mention of the first creation of humans and how many students may have very specific views about their own religion and beliefs. I would read this book to a more mature group of students who were ready to understand that people all over the world have many different beliefs, and that’s perfectly great!
April 30, 2014
Diane Wolkstein adapts a beautiful creation myth in her children’s book Sun Mother Wakes the World, illustrated by Brownyn Bancroft. In Wolkstein's adaption she tells the creation of the world from Sun Mother. Sun mother, who represents the sun, awakes from a whisper and goes to earth to wake the land and all the plants and animals. After she has woken them she returns to the sky and the earth gets dark. The land and animals gets scared of the darkness and are relieved when Sun Mother returns in the morning. When Sun Mother realizes the animals aren’t happy, she returns to earth to allow the animals to change form to whatever the wish to be. After their change Sun Mother has two children, Moon and Morning Star, to give the animals light at night. Later, Moon and Morning Star has twins, Woman and Man. After their birth, Sun Mother returns and tells the twins their responsibilities while living on earth. I really enjoy this book because I like to learn more about cultures. I feel that every culture has its own individual creation myth by learning about the Australian myth was really interesting for me. The illustrations done by Bancraft are very well done and are true to the myth’s Australian roots. I feel that colors throughout the text support the idea of Sun Mother with the use of warm colors; reds, oranges, and yellows. I feel that my students would really engage in this text because it tells a story that may be new to them. I feel that children are always questioning the world and how it began. I feel like having these sorts of books in my classroom can allow for students to explore that curiosity and learn more about different cultures.
July 20, 2012
Sun Mother Wakes the World is a folklore tale of an Australian creation story. The illustrations in this book are vibrant; they look like indigenous artwork. The book is about the beginning of the world and how it was dark until a voice awoke the sleeping Sun Mother in the sky. Sun Mother wakes up all the creatures of the Earth, plants, and animals and they felt joy from the gift of life. When Sun Mother returned to the western sky, the animals were frightened and the Earth became quiet and darker and darker. The next day the Sun Mother returned in the eastern sky; then the creatures knew that when Sun Mother returned to her home in the sky, she would return to visit them. Eventually, the creatures quarreled with one another. Sun Mother wanted them to be happy so she let them change shape and become the form they wanted- which created more species. She then gave birth to a daughter and son, Moon and Morning Star who also gave birth to twins which were the first man and woman on Earth. Sun Mother advised them to take care of the land and keep it alive. I hadn’t heard this story before, so it’s interesting to read this folklore and the continual process the ancestors refer to as The Dreamtime.
November 14, 2014
The Sun Mother is a Creation Tale from Australia. There are many different indigenous people living in Australia. A common theme amongst the natives the concept of "the Dreaming" which is a belief that all living things are sacred. The Sun mother is a tale about time long ago when there was darkness and the Sun Mother was asleep until one day a Great Spirit awoke her. The sun Mother traveled the cold dark Earth and started to wake up all the wonders of the Earth, plants, trees, flowers, fish, bugs, animals, reptiles, birds. The world was a beautiful place, yet after time the creatures were discontent and the Sun Mother visited Earth again and the living things were able to take other forms until they were content.
I really enjoyed this creation tale. I thought that it was descriptive and detailed. I liked how it gave some background information about the Australian Natives and how their concept of "the Dreaming" is an important theme amongst various cultures and groups.
I really enjoyed this creation tale. I thought that it was descriptive and detailed. I liked how it gave some background information about the Australian Natives and how their concept of "the Dreaming" is an important theme amongst various cultures and groups.
May 17, 2008
Beautiful artwork illustrates this Australian creation tale. I think it's a good thing that artists are working to capture ancient stories that had previously only been passed down by oral tradition.
April 12, 2009
Austrailian creation Myth.
July 9, 2011
Bright and colorful illustrations accompany this long but beautiful story.
An Aboriginal creation story in which the Sun slowly brings life to the Earth.
An Aboriginal creation story in which the Sun slowly brings life to the Earth.
January 16, 2016
Nicely done Australian creation story. Vivid art complements the text.
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