AustLit logo
y separately published work icon Why the Emu Can't Fly single work   picture book   children's   Indigenous story  
Issue Details: First known date: 1992... 1992 Why the Emu Can't Fly
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Wongutha story which tells of the efforts of small birds to stop the boasting and meanness of the flying emus.' (Source: LibrariesAustralia)

Notes

  • Bi-lingual text combining English and Wongutha.
  • Includes pronunciation glossary for Wongutha words used in story.
  • Teaching kit available.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • South Fremantle, Fremantle area, South West Perth, Perth, Western Australia,: Fremantle Press , 1992 .
      Extent: 36p.
      Description: col. illus., map
      ISBN: 186368025X (pbk)
    • South Fremantle, Fremantle area, South West Perth, Perth, Western Australia,: Sandcastle Books , 1992 .
      Extent: 36p.
      Description: col. illus., map
      Reprinted: 1993 , 1995 , 1998 , 1999
      ISBN: 186368025X
  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon Bawoo Stories May L. O'Brien , Angela Leaney (illustrator), Sue Wyatt (illustrator), Fremantle : Fremantle Press , 2008 Z1507459 2008 selected work picture book children's Indigenous story

    'Four wonderful traditional teaching stories of the Wongutha people are collected together here for the first time: 'Barn Barn Barlala', 'The Kangaroos Who Wanted to be People', 'How Crows Became Black', 'Why the Emu Can't Fly'.

    First published as individual titles in 1992, these stories were ground-breaking publications, presenting traditional Indigenous stories in a bi-lingual text. Sales of the individual titles now exceed 26,000 copies each. Updated with a vibrant new design, the stories are still as fresh and appealing as ever. The collected work contains a map, explanatory note and a simple pronunciation guide for the Wongutha words used in the text.' (Source: Fremantle Press website)

    Fremantle : Fremantle Press , 2008

Other Formats

  • Also sound recording.

Works about this Work

Untitled Don Pemberton , 1993 single work review
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , July vol. 8 no. 3 1993; (p. 30)

— Review of How Crows Became Black May L. O'Brien , 1992 single work picture book ; Barn-Barn Barlala : The Bush Trickster May L. O'Brien , 1992 single work picture book ; The Kangaroos Who Wanted to Be People May L. O'Brien , 1992 single work picture book ; Why the Emu Can't Fly May L. O'Brien , 1992 single work picture book
Untitled Don Pemberton , 1993 single work review
— Appears in: Magpies : Talking About Books for Children , July vol. 8 no. 3 1993; (p. 30)

— Review of How Crows Became Black May L. O'Brien , 1992 single work picture book ; Barn-Barn Barlala : The Bush Trickster May L. O'Brien , 1992 single work picture book ; The Kangaroos Who Wanted to Be People May L. O'Brien , 1992 single work picture book ; Why the Emu Can't Fly May L. O'Brien , 1992 single work picture book
Last amended 28 Feb 2011 15:59:00
Settings:
  • Western Australia,
Newspapers:
    Powered by Trove
    X