1. Creation
2. Dreaming
3. Literary devices
4. Stories and motifs
5. Storytelling
6. Sun
7. Visual literacy

'Sun Mother Wakes the World' is a beautiful retelling of a Dreaming story, with lyrical text, emphasising the importance of matriarchal significance in Aboriginal culture. The vibrant contemporary Aboriginal art by Bronwyn Bancroft evokes a dreamlike and ethereal world.

The story features Sun Mother, wakened by an unidentified parent. She then wakes the Earth’s animals, giving them new shapes after they become dissatisfied with what they already have. She then gives birth to the Moon and Morning Star, who produce the first humans.

Diane Wolkstein is an American veteran folklorist/storyteller who made three journeys to Australia to research this story and to credit the owners of the story. The tale is told in a formal way, with strong but understated feeling and hints of humor. Bronwyn Bancroft is a Bunjalung woman of Aboriginal descent whose people are custodians of the northeast coatal area of NSW. Her artwork shows Sun Mother as a graceful, golden form amidst a swirling, stylised and brightly patterned world.

1. Kirkus book review https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/diane-wolkstein/sun-mother-wakes-the-world/
2. 5:28 / 6:00 Sun Mother Wakes the World (an Australian creation story) read by Siena MacPherson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwXDa_j_nAs
3. Diane Wolkstein, USA — Storyteller http://www.australianstorytelling.org.au/interviews/diane-wolkstein-usa-storyteller