1. Children as artists
2. Dingoes
3. Dogs
4. Friendship
5. Glossaries and vocabularies
6. Humour
7. Individuality

This story is an exuberant celebration of being the same but different featuring children’s illustrations that are full of hilarious detail and popular expressions. Budder is a dingo who lives with his family near the waterhole. He and his mates excel in spectacular jumps and dives into the waterhole. Budder is the undisputed champion. Proud of his amazing back-flips, Budder declares, ‘I am pretty deadly!’ One day the dingoes notice a black dog hiding in the bushes. Budder sneaks up behind him, and shouts, ‘Hey, which way?’ A turn of the page reveals a stunning illustration showing the frightened dog. He snaps, ‘What do you mean which way?’ Budder replies that’s how we say hello! Introductions reveal the black dog is a Labrador whose name is Winston. When Winston asks Budder what kind of dog he is, the rely comes: ‘We’re not dogs! We’re dingoes!’ Winston peers closely and comments, ‘But you look like a dog.’ As the story progresses, Winston and the dingoes recognise that in some ways they are different, and in some ways they are the same.

Both story and illustrations are hugely enjoyable with children as artists giving us an exuberant and colourful experience of fun and excitement on each double page spread. There are tiny details and action-packed moments throughout. The background settings offer detailed large landscapes featuring trees, flowers and animals like the echidna, frill-necked lizard, turtles and emu. Repeated viewings reveal earlier details missed, such as the Aboriginal flag adorning the emu.

The end pages offer discussion questions, such as, ‘How do you feel when you see people who look different from yourself?’ A nine-word glossary defines words in the text such as ‘cheeky’ and ‘solid’ and offers a pronunciation guide to some Aboriginal words such as ‘munyal’, which here means ‘cheeky’. Indigenous author, Dr Chris Sarra, offers a note about the importance of reaching out to others who may be different in some ways but the same in others.

In 2008, the Cherbourg State School began a ‘Strong and Smart’ Early Years Literacy Project. The aim was to engage students, the community and artists to produce books, art and films. This project then became Budburra Books, a not-for-profit organisation encouraging a love of learning, literacy and the arts and cultivating pride in local Indigenous culture. Dr Chris Sarra is a leading Indigenous educator who became Principal of Cherbourg State School in South East Queensland. The school has been nationally acclaimed for its pursuit of the ‘Strong and Smart’ philosophy which supports a strong and positive sense of being an Aboriginal person in today’s society.

‘Dingoes Are Not Dogs’ was a CBCA Notable Book in 2012.

1. A Reading by Chris Sarra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgHvdv8n9Z8
2. Budburra Books – About Us https://budburrabooks.com.au/about-us/
3. Respect, Relationships, Reconciliation. Difference and Young Children Activity https://rrr.edu.au/unit/module-2/topic-3/difference/
4. Australian Museum. Dingo https://australian.museum/learn/animals/mammals/dingo/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMItafLl8C46wIVEnZgCh0QPg_9EAAYASAAEgLH1PD_BwE
5. Queensland Government. Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships. Cherbourg Kids Love Books, Books, Books https://www.datsip.qld.gov.au/news-media/deadly-stories/deadly-stories-gallery/central-queensland/cherbourg-kids-love-books-books-books