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Long, long ago during the Dream Time there lived a very large frog called Tiddalik.

Tiddalik lived in the rushes by the stream. He was always hungry and always thirsty…and because he was always hungry and thirsty he was always grumpy too.

What an appetite Tiddalik had! He would gobble up all the flies before the other frogs had a chance. He didn't care if they went hungry. All he cared about was himself.

It was the hottest time of the year. The sun beat down on the dry, dusty land and the frogs were all thirsty. But they weren't the only ones who needed to drink. So did all the other animals.

Kookaburra lived in a tree nearby. ‘Let’s go to the stream to drink,’ he said to the other birds.

What a welcome sight the stream was. And the birds were just about to drink when Tiddalik arrived…

‘Out of my way! I'm thirsty!’ he croaked.

Tiddalik pushed the birds aside and opened his enormous mouth. He drank…and drank…and drank. He was drinking all the water in the stream! Down went the water…down…down…until all that was left was mud.

The water inside Tiddalik’s tummy swished and rumbled.

‘That’s better,’ he yawned. Now all I need is a little rest…’

The giant frog slept, while the birds and other animals gathered round Kookaburra. ‘There’s no water left for us to drink. What can we do?’ they cried. Kookaburra didn't know either.

‘I know somewhere we can go for water,’ said a voice. It was Kangaroo. ‘Follow me!’

The animals and birds followed Kangaroo as she hippety hopped across the land. Before long, a wide, flowing river appeared.

And the thirsty animals lowered their heads, ready to drink…when they heard a sound…

It was Tiddalik - his giant water-filled belly swishing and rumbling.

‘Out of my way! I am still thirsty!’ he croaked.

The enormous frog pushed the other animals aside…then he opened his mouth and drank…and drank…and drank. He was drinking all the water in the river! Down went the water…down…down…until all that was left was mud.

Tiddalik had drunk so much water he was as big as a bush…

And the water inside his tummy swished and rumbled louder than ever.

‘That’s better,’ he yawned. Now all I need is a little rest…’

The giant frog slept, while the birds and other animals gathered round kangaroo. ‘There’s no water left for us to drink. What can we do?’ they cried. Kangaroo didn't know either.

‘There’s one more place we can go for water,’ said a voice from a tree. It was Koala bear. ‘Follow me!’

The animals and birds followed Koala as he padded across the hot dusty landscape…until Koala bear stopped at the billabong. The animals gathered at the pool of water and were just about to drink when…they heard a familiar sound. It was Tiddalik again - his giant belly swishing and rumbling.

‘Out of my way! I am still thirsty!’ he croaked.

He pushed the animals aside…then he opened his mouth and drank…and drank…and drank. He was drinking all the water in the billabong! Down went the water…down…down…until all that was left was mud.

Tiddalik had drunk so much water he was as big as a gum tree…

And the water inside his tummy swished and rumbled louder than ever.

‘That’s better,’ he yawned. Now all I need is a little rest…’

The giant frog slept, while the poor thirsty animals worried. ‘There’s no more water to drink in the entire land!’ they cried. ‘What are we going to do?’