This book is based on a story told by Mona Green, of the Jaru people, to Aboriginal children living in Halls Creek, Western Australia. The illustrations are adapted from the children's original paintings of the story. Mona Green said, "When my husband was a stockman, we used to go out to Nongra Lake to see if the cattle had enough water. I had heard the story about this giant lake, and I think that from the air it would look like a tree with roots stretching out."