Personal:

The Wolf was one of the first picture books for older readers published in Australia. It dealt with visual symbols and metaphors in a way that was then unfamiliar to readers. In 1991, bookshops didn’t know where to display it.

It was shortlisted for younger readers by the C.B.C... there by missing its older target audience.

Nevertheless I am very proud of it. Margaret Barbalet’s text dealt with coming to terms with fears. My task was to build tension without ever specifying or making concrete the “wolf” she suggested. The ending was left open to suit older readers.

There was nothing extraneous in the pictures. Even the leaf vignettes were both symbolic of time passing and the changing emotions. I designed the text in large blocks to encourage the idea that this was for advanced readers. This is my personal favourite of all my picture books.