Jo-Ann Beames

When I wrote ‘Boobook Boobook Before Dawn’, I knew it was necessary to minimise Ecophobia, an overwhelming reaction children may feel when reading texts on climate change or the environment (McKnight 2010, p. 10).  The environmental message is woven into the fantasy narrative and blended into a realistic setting.  Taylor experiences inner growth and maturation as a result of her journey and returns home with hope, confidence and knowledge. Thus the ending of this story is a ‘return-to-reality’ closure, it completes ‘psychic growth’ and the protagonist’s ‘formally fragile or threatened ego returns a more fully social entity’ (Gilead 1991, p. 278).

In 'Boobook Boobook Before Dawn' (Kelly, 2019) the female protagonist, Taylor, is transported through time by four Australian mythological creatures to reflect on Australia’s environmental past, present and future. Like Alice in Wonderland, I use a literary technique called anthropomorphism, where animals act like people, because animals ‘let us in on another world which we may not be able to see without their help’ (Markowsky 1975, p. 460).  According to Burke and Copenhaver (2004, p. 207) this method provides a psychological distance for the reader enabling them to explore issues that they may not be comfortable with dealing with directly. It was for this purpose that I utilized the mythical creatures in my story. They provide a safe emotional space for the young reader to explore the frightening ecological damage that has occurred on Australia’s frontier.