Winky's World: A Chat with Author-Illustrator A. M. Mothgrave

A. M. Mothgrave is the author-illustrator of the quirky new children's picture book, Winky Goes to the Park (2026). In this interview, Mothgrave discusses her inspiration for the book, uncovers the historical context of the term "snitches" and reveals the identity of the real-life pup whose likeness inspired the character of Winky.

Interview

What is the book about?

Winky Goes to the Park is a children’s picture book about an excitable, three-legged stray dog named Winky, who sets off on an adventure to the city park. Winky loves the park just as much as the next dog. But for a stray like him, it can present some unique challenges—dumpster diving for breakfast, scouting for a playmate, dodging the neighborhood snitches trying to send him to the pound. Lucky for Winky, there is someone at the park who is always excited to see him. And as it turns out, one special someone is all a three-legged dog really needs.

Who is it for?

I wrote the book for families to enjoy together. It is suitable for children ages 3 to 8, but there is plenty in it for grownups, too. It can be a gentle and fun way to introduce children to challenging concepts such as poverty, homelessness, disability, and trauma. But it is very lighthearted and can also be enjoyed just for the pure fun of it.

What made you want to write this book?

I really wanted to write a book that would be honest with kids about the hardships of life but in an engaging and age-appropriate way. Life is not all fairies and unicorns and I think that kids are capable of understanding that, even at a young age. 

By shining the spotlight on a fun-loving, scrappy, three-legged stray dog like Winky I hoped to plant seeds of compassion and to convey the message that even the most seemingly insignificant, down-and-out creature has immense value and is worthy of dignity and love.

What gave you the idea?

The idea for Winky came from the current sociopolitical and economic times and how they are affecting our neighborhood. We live in an urban area where we are immersed in the grit of everyday life, and my daughter sees examples of human hardship all around her all the time. I wanted to honor that reality by writing something true and reflective of our world. There are so many books for kids about comfort, and dreams, and magic, and prosperity. I liked the idea of capturing a different slice of life.

Is Winky based on a real dog?

Yes! I grew up with a lot of yappy mutt terriers, and Winky’s character is a mixture of all of them. But there was one in particular—Ralph—whom Winky reminds me of the most. Ralph was a Jack Russell mix, all white with a big brown eye patch. He was rambunctious and mischievous —always escaping the yard and chasing the neighbors' chickens and sheep, or murdering native lizards. He was a menace, but he had a heart of gold and I admired his enthusiasm, determination, and zest for life.

Ralph had just passed away when I wrote Winky, so I was thinking about him a lot. Although he somehow managed to keep all of his limbs and he never became a stray, I believe that if Ralph had lived a little longer he could easily have become something like Winky. So, Winky Goes to the Park was my way of not only exploring the joys and hardships of life but also of paying tribute to Ralph. Eye patch and all.

Why does Winky have three legs and one eye?

Nobody knows what happened to Winky. That’s the life of a stray dog. And I think the mystery is important. Winky’s obvious scars help remind us that everybody carries trauma or struggle of one kind or another, even if you can’t see it or talk about it.

What is your favorite moment in the book?

I love the moment when Winky spots his favorite kid—the one who loves to play with him even though he is nothing but a stinky, three-legged, scruffy stray mutt. It is pure joy.

But I think my favorite parts are when you see Winky’s more complicated side, like when he is watching the other dogs play at the park with their owners and feels an inexplicable itch deep down inside. He doesn’t have the capacity to differentiate a soul itch from a physical itch so he tries his darndest to scratch it. 

This is so relatable to me. It’s something I think we all do sometimes when we don’t want to face our true feelings.

What are snitches?

Snitches are those who notify the authorities if they suspect somebody of doing something wrong. For Winky, snitches are the mean, scary people who inexplicably have it in for him and seem to want nothing more than to get him locked up in the dog pound. They may mean well—or they may not. But Winky does not like them at all!

"Snitch” is a word that dates back to the 1700s and was originally a British slang term meaning "thief". It meant somebody who would steal things. E.g “He snitched an apple from the cart.” It later evolved to mean betrayal by an informant. I like that double meaning. Winky’s snitches are informants but they are also thieves of his freedom.

Did you do the illustrations for the book too?

Yes.

How did you learn illustration?

For ten years before writing Winky I worked as an independent graphic designer and illustrator. I learned a lot about visual communication, layout, and typography. And I was drawing all the time. But it was really the challenge of creating a book that pushed me to refine my skills and to define my own illustrative style.

How would you describe your style?

I would describe it as 90’s cartoon meets vintage scrapbook. It is an eclectic mix of goofy and literary, refined and scrappy, vintage and modern. The Aussie in me is a straight shooter and a bit of a populist. But I grew up training to be a classical flutist, so that elitism and traditionalism factors into it too. Then of course, there is a grit to it that is all New York.

Who were your main literary influences?

I was influenced by many of the children’s books I was reading with my daughter at the time, particularly the classics by author-illustrators like Eric Carle, Maurice Sendak, Ludwig Bemelmans, Jean de Brunhoff. As a multi-disciplinary person, myself, they inspired me to combine all of my skills and interests into one project, and that was exciting to me. I have always had a soft spot for those eponymous characters like Madeleine, Babar, and Lyle, so I wanted to create something like that with Winky. 

This is not a literary influence per se, but I believe that New York had a huge influence on how Winky turned out. Had it been written anywhere else it would have been a completely different book. Winky captures the feeling I had—the feeling I believe many newcomers to New York experience—of being like a three-legged stray gallivanting around in a foreign city with nothing to your name but hopes and dreams. It is idealistic and hopeful but also harshly pragmatic and it really embodies the vibe of the book.

How long did it take to create the book?

The poem that evolved into Winky Goes to the Park dates back to 2019. But it wasn’t until 2023 that I decided to make it into a book. After I had committed to the idea, the story and illustrations took about 3 months of dedicated work. The book’s layout and cover design took another few months.

What is your creative process?

I don’t have a set creative process, but I tried to be systematic in creating Winky. I wrote the text first. I did the character designs and rough sketches on paper in stolen moments throughout the day. Then I illustrated the whole book in Adobe Illustrator over a two month period while my daughter was napping in the afternoons. She is nearly four now, so I’m not sure how the next one will get done.

Are you going to write more?

I have written several Winky sequels already, which my daughter loves to hear on repeat. But the focus needed for the illustrations has not been available yet. I am hoping it will manifest in the next few months or so. Then, get ready for more Winky!

Are you self-published?

Yes.

Why did you choose to self publish?

I wanted to be able to say what I wanted to say without diluting it and without asking permission. I knew that if I tried to go through a traditional publisher, I would feel tempted to censor myself or tone down my message. I needed the freedom and the responsibility to express Winky the way that I saw him. Winky is a unique book with a unique message that I don’t see represented in children’s literature right now. I didn’t want to compromise that for the sake of a publishing deal.

In this age of high quality self-publishing and online audience reach I had no excuse but to do it.

What has your self-publishing experience been like?

It has been a lot of work! But on balance, it has been a positive experience for me. I am more invested in the book I created because I am 100% responsible for making it go. I did every part of it myself, so I feel a deep sense of ownership over the work. The hardest part so far has been the marketing. At first, I struggled to get enough distance from the book to get an accurate perspective on it. I really had to dig deep to figure out what it was I had created, who it might appeal to, and why. But now that I’m on the other side of it, I’m glad I did the heavy lifting.

What is the message of the book?

Winky is about accepting life in all its imperfections and all its unfairness and pursuing joy anyway. Not letting anything get in the way of doing what you have been put on this earth to do. For Winky, that is having the freedom to explore and play and do all the things that dogs love to do. For somebody else it might be something completely different.

Winky shows that it doesn't matter how small, how broken, or how rambunctious you are, everyone’s life has unique value and everyone deserves love.

What does the book mean to you?

For me, the book has been a way of processing my world and my place within it. It is a tangible object to share with my daughter, something I made from my own mind and heart that shows her a part of me that she might not otherwise see.

The book has also become something of a bridge between me and the outside world. Children’s literature is such a pure and playful means of expression, I have been able to say things through Winky that I could never express directly. I wouldn’t say that Winky is exactly like me but I definitely see myself in him. 

What do you hope readers get from the book?

I hope that readers see themselves in Winky, too. And that they enjoy sharing in his adventures and misadventures—the joys and challenges of a three-legged life.

Winky Goes to the Park

by A. M. Mothgrave

Available for purchase here.

Watch the book trailer!

A. M. Mothgrave is an Australian-American author-illustrator whose work centers on lively characters, offbeat rhymes, and simple, down-to-earth storytelling. Her debut picture book, Winky Goes to the Park, tells the humorous and heartfelt story of a happy-go-lucky three-legged dog named Winky.

She is based in New York’s Hudson Valley.