Students read for tests and because their parents ask them to, but I think it's very important to tell children that you can read for fun, too, and to understand human spirit. It builds empathy.

It seems we're not only uninformed about our present, we're ignorant of our past.

If you pursued something that you felt strongly about, then I call that success.

I was thrilled to be able to read at three. I just thought everyone loved reading as much as I did.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of family encouragement - not just for me, but for everyone.

If we all understood we can learn from both older and younger people, then we'd have a better world.

I realise I'm still a child, though I do feel older. I recently did an on-line test called 'What's Your True Age?' My result was 50-60 years old.