We humans will never know how meadows or mountains smell, but deer and horses and pigs do. Bando sniffs deeply and shakes his head. We were left out when it comes to smelling things, he says. I would love to be able to smell a mountain and follow my nose to it.

I am actually looking most forward to seeing the country again. It's a wonderful town and the wilderness around there is beautiful. The falls there were an inspiration in my book My Side of the Mountain

That is the greatest gift my books have given me; what it means and has done for the kids.

When fear seizes, change what you are doing. You are doing something wrong.

Cats ... are completely self-sufficient and can leave you at any time and go off and make a living. And yet cats can have warm and loving relationships with humans.

Most birds are geniuses. We had one that became a pet; he learned to talk, use tools and solve problems.

I love to travel, but when I really want to escape, I read a book.