Children have to be motivated to want to learn to read. Reading must not be taught simply as a school exercise.

Children have to be motivated to want to learn to read. Reading must not be taught simply as a school exercise.

Wars become history all too soon and are forgotten all too soon as well, before the lessons can be learned.

We all know that the great memories of our childhood are the little triumphs - it doesn't really matter whether that was in writing, art, on the hockey field or on the football field. It's something that makes you feel - 'I can do this stuff'.

Animals are sentient, intelligent, perceptive, funny and entertaining. We owe them a duty of care as we do to children.

Remember to write for yourself, not for a market and give yourself time to develop your own style, your own voice. It takes a lifetime. Enjoy it!

I was never a great reader, but there were two stories I loved best: Kipling's The Elephant's Child and The Jungle Book. Deep down, I've always wanted to write a book about a wild child and an elephant.