Being his real brother I could feel I live in his shadows, but I never have and I do not now. I live in his glow.

You know, I really wish now I'd had the nerve to become an actor. Because I'd have been Robert Redford, no question.

Books that kids read should be about what is going on in the world.

I'm still not sure I want to be a writer. I think of myself as a storyteller more.

I was brought up, as a lot of kids are, on 'Aesop's Fables,' 'Brothers Grimm,' 'La Fontaine,' all those sorts of things. Hans Christian Andersen is a hero of mine.

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.

I think there's something about studying a book which will kill it if you're not careful.