When I write I try as far as possible to forget I'm writing it at all. I tell it down onto the page, as if I'm telling it to one person only, my best friend.

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.

It's the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom.

Anything that gets children reading is fine.

Always write your ideas down however silly or trivial they might seem. Keep a notebook with you at all times.

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

There is the myth that writing books for children is easier than writing books for grownups, whereas we know that truly great books for children are works of genius, whether it's 'Alice in Wonderland' or the 'Gruffalo' or 'Northern Lights.' When it's a great book, it's a great book, whether it's for children or not.