Access to books and the encouragement of the habit of reading: these two things are the first and most necessary steps in education and librarians, teachers and parents all over the country know it. It is our children's right and it is also our best hope and their best hope for the future.

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'.

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

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

I can hate you more, but I'll never love you less.

I got married young, far too young, but it is fine. We are still married 48 years later. I got married at 19.

There's room for all sorts of magic and miracles in this world - that's what I think.