I believe actual violence scars children much more than violence in storybooks.

I believe young children in particular enjoy witnessing the survival of youthful protagonists against terrible odds. I think it's gratifying to the reader when you give young characters that kind of agency.

Historical atrocities have certainly shown that dehumanizing any group is the first step toward genocide.

In medieval Europe, childbirth was a leading cause of death. So widowed fathers with children were quite common, meaning stepmothers were equally common.

In Japan, it's strange to openly take credit for giving to charity or even to donate publicly.

I always hope that the artwork will complement and enrich a story.

Destiny isn't immutable. You can change your fate. But I'd say the only way to do it is with hard, intelligent work and long-term dedication to a goal.