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The character and history of each child may be a new and poetic experience to the parent, if he will let it.

It seems to me that not only the writing in most children's books condescends to kids, but so does the art. I don't want to do that.

That's something lacking in a lot of modern-day families - just talking. It's almost a lost art form.

Children's books are often seen as the poor relation of literature. But children are just as demanding as adult readers, if not more so. I should know. I'm a children's writer myself.

In some families, parents don't read or don't have the money to spend on books.

It is a parent's responsibility to preserve the connection with their children, to preserve the relationship, so that the children can let go and become their own selves.

The orphan in children's literature allows the child protagonist to move the story forward themselves. I think that, however happy a family, every intelligent child thinks: 'How did I come to be born to these parents?' - it is about finding your place in the world.

We write not only for children but also for their parents. They, too, are serious children.

It is the uninvolved parent who has to resort to strictness.

Writing for children is bloody difficult; books for children are as complex as their adult counterparts, and they should therefore be accorded the same respect.