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I think picture books should stretch children. I think they should be full of wonderful, amazing words.

Picture books are being marginalised. I get the feeling children are being pushed away from picture books earlier and earlier and being told to look at 'proper' books, which means books without pictures.

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.

My job is not to frighten children, but sometimes addressing fears and concerns within the safe boundaries of a picture book can fill me with an awesome responsibility to be as truthful and transparent as possible.

One of these days, I'm going to publish a book of all the pictures I did not take. It is going to be a huge hit.

I shall produce nothing that will offend the proprieties, whether applied to children or grownups. My pictures are turned out with clean hands and, therefore, with a clear conscience which, like virtue, is its own reward.

Every book is a children's book if the kid can read!

There are many little ways to enlarge your child's world. Love of books is the best of all.

Whether it's music, loss of something, loneliness or friendship - if that emotion is heightened in some way and painted to fit in between the covers of 32 pages, that can become a picture book.

The illustrations in picture books are the first paintings most children see, and because of that, they are incredibly important. What we see and share at that age stays with us for life.