Strange questions are the more interesting ones. Children by and large don't try to trip you up... they want to find out how you do this funny thing that you do... if they've loved a story they love to know how it started.
Michael MorpurgoRead
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.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Writing great children's books is just as complex and worthy as writing for adults.
Michael Morpurgo emphasizes that the perception of children's literature being easier to write is a misconception. He points out that truly exceptional children's books, like 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Northern Lights', require immense creativity and skill, proving that the quality of writing transcends age and genre.
Themes
ChildrenBooksLiteratureWritingCreativity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about literary education, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of children's literature.
More from Michael Morpurgo
All quotes →Animals are sentient, intelligent, perceptive, funny and entertaining. We owe them a duty of care as we do to children.
Michael MorpurgoRead
Write because you love it and not because it is something that you think you should do. Always write about something or somebody you know about - something that you feel deeply and passionately about. Never try and force it.
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It is really important that focusing on things such as spelling, punctuation, grammar and handwriting doesn't inhibit the creative flow. When I was at school there was a huge focus on copying and testing and it put me off words and stories for years.
Michael MorpurgoRead
The most important thing is to live an interesting life. Keep your eyes, ears and heart open. Talk to people and visit interesting places, and don't forget to ask questions. To be a writer you need to drink in the world around you so it's always there in your head.
Michael MorpurgoRead
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