Emma Walton Hamilton

“Young children especially are receiving so much of the world through their ears and their eyes, particularly if they're pre-literate. So engaging them with sound, particularly sound that stirs them emotionally because of the sequence of notes, will make them pay attention.”

“My parentage set me up to want to make a life of my own in the arts, but also contributed to my feeling a certain amount of pressure, especially in my early years, to figure out who I was and how to make my own mark.”

“If the arts are in peril, we must do our small part to to fight the good fight and protect and preserve.”

“Mom was never self-pitying. She was ferociously focused on making sure that everyone understood that she knew how fortunate she has been.”

“I have a transgender nephew on my father's side of the family. So I'm extremely aware of how important it is to support and advocate for young people who are experiencing that in their lives.”

“With my mother, Julie Andrews Edwards, I've authored such children's books as the 'Dumpy the Dump Truck' series, 'Dragon: Hound of Honor,' 'The Great American Mousical,' 'Simeon's Gift' and 'Thanks to You: Wisdom from Mother and Child.'”

“My mom's coping mechanism was to be strong and resilient. She is very compassionate and nonjudgmental.”

“I think that children who read are better writers, and children who tell stories appreciate books.”

“So often we think, well, kids learn to read at school, I don't have to be responsible for that. But in fact they learn to love reading at home, and therefore it's really important that we as parents preserve the joy of reading by supporting them and reading things that speak to their hearts, books that they love.”

“Sometime in my 20s, a wise mentor said something that dramatically changed my outlook and that has stayed with me ever since. She told me to 'wear the mantle with dignity and pride.'”

“I think that at a certain point in our lives we should have to interview our parents.”

“The arts give kids the building blocks with which to then play.”