I read my books aloud before they were published.

Problem solving, and I don't mean algebra, seems to be my life's work. Maybe it's everyone's life's work.

I don't necessarily start with the beginning of the book. I just start with the part of the story that's most vivid in my imagination and work forward and backward from there.

What interests me is what children go through while growing up.

Ramona stepped back into her closet, slid the door shut, pressed an imaginary button, and when her imaginary elevator had made its imaginary descent, stepped out onto the real first floor and raced a real problem. Her mother and father were leaving for Parents' Night.

I read my books aloud before they were published.

Children want to do what grownups do.