I feel sometimes that in children's books there are more and more grim problems, but I don't know that I want to burden third- and fourth-graders with them.

I grew up before there were strict leash laws.

I think the best teachers had a real interest in the subject they were teaching and a love for children.

I just wrote about childhood as I had known it.

I write in longhand on yellow legal pads.

Children should learn that reading is pleasure, not just something that teachers make you do in school.

If she can't spell, why is she a librarian? Librarians should know how to spell.