As a child, I disliked books in which children learned to be 'better' children.

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.

Quite often somebody will say, What year do your books take place? and the only answer I can give is, In childhood.

She was not a slowpoke grownup. She was a girl who could not wait. Life was so interesting she had to find out what happened next.

Otis was inspired by a boy who sat across the aisle from me in sixth grade. He was a lively person. My best friend appears in assorted books in various disguises.

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

With twins, reading aloud to them was the only chance I could get to sit down. I read them picture books until they were reading on their own.