The Polar Express was the easiest of my picture book manuscripts to write... Once I realized the train was going to the North Pole, finding the story seemed less like a creative effort than an act of recollection. I felt, like the storys narrator, that I was remembering something, not making it up.

There was a great deal of peer recognition to be gained in elementary school by being able to draw well. One girl could draw horses so well, she was looked upon as a kind of sorceress.

I'm not a perfectionist. I'm just very observant.

I think most people agree there is a component of skill in art making; you have to learn grammar before you learn how to write.

I pore over every word on the cereal box at breakfast, often more than once. You can ask me anything about shredded wheat.

Following my muse has worked out pretty well so far. I can't see any reason to change the formula now.

The Polar Express was the easiest of my picture book manuscripts to write... Once I realized the train was going to the North Pole, finding the story seemed less like a creative effort than an act of recollection. I felt, like the storys narrator, that I was remembering something, not making it up.