My books are just pure escapism for kids.

My books are just pure escapism for kids.

Having a sense of fun in books is a huge, huge deal, because a lot of times kids - even me when I got to third or fourth grade - don't associate reading with fun.

Once I have the story in my head, I write it down. The illustrations usually come last.

I think if you can show a kid that reading can actually be fun, it can make you laugh, inspire imagination - that can make a huge difference, that can help a child who's struggling with reading to really look at it differently.

My freshman English professor at Kent State University in 1984 told me I was a good writer, and she loved all the silly pictures I drew in my notebook. She said I should try writing children's books, and so I did.

My reading preferences are kind of all over the board - I read nonfiction, I read graphic novels.