I would go to sketch groups and draw. I really enjoyed the subject matter, but I wasn't good at it.

Writing gives me the opportunity to explore ideas, play with language, solve problems, use my imagination, and draw on my own childhood.

The BALLPOINT PENGUINS, black and white, Do little else but write and write. Although they've nothing much to say, They write and write it anyway.

I'm mostly influenced by life, what's around me, and my own childhood.

When I began writing, I didn't read any other children's poets... I didn't want to be influenced until I'd found my own voice. Now I read them all.

Children seem naturally drawn to poetry - it's some combination of the rhyme, rhythm, and the words themselves.

Frankly, writing poetry for children is plain old fun, and I consider myself blessed to have such a delightful career.