When I was little I used to wish I could talk to the illustrators because I wanted to discuss something about the books. With so many of the other art forms that children experience, such as movies and television, they don't get to control the pace.

I love children because that's a part of my life that was so happy, and I like to remember back to those days where everything is a discovery, and the world is so fresh.

Writing a story is like going down a path in the woods. You follow the path. You don't worry about getting lost. You just go.

I like to pretend that each book is my first one and last one, because it takes a tremendous amount of energy to do a book.

Teachers have to respect the privacy of students' creative life, but at the same time give them a chance to express themselves.

When I go to another country, I try to be a big sponge and look at what the houses may look like and what colors predominate. I do not do research as much as just get ideas and ask people about things.

I just love to draw. It's very intense for me. The day will just go by like the snap of a finger. A lot of times I'll draw or paint late into the night. When I am really concentrating, I kind of lose track of what I am doing.