Books opened up a whole new world to me. Through them I discovered new ideas, traveled to new places, and met new people. Books helped me learn to understand other people and they taught me a lot about myself. ... Some books you never forget. Some characters become your friends for life.

I wanted to write honest books for kids because I didn't have those when I was a kid.

I didn't know anything about writers. It never occurred to me they were regular people and that I could grow up to become one, even though I loved to make up stories inside my head.

I stop and think before I start a new book and ask myself do I really want to spend the next year or two or three with these characters because if I don't, then I shouldn't be writing about them.

That's good when you don't know what you're doing. But you're doing it and it's spontaneous and you're not afraid.

Librarians save lives by handing the right book at the right time to a kid in need.

You think everything can be magically cured with vitamins?” “Everything but us.