I grew up in Florida, and I wanted to go home and I couldn't. I didn't have the money. The book [The Tiger Rising] was a way to go home.

I never want to be a role model.

In The Tale of Despereaux, there is a lot of darkness, a lot of despair. There's also a lot of light, redemption, hope. There's forgiveness, there's friendship, there's love. But the world in all of its potential craziness is also there.

There is nothing sweeter in this sad world than the sound of someone you love calling your name.

I have learned how to love. And it's a terrible thing. I'm broken. My heart is broken. Help me.

All of that loneliness and longing in my heart got transferred into the book Because of Winn-Dixie, I guess.

It's a book [Bink & Gollie] about shortness and tallness, so I think it's appropriate to discuss the virtues of shortness.