The way we started was, Alison [McGhee] said, 'Tall girl, short girl.' We had no plans beyond that.

At the thought of being eaten by rats, Despereaux forgot about being brave. He forgot about not being a disappointment. He felt himself heading into another faint. But his mother, who had an excellent sense of dramatic timing, beat him to it; she executed a beautiful, flawless swoon, landing right at Despereaux's feet.

I like to think of myself as a storyteller.

I like going to schools and telling classes that when I was a child, I failed every "will this kid become a writer" test.

There is nothing worse than war in the summetime.

Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift.

Reader, you may ask this queston. In fact, you must ask this question. Is it ridiculous for a very small, sickly, big-eared mouse to fall in love with a beautiful princess named Pea? The answer is... Yes. Of course it's ridiculous. Love is ridiculous. But love is also wonderful. And powerful.