The undoing is almost always more difficult than the doing.

I'm predisposed to think that as a people, we're hardwired to understand things through the telling of stories. I think that as human beings it's part of who we are.

Everything I write comes from my childhood in one way or another. I am forever drawing on the sense of mystery and wonder and possibility that pervaded that time of my life.

This is the great thing about writing for kids. Adults might not do anything if they recognized me. But if they do see me, and they're with a kid, they'll tell the kid who I am. They think they should give that to the kid. So generally that sends the kid over.

The sound of the king's music made Despereaux's soul grow large and light inside of him.

As a kid books changed how I looked at the world and helped me understand things. Books still deepen me and open my heart.

As far as books getting turned into movies, I fared very, very well.