I'm not sure we're presenting ourselves as real role models. I don't think literature has ever been a real place for role models.

Pranking exposes the truth that underneath this appearance of order is joy, laughter, and disorder.

I think the trick of writing a good picture book manuscript is to leave that space for illustration. An illustrated novel can do the same thing.

Danger is the snack food of a true sleuth.

Pranking is a great way to indicate the underlying absurdities of the world.

We put authors on such a pedestal, and it's a moment that humanizes the whole thing, and lends an absurdity to what otherwise is a "please sit with your hands on your lap" kind of event.

Kevin Cornell and I have worked together a bunch.