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

I love those adult writers with the pranking ethos, [Don] DeLillo and [Donald] Barthelme and David Foster Wallace. I don't see any reason not to bring those kinds of influences to bear on books for children.

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.

It's a sort of patronizing idea that literature for children has to feature role models of exemplary behavior. I think not only is that bogus, but it leads to really boring books.

Too often we tell kids pleasant stories devoid of truth, and stories without truth are not good stories. Our audience deserves more from us.

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.

Not only is a good prank harmless, but, like a good story, it reveals an essential truth that would otherwise be hidden.