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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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