We've educated children to think spontaneity is inappropriate.

And it's one of the sexiest things you will ever read of how slow you should take the peach. Don't rush it.

I adored Mickey Mouse when I was a child. He was the emblem of happiness and funniness.

I was a very sickly child. My parents were immigrants. They were not decorous. They were not discreet. They always thought I was gonna die.

I do not remember any proper children's books in my childhood. I was not exposed to them.

Illustrations have as much to say as the text. The trick is to say the same thing, but in a different way. It's no good being an illustrator who is saying a lot that is on his or her mind, if it has nothing to do with the text. . . the artist must override the story, but he must also override his own ego for the sake of the story.

I'm writing a poem right now about a nose. I've always wanted to write a poem about a nose. But it's a ludicrous subject. That's why, when I was younger, I was afraid of [writing] something that didn't make a lot of sense. But now I'm not. I have nothing to worry about. It doesn't matter.