I wanted my wild things to be frightening.

Children surviving childhood is my obsessive theme and my life's concern.

All I wanted was to be straight so my parents could be happy. They never, never, never knew.

You don't want to do something that's all terrifying.

I never spent less than two years on the text of one of my picture books, even though each of them is approximately 380 words long. Only when the text is finished ... do I begin the pictures.

Parents shouldn't assume children are made out of sugar candy and will break and collapse instantly. Kids don't. We do.

It is a blessing to get old. It is a blessing to find the time to do the things, to read the books, to listen to the music. I have nothing now but praise for my life.