The reasons kids get into trouble in one way or another is because - Who ever told them they were special?

If you have a friend, things are better than if you didn't have a friend.

Many times in my life I've been upset about something and said to myself, "Will this matter in two years?" Not even in two months.

All of my books are based in some way on my personal experiences, or the experiences of members of my family, or the stories kids would tell me in school.

Drawing is what you see of the world, truly see...And sometimes what you see is so deep in your head you're not even sure of what you're seeing. But when it's down there on paper, and you look at it, really look, you'll see the way things are...that's the world, isn't it? You have to keep looking to find the truth.

Revision is the heart of writing. Every page I do is done over seven or eight times.

What inspired me to become an author? I think it was the snow in New York. I looked out the window and I said, 'Well, I have to get dressed every morning to go to teach, but if I write a book, I can stay home in my bathrobe, eat candy corn.'