Over the years, I have gotten better at patiently accepting the long production process that is a picture book’s journey from acquisition to publication. One way I do this is to enjoy each little milestone before a book is...

Today is the official “book birthday” of Good Night, Little Engine! A year or so ago, Grosset & Dunlap contacted me about writing a rhyming bedtime story featuring the Little Engine. The book would be part of the publisher’s celebration of the 90th...

When I visit schools, I like to share with kids that my book-writing process is often lengthy. I emphasize the role of revision in all good writing—and that revision takes time but is fun. However, I must admit that...

If you’re writing fiction, you don’t have to worry about facts, right? Not necessarily. For some strange reason, if an author doesn’t create and maintain a smooth interface between make believe and real facts, a reader may say, Wait,...

Crazy Questions Children’s writers ponder all sorts of crazy questions and often go to great lengths to find out the answers. I love sharing weird facts, hopefully fostering innate wonder and a desire to read and explore more. A while ago,...