When I sit and talk with a person, I'm not always paying attention. I'm looking at the person and saying, 'What is it about his or her life that appeals to me?'

I want to see children curled up with books, finding an awareness of themselves as they discover other people’s thoughts.

I’d go to school and walk up to people. “A new leaf,” I said.

If someone looks into your eyes, I read in a book one time, he’ll see right into your soul. I didn’t want anyone to see into my soul.

Right here at our doorstep, we’ll have the most beautiful bridge in the world.

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

I loved teaching. It was my world. I only left because I was overwhelmed with three careers – teaching, writing, and my family.

Outside of family, writing is essential. To me, it’s like breathing.

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

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.’