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I loved to read when I was a kid, and as soon as I realized that an actual person got to make up the books I loved so much, I decided that that was the job for me.

I read my father's books growing up. I thought then and I still think now that his writing is wonderful. It delights and infuriates me in equal measure that he's still that good.

I always loved reading. Growing up, my favorite book was 'A Child's Garden of Verses,' by Robert Louis Stevenson.

I've always been drawn to writing for young readers. The books that I read growing up remain in my mind very strongly.

I read a whole lot as a child, and, of course, I still read children's books.

I started writing while I was a little boy. Maybe it's because I was reading a lot of books I admired, and thought that I would like to write something like that someday. Also, my love for good writing pushed me.

I resisted children's writing for a long time. I saw myself as a writer of literary fiction. But I had so much more fun writing kids' books.

I loved writing for kids, I loved talking to children about what I'd written, I don't want to leave that behind.

I remember vividly what it's like to read as a 10-year-old - that passionate inhabiting of a book.

For a child, reading a book can be such an intense experience.