Being married to a psychologist, I realize that I learn more from imperfections.

I love to talk to children about making mistakes. It's important that I tell them about how I don't get it right the first time. We live in such a perfectionist society, and they see so many finished products and polished performances.

I have to write what I can write, and writing the text of a picture book is like walking a tightrope, if you ramble off... As my friend Julius Lester says, 'A picture book is the essence of an experience.'

My mother, as a girl, had remembered this woman from Maine, someone who was part of the extended family somehow, and I recall her talking about this great, risk-taking woman. There are the most amazing, heroic stories in everybody's lives.

I love Matt LeBlanc in 'Episodes' - he's very good. And the 'Modern Family' cast just cracks me up.

I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family it says they're looting, if you see a white family it says they're looking for food.

Whenever I get a little chance to get to Orlando, I like to take a couple days' break with the family, just hang out, go clubbing around town.

Our family had been shattered, but we now are more united, and the remains of my family and the majority of my mother's family are glad to know the truth about a horrible crime.