The shapes arranged themselves into words, and the words spelled out a delicious and wonderful phrase: Once upon a time.

I was born in Philadelphia and currently live in Minneapolis. I write for both children and adults.

There ain't no way you can hold onto something that wants to go, you understand? You can only love what you got while you got it.

Once upon a time," he said out loud to the darkness. He said these words because they were the best, the most powerful words that he knew and just the saying of them comforted him.

There is nothing sweeter in this sad world than the sound of someone you love calling your name.

When we read together, we connect. Together, we see the world. Together, we see one another.

Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift.

The undoing is almost always more difficult than the doing.

You must be filled with expectancy. You must be awash in hope. You must wonder who will love you, whom you will love next.

It is important that you say what you mean to say. Time is too short. You must speak the words that matter.

The world is dark, and light is precious. Come closer, dear reader. You must trust me. I am telling you a story.

It feels good to have parents, but it feels even better to not have an evil one.

Resentment can be intoxicating in a way in which a drunk starts to believe he’s stronger than he is.

Your inability to see the wisdom in someone else is not a reflection on their lack of perspicacity, it is a reflection on yours.

Christians appeal to those who wrong them and make them friendly to themselves; they are eager to do good to their enemies; they are mild and conciliatory.

You can be disappointed but only if you thought [Barack Obama] was something that he said he wasn't!

When you choose whether to make or keep a covenant with God, you choose whether you will leave an inheritance of hope to those who might follow your example.

Judgments that constrain your giving are the very demons that are keeping you from receiving.

If it ever seems to us that the world is a place where bad things only happen to good people, it is because we still believe that bad things happening to bad people is a good thing.

Any belief that puts itself beyond doubt nurtures its own collapse.

If you want to be entertained, go and see Hanson.