Try to remember that being unsuccessful in school doesn't automatically mean you'll be unsuccessful in life. Lots of people who didn't excel in school still went on to have successful lives.

A book without potty humor is like a banana split without hot fudge. It can still be good, I suppose, but you kinda get the feeling that something is missing.

Nothing prevents boredom like a good book.

Encourage kids to be creative without worrying about being perfect.

Once I have the story in my head, I write it down. The illustrations usually come last.

Having a sense of fun in books is a huge, huge deal, because a lot of times kids - even me when I got to third or fourth grade - don't associate reading with fun.

I had a lot of reading problems growing up.

My books are just pure escapism for kids.

My reading preferences are kind of all over the board - I read nonfiction, I read graphic novels.

I think my funny books are my favorites because I like to laugh so much.

Grown-ups do a lot of complaining!

The smaller the item of gratitude, the purer is the connection to our heart.

I love to talk about nothing. It's the only thing I know anything about.

A young dog's faith is absolute... Dogs are notorious for hope. Dogs believe that this morning, this very morning, may begin a day of fascination, easily grander than any day in the past.

Quit while you're ahead. All the best gamblers do.

Recovering from failure is often easier than building from success.

We cannot deny the facts of nature, but we should certainly try to improve on them.

Gold lends a touch of beauty even to the ugly.

Men do weird things when they experience fear. It's like a fight or flight thing.

If you're fascinated by America, you'll be fascinated by family.

The Art of the Romance, though warning us that it is providing fictions, opens a door into the Palace of Absurdity, and when we have lightly stepped inside, slams it shut behind us.