Blue Balliett, Favorite Teacher Breakfast
The celebrated author of Chasing Vermeer and The Wright 3, and former teacher at the University of Chicago's Lab Schools, shares stories about her favorite teacher and her very first manuscript in this video from May 2006.

Joseph Bruchac, Skeleton Man
Get to know this beloved Native American author of Skeleton Man by watching our June 2007 video interview. Learn how Bruchac got his start, where he finds inspiration, and how he researches and plans a new story.

Nick Bruel, Poor Puppy
Bad Kitty author Nick Bruel reads from his picture book Poor Puppy about a restless puppy with no one to play with. Bruel also shows the steps he took to create the charming illustrations for the book from his own art studio.

Andrew Clements, Favorite Teacher Breakfast
Andrew Clements, author of Frindle, remembers the three different teachers that supported and encouraged him in school, especially his third-grade teacher who remarked that "Andy is dependable... and contributes interesting information in class discussions."

Christopher Paul Curtis, Elijah of Buxton
In this June 2007 interview, the Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Medal winner talked about how he got his start as a writer, his inspiration and writing process, advice for teachers and students, his book Elijah of Buxton, and much more.

Aimee Friedman, The Year My Sister Got Lucky
In our November 2007 video interview, this bestselling author of South Beach describes her newest book, The Year My Sister Got Lucky. She also tells how she got her start as a writer and how she researches her stories.

Nikki Giovanni, Rosa
Award-winning author Nikki Giovanni reads from her poignant book Rosa about the legendary woman who refused to give up her seat on the bus and set off a chain of events that changed the United States forever.

Nikki Grimes, Favorite Teacher Breakfast
Nikki Grimes' books include Talkin' About Bessie and Welcome Precious. The noted author talks about the thoughtful high school English teacher who saved her from a "crisis," and how they reconnected later in life.

Dan Gutman, The Homework Machine
Author Dan Gutman describes the main characters in his book The Homework Machine, about an unlikely group of four friends, called the D-Squad, held together by an amazing secret... a machine that does your homework for you!

Carl Hiaasen, Flush
Visit bestselling novelist Carl Hiassen in his home state of sunny Florida and find out the real inspiration for the book Flush about a casino boat owner who is flushing raw sewage into the Florida Keys harbor.

Keiko Kasza, The Dog Who Cried Wolf
Author and illustrator Keiko Kasza shares the first draft of a drawing from The Dog Who Cried Wolf, about a dog who wants to be something that he's not. She also shows how much the drawing changed for the finished book.

Gordon Korman, Swindle
In our July 2007 video interview, this popular author of adventure and realistic fiction talks about his newest book Swindle. Korman also describes how he got his start in 7th-grade Language Arts class and how he researches a new story.

E.B. Lewis, Lily Brown's Paintings
E. B. Lewis won a Caldecott Honor for his book Coming On Home Soon and the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for Talkin' About Bessie. In our November 2007 video interview, he talks about his most recent book Lily Brown's Paintings.

Cynthia Lord, Rules
Cynthia Lord is a former teacher whose first novel, Rules, won a 2007 Newbery Honor. It tells the story of a 12-year-old girl whose younger brother has autism. Get to know this exciting new author by watching our June 2007 video interview.

Ann M. Martin, Welcome to Camden Falls
Visit famed writer Ann M. Martin in her studio and discover the inspiration for Camden Falls, the small town in Massachusetts where Flora and Ruby's Grandmother takes them to live with her after their parents die.

Rafe Martin, Birdwing
Visit author Rafe Martin's Rochester home to see what special items — airplanes, his motorcyle — inspired his latest novel Birdwing, an exciting fantasy book about a boy with a swan wing instead of an arm.

Wendy Mass, Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life
Author Wendy Mass reveals the inspiration for her book Jeremy Fink and the Meaning of Life in which a mysterious box changes Jeremy's life. Will he find the missing keys in time to unlock the box by his 13th birthday?

Norma Fox Mazer, Ten Ways to Make My Sister Disappear
Norma Fox Mazer has written more than 30 books and has won numerous awards including a Newbery Honor for her book After the Rain about a teenaged girl whose grandfather is dying. Get to know this author by watching our June 2007 video interview.

Frank McCourt, Favorite Teacher Breakfast
A former teacher in the NYC public school system, McCourt's memoir of his childhood in depression era Ireland won the Pulitzer Prize. The "consummate storyteller" talks about his experiences in the classroom and the teachers (and students) who changed his life.

Jaclyn Moriarty, The Spellbook of Listen Taylor
In our November 2007 video interview, the Australian author of The Year of Secret Assignments describes her newest book, The Spellbook of Listen Taylor. She also tells how she got her start as a writer and what she loves most about being an author.

Robert Munsch, Favorite Teacher Breakfast
Picture book author Robert Munsch spends up to three years fine-tuning his stories in front of live audiences before publishing them. The storyteller shares his recollections of school, the "German nuns" who ran the classroom and the new librarian that predicted his future profession.

Sara Pennypacker, Clementine
Visit Cape Cod-based writer Sara Pennypacker and discover how she chose the unique name for the little heroine of her book Clementine, about a charmingly flawed and quirky third-grader with a good heart and a talent for trouble.

Dav Pilkey, Favorite Teacher Breakfast
Captain Underpants creator, Dav Pilkey is a perfect example of the fact that you never know which kid in your classroom might grow up to be an author. He talks about his "special" desk in the hallway, memories of his second-grade teacher, and his patient mom.

Philip Pullman, The Golden Compass
Get to know the author of the thrilling fantasy series, His Dark Materials, by watching our November 2007 video interview. Learn how Pullman got his ideas, his thoughts about the movie adaptation of The Golden Compass, and his plans for a sequel.

Sharon Robinson, Jackie's Nine
Get to know the daughter of legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson by watching our June 2007 video interview. Learn where Robinson gets her inspiration and how her experiences with kids in Harlem influence her writing.

Pam Munoz Ryan, Paint the Wind
Get to know the Hispanic-American author of Esperanza Rising by watching our June 2007 video interview. Learn how Pam Munoz Ryan got her start, where she finds inspiration, and how she researches and plans a new story.

Lisa Ann Sandell, Song of the Sparrow
In our November 2007 video interview Sandell talks about her YA novel based on the King Arthur legend, Song of the Sparrow. She describes what inspired the book, the research she did to complete the book, and what she loves most about being an author.

Brian Selznick, The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Brian Selznick's books have received numerous awards and distinctions including the 2008 Caldecott Medal for The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Get to know this celebrated author and illustrator by watching our November 2007 video interview.

Jordan Sonnenblick, Zen and the Art of Faking It
Jordan Sonnenblick, popular author of YA books such as Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie talks about his latest book Zen and the Art of Faking It in our July 2007 video interview. He also tells how he got his start and what his next book will be about.

Shaun Tan, The Arrival
Get to know this illustrator from Perth, Australia by watching our November 2007 video interview. Learn how Shaun Tan got his start, how he developed his ideas for The Arrival, and what inspired his vision for the book.

Bill Wallace, Pick of the Litter
Bill Wallace, a former elementary-school teacher and author of over 25 books for children, describes his latest work Pick of the Litter about a boy who becomes best friends with his new puppy, but may have to give him up.

Brian Williams and Roderick Gordon, Tunnels
In our January 2008 video interview, the two British authors describe how they teamed up to create the thrilling adventure book, Tunnels.