We've educated children to think that spontaneity is inappropriate. Children are willing to expose themselves to experiences. We aren't. Grownups always say they protect their children, but they're really protecting themselves. Besides, you can't protect children. They know everything.

Children are tough, though we tend to think of them as fragile. They have to be tough. Childhood is not easy. We sentimentalize children, but they know what's …

I don't believe in things literally for children. That's a reduction.

You cannot write for children... They're much too complicated. You can only write books that are of interest to them.

You should not take a fellow eight years old And make him swear to never kiss the girls.

Go practise if you please With men and women: leave a child alone For Christ's particular love's sake!

I wanted my wild things to be frightening. But why? It was probably at this point that I remembered how I detested my Brooklyn relatives as a small child. They…