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Discusses the role of children's literature in relationship to the current societal problems of children. It is concluded that the responsibility of writers for children is to do the best work they are capable of and that the purpose of literature is to give pleasure to the reader. (MES)

This article presents an interview with 38-year-old writer Matthew Tobin Anderson. In the interview, Anderson talks about his experiences, passion for writing, teenage interests, and his relation to the distinguished writer Mark Twain. He also states the importance of liberty and what it takes to be a patriot and a loyalist. Furthermore, Matthew Tobin Anderson expresses his feelings about his novel "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: The Pox Party" being selected as a finalist for the National Book Award.

Presents an interview with Chris Crutcher, writer for teens and winner of this year's Margaret A. Edwards Award. Discusses his childhood; reasons for writing about teenagers; his views on exposing adolescents to difficult subjects; insights from his experiences as a child and family therapist; role of humor; and reader responses to his stories. (AEF)

This interview with Kimberly Willis Holt, an author of young adult fiction who recently won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, discusses her background, how she began her writing career, childhood influences, small-town life, and how she develops her characters. (LRW)

Presents a telephone interview with author of the "Harry Potter" children's books, Jonanne Rowling. Highlights include: initial expectations for Harry; work before the "Harry" novels; an autobiographical character; her favorite books as a child; comparison with Ronald Dahl; earliest attempts at writing; writing about good and evil; "weird" names in the books; and feelings about success. (AEF)

Presents an interview with science-fiction writer and 1999 winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award, Anne McCaffrey. Discusses other awards and honors, how science fiction has changed in 30 years, inspiration for characters, writing for young adults, discovery of science fiction, research, writing habits and dealing with writer's block, and the downside to and gratifications of fame. (AEF)

Author Madeleine L'Engle answers questions about her career and work. Highlights include getting rejected and published, balancing work and family, developing characters, planning sequels and prequels, using real people in fiction, appreciating grandparents, redeeming villains, choosing point of view, writing style, addressing religion and science, weathering criticism, treating good and evil, dealing with fans, and working habits. (PEN)

This exploration of the two leading varieties of nonsense literature defines strict nonsense as that in which the laws of nature are suspended and replaced by new laws which the author decrees, and loose nonsense as usually comic writing about a singular unlikely event. Examples of these two types of verse in children's literature are cited. (22 sources) (SD)