Avi is the 2003 Newbery Medal award winning author of Crispin: A Cross of Lead, and widely acclaimed for his works of historical fiction for middle grade readers. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Avi talks about the challenges of writing, his years as a librarian, and his symptoms of dyslexia. He also recalls what it was like to win the 2003 Newbery Medal in this engaging and wide-ranging conversation.

Norman Bridwell could never have guessed at the world-wide phenomenon that Clifford the Big Red Dog would become. In this exclusive video interview with Reading Rockets, Norman Bridwell talks about writing and illustrating Clifford and the big dog’s success in books and on television.

Mary Amato is an award-winning children’s and YA book author, poet, playwright, and songwriter. Amato divides her time between writing and teaching writing — through classroom workshops and residencies, all-school assemblies, library programs, and teacher workshops.  Amato has led writing workshops for children in poetry, song writing, fiction, mystery, and folktales, as well as workshops for teachers focusing on revision, creating character, and writer’s notebooks.