My books have been banned at times. I think in 2013 they were the most banned books in the country. But I think that you’ll see that with humor often, you know. Humor is a very subjective thing. Some people don’t like certain things and other people love them. And I’ve been very, very fortunate that most people, including most parents and most teachers, have been incredibly supportive of the books. And so I try to focus on those people. I try to focus on the love.
I think the biggest criticism that I’ve gotten about the books is that they encourage children to question authority, and I don’t really think of that as a bad thing. I think children should question everything and everyone. That’s how we learn, by asking questions. I think it’s a very good thing. I think it’s a positive thing. And so if I have been instrumental in encouraging children to ask questions, I’m very proud of that.
I think there has always been a bit of subversiveness in my stories. I think it’s kind of like I just wanted to relate to the other kids in my class. And so it was almost like I was telling a story from our point of view. Like we’re the kids, you know, and so it’s us versus them. And I think there might be still a little bit of that in my books.