Joyful Books

David Ezra Stein writes and illustrates books for kids. His books include Interrupting Chicken, Monster Hug!, and Don’t Worry, Murray. Stein spoke with TIME for Kids about his work.

What do you like about writing for kids?

I have a big inner child. I like trying to make myself laugh. I think children’s books are a good laboratory for trying to discover interesting things about life.

There is a playfulness and joy in children’s books that some adult books don’t have. I think joy is really important.

Interrupting Chicken is a series of books written and illustrated by Stein. There are currently three books in the series.

What were you like as a kid?

I started drawing when I was very young. I read a lot of books. And even before I could write, I liked to tell stories. One of my first characters was a snake named Garfield.

This is the studio Stein built to work in.

What’s your process for making a new book?

I always carry around a sketchbook. I fill it up with thoughts and characters that come to me during the day.

Most of those ideas don’t get made into books. But some of them inspire me to write a story.

Then I start to figure out the best way to tell the story. What colors should I use? What do the characters look like? What will the rhythm of the words be? I do a lot of experimenting to see what works best.

Stein speaks with young writers at a school in Queens, in New York City.

What do you love about your job?

I love that I get to make something new that nobody has ever thought of. And I love that I get to play.

Stein paints an illustration for a new book, Interrupting Chicken Saves the Nutcracker. It will be available in September.