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An interview with

Patricia MacLachlan

Patricia MacLachlan is the Newbery Award winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall. In this exclusive audio interview with Reading Rockets, Patricia MacLachlan reveals the challenges of writing, the rewards of reading, and the joys of a literacy-rich childhood.

Click on the links below§ to listen to this interview online, or read the interview transcript. You can also read a short biography of Patricia Maclachlan or see a selected list of her children’s books.

Listen online

Peter Rabbit in the house (:35)
As a young girl, Patricia MacLachlan and her father used to act out their favorite stories. He believed that you could find out who you were in a book, and that's why you read.
Solitaire and CNN (1:00)
Learn more about the surprising writing habits of this Newbery award-winning author.
The reading link (:40)
When this author gets stuck in her writing, she finds it helpful to pull out a classic like Charlotte's Web for inspiration.
Miraculous feedback (1:00)
Patricia MacLachlan explains why contact with children who have read her books fuels her writing and makes her want to write more.
Books and messages (:30)
Patricia MacLachlan explains how literature can be inspirational without being preachy. She writes for the same reason that she reads books – to find out what's going to happen.

^§ To play this clip, you'll need a copy of the free RealOne Player. Most computers already have it installed, or you can download it now.

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