Patricia and Frederick McKissack

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• From teaching and construction to writing (4:40)

  Patricia was a teacher and Fredrick owned a construction company when they agreed to do something about the lack of children's stories about African Americans. Learn how they became a team of children's book authors, and find out what advice Patricia has for teachers using her books.

• The importance of reading (3:00)

  Growing up in the segregated South, Patricia remembers how reading saved her life. She talks about how reading opens you up to new worlds and ideas, and how she was led from reading to writing.

• Favorite stories from childhood (4:30)

  Fredrick remembers Brer Rabbit from childhood, and Patricia remembers The Ugly Duckling, and how these stories still speak to them today. They talk about how these and other children's stories apply to their personal and cultural lives.

• Writing fiction and non-fiction (4:30)

  They talk about how they try to blur the line between non-fiction and fiction when they write their books. By adding accurate details to their fiction, and telling good stories through their non-fiction, they take the best that both genres have to offer.

• How they write at home (3:10)

  Patricia and Fredrick talk about how they work together, with Fredrick doing the research and Patricia doing the writing. Fred talks about the importance of having a good library, and how the Internet has changed what doing library research means.

• Where their ideas come from (4:20)

  Fredrick tells the story of the sloppy hotel room where Messy Bessey was born. Patricia explains that their ideas for books come to them in two ways: "Athena" ideas come fully formed, while "mustard seed" ideas need to be carefully cultivated and developed.

• Favorite stories they've written (2:40)

  Patricia talks about Goin' Someplace Special and how much it means to her, and Fredrick says his favorite of Patricia's stories is Nettie Jo's Friends.