Kate DiCamillo: A Mom's Best Friend

Kate DiCamillio, author of The Tale of Despereaux, knows a thing or two about kids. Like a sneaky chef, the award-winning writer serves up delicious stories packed with good, hearty morals to grow on. Taking time from a whirl of activity surrounding the release of Despereaux, the movie, she talks about the honor of being a Momtourage member.

Every mom needs Kate DiCamillo in her life. The Tale of Despereaux author is one of those wondrously child-like adults who, without even trying, gets kids. She knows the secrets of their little people-stuck-in-big people-land.

She can translate their language (a scientific code involving a series of grunts and eye-rolling, from what I gather). She can interpret their dreams. And she can tell their stories. Man-oh-man, can she tell their stories. Despereaux is a mouse who falls in love with a princess. He is poignantly heroic and demonstrates lessons in forgiveness, love, self-esteem—and soup—so masterfully that my kids never saw the moral message hit them. DiCamillio is that good.

So I simply had to meet her. Partly because, it has long been my suspicion that The New York Times best-selling author may not be a grown-up at all. She is kind of short and from what I've observed, clearly unable to restrain her "outside voice" impulses in public places. But five minutes into our chat, it was clear that she is far too wise to be a kid in grown up's clothing. She is pint sized, and proud of it, and apparently she's just, well, loud. She's not a mom—whew! One less "perfect mom" to beat myself up about. She's an aunt—the really special kind that doesn't come with blood ties, but one kids simply choose to love and adore. And, of course, we all know that makes her one of us—part of Momtourage!

Here's what she had to say about friendship, breaking rules and the power of "please" and "thank you"...