In a 1997 essay that she wrote for the Something about the Author Autobiography Series (SAAS) the versatile and prolific children's author Jennifer Armstrong mused, "It occurs to me that there is a popular cliché in our culture: for there to be Real Art, there must be Suffering. Yet I never suffered at all really." This perceived dearth of creative tension in her life at times has caused Armstrong to stop and wonder about her ability to sustain a successful literary career. Yet, like Eeyore, the resident pessimist in Winnie the Pooh's charmed world, Armstrong always seems to make do. In fact, she more than makes do; Armstrong has enjoyed considerable success, garnering critical praise, winning numerous awards, and attracting a wide readership. She deals with topical themes and issues that interest her in the hope that will also appeal to her young readers. "More and more these...