In last week's Notes from the Horn Book, Roger interviewed author/illustrator Jonathan Bean about DIY and his latest book, Building Our House. Reviewer Betty Carter has a sixth question for Jonathan in the January/February 2013 Horn Book Magazine. Read the starred review of Building Our House here.

Betty Carter: What lessons or habits from your parents’ “homesteader” endeavors did you take away from your childhood that you now use in everyday adult life?

Jonathan Bean: When I was a kid, I remember asking for some small toy, and my father saying, “We could make something like that.” (Frustrating at the time because I wanted the toy now.) It wasn’t necessarily that he thought he could make a better toy (though he probably would end up doing just that), it was because making things and thinking about making things was fun! That’s exactly how I continue to feel. Sometimes it means not getting the result I want right now, but the work and the pleasure of holding the completed object is always very satisfying.