Quotes from Christopher Paul Curtis

And I'd never heard Mother and Father argue before.

There's another thing that's strange about a library, it seems like time flies when you are in one.

And when you are done with the book bring it back and I have something special for you!" She had a huge smile on her face. I said, "Thank you, ma'am," but I didn't get too excited ' cause I know the kind of things librarians think are special.

Tis not a tree in heaven higher than the tree of patience.

I closed my eyes and took in a big snort of air. It was like someone took a old pot and poured about a hundred gallons of hot apple cider and a hundred gallons of hot coffee into it, then stirred eight or nine sweet potato pies, crusts and all, into that, then let six big steamy meat loafs float on top of all that, then threw in a couple of handfuls of smashed potatoes, then boiled the whole thing on high. This must be exactly how heaven smells!

She says she bets you could pour cornflakes in his dimple and eat them out with a spoon.

While the rest of the band was being a storm, she was the sun busting through thick, gray clouds. With the first thing she sang, you had to wonder why this band was called Herman E. Calloway and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression, or Herman E. Calloway and the Nubian Knights, it should be called Miss Thomas and the Dusky Devastators of the Depression and a Mean Old Guy on the Giant Fiddle.

That was the only part I didn't mind. I loved sticking my nose right on top of Joey's head and smelling all those nice things baked together.

another finger sign I'd never seen before

Come on, Daddy, turn it on, stop teasing!

I could tell those were the squeaks and squawks of one door closing and another one opening.

you had that…that…problem with Mary Ann

Something like hearing that your grandmother got her whole body pulled through the wringer on a washing machine, or something like hearing about a horse slipping on the ice and landing on some kid you went to school with.

Leave it to Daddy Cool to kill a bird, then give it a funeral. Leave it to Daddy Cool to torture human kids at school all day long and never have his conscience

Every Chihuahua in America Lines Up to Take a Bite out of Byron

road and find this mystery man, nothing can stop him—not hunger, not cops, not vampires, not even Herman E. Calloway himself. "A crackerjack

and his momma never told him who his father was. But she left a clue: posters of Herman E. Calloway and his famous band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!!! Bud's got

who his father was. But she left a clue: posters of Herman E. Calloway and his famous band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!!! Bud's got an idea that those posters will lead him to his father. Once he decides to hit the road and find this mystery man, nothing can stop him—not hunger, not cops, not vampires, not even Herman E. Calloway himself. "A crackerjack read-aloud.

When Rufus and Cody got off they said, "Hi, Mrs. Watson," and gave her their big smiles.

Ten-year-old Bud is a motherless boy on the run, and his momma never told him who his father was. But she left a clue: posters of Herman E. Calloway and his famous band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression!!!!!! Bud's got an idea that those posters will lead him to his father. Once he decides to hit the road and find this mystery man, nothing can stop him—not hunger, not cops, not vampires, not even Herman E. Calloway himself.

I think we've got our fingers in God's beard and as we drive along we're tickling him.

First is the worst, second is the same, last is the best in any old game.

Jimmie says our socks and clothes are very religious because they are so holey

Momma was the only one who wasn't born in Flint so the cold was coldest to her. All you could see were her eyes too, and they were shooting bad looks at Dad. She always blamed him for bringing her all the way from Alabama to Michigan, a state she called a giant icebox. Dad was bundled up on the other side of Joey, trying to look at anything but Momma. Next to Dad, sitting with a little space between them, was my older brother, Byron.