Babbitt, Natalie. "Patricia MacLachlan: The Biography." Horn Book 62 (July/August 1986): 414-416. Babbitt analyzes MacLachlan's character and outlook.

Commire, Anne, ed. Something about the Author. Vol. 42. Detroit: Gale Reesearch, 1986. Contains a twoparagraph summary of MacLachlan's career, with a few comments about the novels.

MacLachlan, Patricia. "Newbery Medal Acceptance." Horn Book 62 (July/ August 1986): 407-413. This is MacLachlan's response to receiving the Newbery Medal for Sarah, Plain and Tall. In an emotional and humorous discussion, she talks about the influences on her writing, her hopes for how young readers will respond to her books, and her views about language and literature.

MacLachlan, Robert. "A Hypothetical Dilemma." Horn Book 62 (July/August 1986): 416-419. Robert MacLachlan provides significant details about his wife's life, family, and friends. The portrait he provides is of a loving, warm-hearted, and busy woman.