Mac Barnett is the bestselling author of award-winning books and stories for children and the new National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

During his 2025-2026 term, Barnett will celebrate the children’s picture book through his platform, Behold, The Picture Book! Let’s Celebrate Stories We Can Feel, Hear, and See, exploring the deeply impactful ways picture books blend words and illustrations to create a uniquely powerful reading experience and foundation for a lifetime of reading.

Barnett’s CONSIDER THE PICTURE BOOK campaign challenges adults to reconsider their thoughts regarding this sophisticated literary art form, asserting its rightful place among the best American literature.