An award-winning, nonprofit organization that celebrates the powerful impact books have on young people
9th National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Mac Barnett
As Ambassador, Mac Barnett’s emphasis is on picture books, a vibrant but often overlooked art form. As part of this platform, Mac is asking grown-ups to “Consider the Picture Book” through a series of events, written pieces, and informative resources for adults.
As Mac puts it, his mission is to set in motion “Nothing less than a wholesale cultural reappraisal of the picture book, one of our great literary forms.” Picture books are widely read and deeply loved. Most of us have had some meaningful encounter with a picture book, whether it’s one we’ve shared with children in our lives or one we still remember reading as a child. But because they receive little critical attention, most of us don’t understand what makes them special. Mac elucidates how picture books work — what sets them apart from other ways of telling stories and challenges audiences to reconsider their ideas about storytelling, reading, and childhood.
How to Read a Picture Book Outloud (for Grown-Ups)
Discover Mac’s tips and tricks for a collaborative, engaging, and fun read-aloud experience.
Mac Barnett has been a proponent of picture books since before he was writing them. His philosophy about this wonderful artform is nuanced and deep. And yet, he explains it with such clarity and passion that the best way to “Consider the Picture Book” is to hear Mac speak. You can do just that in these videos.
Mac Barnett and Jennifer Garner Consider the Picture Book at 92 NY
[COMING DEC. 19]
Storytime for Adults at the Library of Congress
Mac Barnett on Picture Books As Art – Washington Post Op-Ed
Looking at Picture Books – Substack with Jon Klassen
Mac Barnett is a New York Times-bestselling author of stories for children. His work has been translated into more than 30 languages and sold more than 5 million copies worldwide. Barnett’s books have won many prizes, including two Caldecott Honors, three New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Awards, three E.B. White Read Aloud Awards, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Germany’s Jugendliteraturpreis, China’s Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award, The Netherlands’ Silver Griffel, and Italy’s Premio Orbil. He is the co-creator, with Jon Klassen, of “Shape Island,” a stop-motion animated series on Apple TV+, based on their best-selling Shapes series of picture books. Barnett lives in Oakland, California.
During his two-year term as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Barnett will celebrate the children’s picture book through his platform for grown-ups, Consider the Picture Book, and through his platform for kids, Behold, The Picture Book!. Read more here.
.
Learn more about the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature program.
Meet Mac Barnett and hear about his inspiring platform, "Behold, The Picture Book!"
Resources for Grown-ups
Find out where Mac Barnett is traveling during his two year term and how you can submit a proposal.
Who were our past ambassadors and their platforms?