Mac Barnett’s first book for adults is coming later this year.
Little, Brown will publish Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children in the spring, the press announced in a news release, calling it “a book for adults about books for children, a rallying cry for art and imagination, and a celebration of the power of storytelling in all our lives.”
Barnett is the celebrated author of more than 60 books for children, including Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem, illustrated by Adam Rex; Extra Yarn, illustrated by Jon Klassen; and Santa’s First Christmas, illustrated by Sydney Smith. He’s also known for book series including Mac B., Kid Spy, illustrated by Mike Lowery, and The First Cat in Space, illustrated by Shawn Harris.
Last February, the Library of Congress and Every Child a Reader named Barnett the ninth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. He said at the time, “I’m especially grateful to all the kids who have read my books, and the librarians, teachers, booksellers, parents, caregivers, and camp counselors who’ve shared them.”
Make Believe, Little, Brown says, is Barnett’s “incisive, intimate, and timely invitation to approach children’s literature not only as an art form worthy of deep study and criticism, but as a portal into the lives of the children. And at a time when we are faced with a national literacy crisis, he champions the profound joys of literature and the importance of reading for pleasure.”
Make Believe is scheduled for publication on May 5.
Michael Schaub is a contributing writer.
