Children’s author Mac Barnett’s new book Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children has hit the shelves.
In 112 pages, the author provides humorous yet academic conversational essays that invite readers 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 young ones.
The book also celebrates the power of storytelling and stresses the profound joys of literature and importance of pleasurable reading, especially for children, at a time the American author believes to be a national literary crisis.
“Make Believe is something new for me: a book for grown-ups about books for children,” Mac said in a social media post.
“It’s a celebration, an argument, an exhortation to make great art for kids,” he added.
Best known for his picture books, the 43-year-old creative has published more than 70 works since 2009, including graphic novels, essays, and short stories. 
He is the co-creator of Shape Island with Canadian illustrator Jon Klassen, who collaborated with the wordsmith on the Emmy-award-winning children’s animated series on Apple TV+.
It is based on their popular book series The Shapes trilogy.
Mac currently serves as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, a biannual literary honour presented by the Library of Congress to an author or illustrator who is a US citizen.