This is an incredible book that gets at the heart of why children's literature is so important: it's a litmus test for how adults think about and treat children. With tenderness and humor, Mac Barnett asks us to think more deeply and intentionally about the role of books and stories in kids' (and our) lives.

Barnett's central argument is that adults are dismissive of children's books and children's authors because "on some level [they] don't think children are real people" (12). He's not saying parents don't love their kids or are unwilling to make sacrifices for them; rather, in our society, there is no inherent respect for children. Adults don't consider children's books or children's authors as "real books" or "real authors" because they believe that kids aren't a deserving audience, they cannot appreciate good art, and that a child is nothing other than "a thing to be taught" (55).

This idea of didacticism ("a philosophy that emphasizes instructional and informative qualities in literature, art, and design" -- thank you, Wikipedia) really hit me in the feels. We control every aspect of children's lives, including what, how, and when they read. (I gasped out loud when Barnett observed that even if a kid picked out their own library book, they can't check it out without handing it to an adult first). In contrast, Barnett explains, "a child's imagination is one of the few places where they can experience genuine autonomy." (20)

Good children's books-- because there is such a thing-- return agency to kids by centering their experiences, meeting them where they're at, and giving them space to do what they do best -- imagine! create! discover! Joyously and without limitations or expectations. A children's book "is not a tool...it need not be useful." (20) They don't demand anything of their readers, but instead, "invite the reader to make meaning" (55) and cocreate a shared experience between the writer and the reader. There's so much adults can learn from this and apply to our own understanding of books and even art more generally-- what is its purpose? Is all art supposed to teach me something? What is the point of bad art? How do I engage with art, good or bad? There's a lot to examine and explore.

In building his arguments, Barnett relies on his own experiences as a child, a parent, a children's author, his work with youth, and some critical/formative authors that have set the standard for good children's literature. Although he has studied some early childhood development, he intentionally doesn't bring that in, saying it hasn't been central to his approach to writing. I understand why, but there's been so much research done in early childhood development/education in the last few decades that I feel it's an important lens to consider if you're trying to encourage reading and want to see good quality children's books. I was also hoping for some more actionable things I could do as a parent to nurture my kid's love of reading and see that he has access to good stories (and just larger wonderings about how to give him more agency/control, but I know there are other books for that!). Some actions are obvious, and I've thought of other things I can do, but I always appreciate a good jumping off point.

Ultimately, this is a book for adults about children's books and why they're a critical art form for kids and adults alike. I highly recommend this for anyone who has a kid in their life and for anyone who doesn't. It's a chance to check and challenge some of our assumptions about kids and children's literature. You might even learn something new about yourself as a reader. I know I did.

Rating Scale Writing - 1 Compelling - .75 Message - 1 Actionable - .75 Vibes - 1