KQED's Forum Mac Barnett on Why Picture Books Are Real Literature
Mar 21, 2025
Mac Barnett, a celebrated Bay Area children's author and the Library of Congress’s new National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, passionately reframes the importance of picture books. He discusses their vital role in nurturing a love for reading across generations and challenges the misconception that they're not real literature. Along with fellow authors Aida Salazar and Laura G. Lee, they explore the emotional depth and artistic innovation of picture books, and share personal anecdotes about the lasting impact of beloved stories.
57:47
Defining Picture Books
- A picture book is a story told through both words and pictures, each sharing responsibility.
- This synthesis of words and images creates a unique form of storytelling.
Tension in Picture Books
- Good picture books have tension between words and pictures, sometimes contradicting each other.
- This makes them more than just illustrated texts; it's an art form.
Children and Complex Literature
- Margaret Wise Brown saw children as an audience for complex literature, not simplified versions.
- She believed young children are better at understanding literary fiction and poetry than adults.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
The Power of Picture Books
02:57 • 11min
The Importance of Picture Books in Literature
13:33 • 3min
The Enchantment of Picture Books
16:11 • 16min
The Emotional Depth of Picture Books
32:31 • 3min
The Enchantment of Children's Literature
35:21 • 16min
The Lasting Impact of Picture Books on Generations
51:37 • 3min
Goodnight Moon
Margaret Wise Brown
Goodnight Moon is a timeless children's book written by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd.
The story follows a young bunny as it prepares for bed, saying goodnight to all the objects in its green-walled bedroom.
The book features a rhyming poem and detailed illustrations that capture the bunny's bedtime ritual, gradually transitioning from a lit room to a darkened one as the moon glows outside.
The narrative is simple yet effective, creating a cozy and rhythmic bedtime journey that has delighted children and parents alike for generations.
The book is notable for its focus on the minutiae of a child's surroundings and its ability to induce a sense of comfort and security.
I Want My Hat Back
Jon Klassen
In 'I Want My Hat Back', a bear searches for his missing hat by asking various animals in the forest if they have seen it.
The story unfolds with the bear's polite inquiries and the animals' negative responses, until he realizes the hat's location and takes drastic action.
The book is notable for its understated humor, visual wit, and a dark ending that has sparked discussion about its appropriateness for children.
It achieved significant commercial success and received several awards, including the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book and being named a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year.
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak
In this iconic children's book, Max, dressed in his wolf suit, causes chaos at home and is sent to bed without supper.
His bedroom transforms into a jungle, and he sails to an island where he encounters the Wild Things.
Max tames the creatures and becomes their king, but eventually returns home, missing his mother's love.
The book is praised for its honest treatment of children's emotions, particularly anger and the need for parental love.
It has been adapted into a movie and an opera and remains a beloved classic in children's literature.
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
William Steig
In this Caldecott Medal-winning book, Sylvester, a donkey, discovers a magic pebble that grants wishes.
However, he accidentally turns himself into a giant rock.
The story follows Sylvester's year-long wait through changing seasons until his parents find him and restore him back to his normal form.
The book captures a range of emotions and emphasizes the importance of family and reunion.
Circle, Square and Triangle
Circle, Square and Triangle
null
Mac Barnett
null
Sir Michael Howard
Zoom
Istvan Banyai
In 'Zoom', Istvan Banyai employs a unique 'zooming out' technique where each subsequent page pulls back to reveal the context of the previous scene, often in unexpected ways.
Starting with an abstract image, the book progresses through various scenes, including a farm, a ship, a city street, and eventually outer space.
This visual trickery invites readers to consider their world from different perspectives, making it a fascinating and philosophical adventure for readers of all ages.
This Little Light of Mine
This Little Light of Mine
null
E.B. Lewis
Frog and Toad
Frog and Toad
null
arnold lobel
Arnold Lobel's "Frog and Toad" series is a collection of charming and heartwarming stories about the friendship between two amphibian friends.
The simple yet engaging narratives explore themes of friendship, kindness, and everyday life.
The gentle illustrations perfectly complement the text, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
The books are known for their timeless appeal and ability to resonate with readers of all ages.
Bedtime for Frances
Bedtime for Frances
null
Robert Munsch
Robert Munsch's "Bedtime for Frances" is a charming and relatable story about a young badger who resists going to bed.
The book's simple yet effective storytelling techniques capture the essence of childhood defiance and the eventual acceptance of bedtime routines.
The illustrations are warm and inviting, creating a cozy atmosphere that resonates with young readers.
The book's enduring popularity stems from its ability to connect with children's emotions and experiences.
Good Dog, Carl
Good Dog, Carl
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Patricia Polacco
Patricia Polacco's "Good Dog, Carl" is a heartwarming and visually stunning children's book that tells the story of a dog who takes care of a baby while his owner is away.
The book's unique art style, featuring detailed oil paintings, captures the essence of the story's charm and humor.
The narrative is simple yet engaging, making it perfect for young readers.
The book's enduring popularity stems from its ability to connect with children's emotions and experiences.
Soy Sauce!
Soy Sauce!
Laura G. Lee
Pancakes for Breakfast
Pancakes for Breakfast
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Annie Kubler
Cat Eyes
Cat Eyes
Laura G. Lee
Amos and Boris
Amos and Boris
William Steig
Outside over there
Maurice Sendak
Maurice Sendak's "Outside Over There" is a more complex and darker children's book compared to his other works.
It tells the story of Ida, a young girl whose baby sister is kidnapped by goblins.
Ida embarks on a perilous journey to rescue her sister, facing various challenges and magical creatures along the way.
The book's themes of sibling love, fear, and courage are explored through vivid illustrations and a captivating narrative.
In the Night Kitchen
Maurice Sendak
Maurice Sendak's "In the Night Kitchen" is a surreal and imaginative children's book that follows a young boy's nighttime adventure in a bakery.
The story is filled with fantastical elements, including three identical bakers and a journey in a dough-made airplane.
The book's dreamlike quality and playful illustrations capture the boundless imagination of childhood.
It's a visually stunning and emotionally resonant work that explores themes of independence and self-discovery.
We Are Definitely Human
We Are Definitely Human
null
Xiran Jay Zhao
Yertle the turtle
and other stories
Dr Seuss
Dr.
Seuss's "Yertle the Turtle" is a satirical children's story that uses the allegory of a tyrannical turtle king to explore themes of power, oppression, and rebellion.
The simple yet effective storytelling techniques and memorable illustrations make it a classic.
The story's message of standing up to injustice resonates with readers of all ages.
The book's enduring popularity stems from its ability to entertain and educate simultaneously.
Count the monkeys
Kevin Cornell
Mac Barnett
In the Spirit of a Dream
In the Spirit of a Dream
Aida Salazar
Alina Chau
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Mo Willems
Mo Willems's "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!" is a highly interactive and engaging children's book that uses humor and playful illustrations to create a memorable reading experience.
The story's simple yet effective storytelling techniques capture the essence of childhood curiosity and the importance of following rules.
The illustrations are expressive and engaging, creating a dynamic and interactive reading experience.
The book's enduring popularity stems from its ability to connect with children's emotions and experiences.
Jovita Wore Pants
Aida Salazar
Molly Mendoza
Everybody Needs a Rock
Everybody Needs a Rock
Byrd Baylor
Peter Parnall
Byrd Baylor's "Everybody Needs a Rock" is a charming and insightful children's book that encourages children to connect with nature by finding and appreciating their own special rock.
The book's simple yet evocative text and gentle illustrations create a calming atmosphere, perfect for sparking curiosity about the natural world.
The story's message of finding beauty in everyday things resonates with readers of all ages.
The book's enduring popularity stems from its ability to connect with children's emotions and experiences.
As the Library of Congress’s new National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Bay Area children’s author Mac Barnett wants to reframe how we think about picture books. With his platform, “Behold the Picture Book,” he’s championing the vital role picture books play in engaging readers of all ages and why we love them. What’s the picture book you love reading over and over and over?
Guests:
Mac Barnett, author of the children's books "Circle," "Square" and "Triangle" which have been made into a new animated series "Shape Island" on AppleTV+. Barnett is also the author of the "Mac B. Kid Spy" and the "Jack" series. His books have won Caldecott honors and E.B. White Read Aloud Awards.
Aida Salazar, children's book author. Her picture books include "Jovita Wore Pants" and "In the Spirit of a Dream."
Laura G. Lee, children's book author and illustrator. Her picture books are "Soy Sauce!" and "Cat Eyes."
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