Mac Barnett, the Library of Congress' newest National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, underscores the challenge of engaging kids with books amid digital distractions. Barnett believes that advocating for reading based on educational benefits misses the mark. Instead, he champions picture books as undervalued art forms that resonate with children. He argues that perceiving children's literature as inferior dismisses the genuine humanity of kids. Barnett's philosophy prioritizes creating enticing literature that captures children's interest rather than serving as mere educational tools, advocating for literature that respects young readers as real individuals deserving quality art.
We're never going to win the argument that you should read a book because it's good for you. This isn't why kids read.
The picture book is my favorite art form. It's such an incredible, vibrant, exciting, forward-looking, experimental art form. And I think it's really undervalued, too.
If we think that children's books are anything less than real literature, it's because we think kids are something less than real people.
It's our job to make books that kids want to read.
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