Children’s author Mac Barnett recently put out a book for grown-ups called Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children, and wow, has it ever stirred up a hornet’s nest in the kidlit community!
The big uproar is all about one specific line where Mac writes, “I have a nagging fear that children’s literature suffers from a slightly higher crud percentage than literature as a whole…maybe more like 94.7 percent of kids’ books are crud,” Yikes! As you can imagine, many fellow writers and I, as well as those in the industry, aren’t thrilled. Many feel it dismisses the hard work that goes into children’s books and might give the public the wrong idea about the industry having a detrimental effect on it’s future.
I just turned the final page of this book of essays, and I really wanted to examine the context behind that hurtful comment, share my honest thoughts about the rest of the book, and chat about the big conversation it started.
Off to a Great Start
Mac begins the book by introducing himself as a children’s author with over 60 titles and the current Ambassador for Children’s Literature. He points out that many well-meaning adults often dismiss his work, asking when he will write a “real” book for adults. He reveals an interesting issue in the industry: “children’s publishing operates without kids’ involvement” since adults handle all aspects of writing, editing, design, and sales. The chapter also talks about didacticism (preachy or overly instructional content) in children’s literature.
Mac was off to a great start but wait! Toward the end of chapter one, he adapts a famous quote by science fiction writer Theodore Sturgeon to state that 94.7% of children’s literature is poorly executed “crud” designed by adults to enforce control rather than spark imagination. Whoa! Did he really write that?
He is, after all, one of us, a dedicated children’s writer who has committed his life to crafting enchanting stories for young children, simply because he has an innate love for words, storytelling, and the wonderful world of children. What’s worse is that he is supposed to be lifting up children’s books and young readers as the Ambassador of Children’s Literature, a role that carries the weight of responsibility and expectation, yet seems to be at odds with the true spirit of nurturing and elevating children’s books.
Mac’s Statement Left Me with More Questions Than Answers
- Does he really believe this about his own genre?
- Was he trying to be clever and it backfired?
- Does he think my books are crud? (Should I care?)
- Does he think his books fall into the 5.3% that are of the non-crud variety?
- Why wasn’t this statement flagged by his editors?
- Can he dig himself out of this mess? The irony of his book, Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, is not lost on me (“The hole got so deep that their heads were underground.”)
I didn’t like the criticism of books about kindness; he said “be kind” is just a bumper sticker phrase, not suitable for children’s literature. Kindness is a fundamental concept that shapes us from an early age. He also doesn’t like fruits that act like people (anthropomorphic). I disagree with the dismissal of such books. Kindness is as crucial as learning the ABCs and counting. It is a building block for emotional intelligence and social awareness in young minds. Also, I truly enjoy food-themed books as they introduce joy, laughter, and creativity into the reading experience. After all, we all need joy in our lives, especially in a world that can sometimes feel overwhelming and serious. Books that blend education with entertainment can create a lifelong love for reading, and I believe that embracing these concepts is vital for nurturing happy, kind-hearted humans.
I’m sure more than one children’s author threw the book at the wall and stopped reading after Chapter one. I read this short book of essays cover to cover * and found a portion of it useful. Mac uses examples from children’s books by trailblazers and humor to make many good points about the industry.
Unfortunately, as a children’s author on my Instagram @dannasmithbooks stated, “Any good points he might’ve had get lost in the tone deaf, privileged nature of his comments. It’s a shame, really.” And “How can he claim to represent that which he does not respect, or even like? You cannot (should not?) accept an ambassadorship if you have disdain for nearly 95% of your community.”
Apology
In a statement to the School Library Journal, Barnett apologized. He acknowledged that his words were hurtful to peers working hard in the industry and admitted: “In trying to make a point, I got hyperbolic and glib. I was wrong”.
At a recent book event, attendees asked Barnett to respond to the controversy and he said that someone took a screenshot of his statement which was out of context and it went viral. The part that was left out of the screenshot states that the reason for the “crud” is because kids’ books are made by people (adults) who are not members of their intended audience (kids) and don’t understand them. Which doesn’t help his case.
Children’s Book Creators in Action
Children’s book creators who tirelessly champion children’s books and young readers have reaffirmed their dedication amid this controversy, blogging and posting pictures of their book events at schools, libraries, and bookstores with happy children, stating, “This is what a Children’s Literature Ambassador looks like!” #crudgate
I’d like to hear your thoughts on this book, the controversy, or my review in the comments below. I must go now; I have a children’s book to write!
*The footnotes offered excellent depth, but their constant interruptions drove me crazy. I would have preferred this extra information to be woven directly into the essay. Reading it made me feel just like Papa Chicken in David Ezra Stein’s Interrupting Chicken!
