Episode Details

Mac Barnett is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 60 kid-lit titles that are beloved by moms, dads, and kids alike. This includes the Shapes Trilogy (illustrated by his good friend and frequent collaborator Jon Klassen), Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, Extra Yarn, The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse, The First Cat in Space—and many, many more. 

Raised in Northern California by a single mother who encouraged a love of reading, Mac’s books have sold over 5 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than 30 languages. He’s currently serving a two-year role as the U.S. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and is using the opportunity to ask adults across the world to think critically about children’s literature as an art form.

As the very first father on The MOTHER Podcast, Mac talks about his journey to parenthood, his synchronistic path to becoming a writer, his new book for adults—Make Believe—which explores the magic of children’s books, and the enduring question of what it means to be a man.

Follow Mac at @macbarnett and subscribe to his Substack Looking at Picture Books

Today’s episode is brought to you exclusively by Crate&kids.

Head to crateandkids.com and enjoy 10% off your order when you sign up for emails.

Please follow, rate, and leave The MOTHER Podcast a review!

For more stories about motherhood and so much more, visit mothermag.com and follow @mothermag on Instagram.

For more on Mac’s inspiring story, check out these resources:

MOTHER (Article)

Library of Congress (YouTube)

Creative Pep Talk (Podcast)
TED Talk (YouTube)
92NY (YouTube)
PBS Books (YouTube)

The MOTHER Podcast is produced by Em Roberts and Ali Alquiza.