Mac Barnett on How Kids Can Teach Us to Be Better Readers episode artwork

EPISODE · May 11, 2026 · 54 MIN

Mac Barnett on How Kids Can Teach Us to Be Better Readers

from KQED's Forum · host KQED

Mac Barnett is a bestselling children’s book author and, since last year, the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.  He has a new small book out for adults, Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children, that is a rousing defense not just of children’s books but of children themselves, as people and as readers.  “If you’ve read good books to kids, you’ve probably been surprised when they noticed a detail in the pictures that you didn’t see, or been humbled when they understood something about the story you couldn’t. That’s because children tend to be better readers — more open-minded, more diligent, and more passionate — than adults. (No offense.)” We’ll talk to Barnett about how kids make us better readers and the enduring power of children’s books. Guests: Mac Barnett, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature; author, "Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children;" his children's books include "Circle," "Square" and "Triangle," "Extra Yarn", "Sam and Dave Dig a Hole" and the "Terrible Two" book series among others Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 11, 2026

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Mac Barnett on How Kids Can Teach Us to Be Better Readers

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