Picture book author Mac Barnett has been named the Library of Congress' new ambassador for young people's literature. He discusses what the role means when engaging kids in reading can be a struggle.

As a new father, Jose Gonzales was disappointed to find so few picture books featuring characters who look like his daughter. “She’s biracial,” he says. “A lot of the popular children’s books have a ...

The author of more than 60 books for young readers and 2011’s “Picture Book Manifesto” that challenged creators and their publishers to energize the category, Barnett became the 2025–2026 national ...