The Future Book

by Mac Barnett, Shawn Harris (Illustrator)

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Every other book was written in the past. But this book? This book was written in the future.

Do you want to know what the future is like? Turn the pages to get a glimpse at the world of tomorrow and its unexpected words, strange social customs, and mind-blowing colors!

From the award-winning duo Mac Barnett and Shawn Harris comes a funny, visionary picture book that kids will want to read again and again.

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2026

About the author

Born to non-farmers in a California farming community, Mac Barnett now lives near San Francisco. He's on the board of directors of 826LA, a nonprofit writing center for students in Los Angeles, and he founded the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a convenience store for time travelers.

Reviews

[Ron Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

With The Future Book, two of the cleverest children’s book creators soar hilariously into the great unknown.

According to National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett, the future is a time of linguistic chaos.

“In the future, the sun is called the moon,” Barnett writes, “and the moon is called the sun.”

Night and day, apples and bananas — they’ve all been gloriously scrambled, but that’s just the start. Even the most ordinary expressions have been revised.

“We don’t say ‘Goodbye!’ We say ‘You smell like a baby!’”

Shawn Harris’s deadpan illustrations — created with ink and gouache, “which means something totally different in the future” — make witty companions to the text throughout.

To say “thank you” in the future, people place a fish on someone’s head.

“There’s an interesting reason why,” Barnett says offhandedly, “but we don’t have time for that story.”

Instead, this delightful book charges ahead until we arrive at a breathless dialogue of nonsense that’s sure to inspire similarly silly declarations by a little one in your house.

I review a picture book every week in my Substack newsletter, which you can read for free:
https://roncharles.substack.com/i/209...

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never review picture books on here but y’all. My six year old (who thinks she is rapidly outgrowing picture books) asked me to read this twice in a row tonight. Twice!! In a row! It is the perfect book for former theatre kids (moi) to perform to their progeny at bedtime. Hilarious. Mac Barnett can do no wrong!

[Ümit Mutlu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Geldi!

Tüm o güzel cümleler için kafana balık koyarım Mac Barnett!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just had a chance to read this one to two five year olds. Not only did they love it, they immediately began playing with these new words and phrases from the future. Your future self will thank you if you read The Future Book aloud to kids.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this duo, my favorite children's book creatives. To that end, I gently place a fish on the heads of the publishers at Random House Kids and the authors (all of whom could possibly be named Charlie Cheese Face)-- it is so exciting to read a book from the future! It is an absolute feast for the eyes, with strikingly cool details (i.e. dust jacket). And it is hilarious!!! I laughed out loud more than one bazillion times.

Did you sneeze from your mushroom? Forgive me, Susan. And to conclude this 3 a.m. night writing, you smell like a baby.

Xoxo 💚

[Jodi]

Is Mac Barnett taking money from Big Fish?

[Milton Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

A picture book that is silly and stays with you. Want to know how things will be in the future? This book answers that question with humor, fun, and silliness. My child and I had a lot of fun reading and reliving this book by incorporating new vocabulary into our daily vernacular. So much fun!

Find it into our SHARE Catalog today!

Ashley C. / Milton Public Library #CheckOutMPL

[Zoey Schaefer · Rating 4 out of 5]

FUN!

[Riley]

This failed to amuse which is a real issue since that seems to be the only thing it's trying to do

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this to 2 2nd grade classes today and they LOVED it!

[Benji Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mac, God Forgive Me Susan for this book.

For real. Put a fish on your head.

[Ameema S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious, silly, perfect for little ones!!!

This is the kind of silly "laugh out loud" humour that little ones will love, and the illustrations were excellent. A great reading experience, for sure.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mac Barnett hit a home run again. This silly book is perfect for read alouds and will have kids giggling. Illustrations by Harris complement the text beautifully!

[ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my favorite picture book of 2026 i am calling it now mac barnett is always so so so funny and i love shawn harris’ illustrations!

[Whitney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This will be a big read-aloud book, I think. There’s not really a plot. I think it’s extra silly in a way I didn’t particularly enjoy. The art was ok.

[Emily Carlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this aloud to 3rd grade classes and it was a massive hit. I truly enjoyed reading the book and it showed. The kids loved it. It was so much fun.

[Tressa Rauh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hysterical! Would be absolutely brilliant as a read aloud.

[DaNae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t wait for the future to arrive and I can thank you by placing a fish on your head. “You smell like a baby.”

[Christiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

We just sing this audiobook around our house now. I lold all the way through it.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wacky, strange, don’t think I get it.
Very oddball, except the dog!

[Kuroja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strambo, strambissimo, divertentissimo

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t wait to read this aloud with students. They are going to love it.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new favorite. Funny and clever. My 4 year old practically has it memorized.

[Morton Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny | Near future | Textured illustrations (appeal terms from NoveList) - Emma

[Ileana (The Tiniest Book Club) · Rating 4 out of 5]

No plot.
Extra silly.
This might be perfect for reading out loud!
BTW: You smell like a baby!

[Aolund · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is going to have the summer camp field trip kids in peals of laughter. Humorous, not deep, pleasing watercolor illustrations.

Themes: The Future, Humor
Age range: Kindergarten-Elementary

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious! Would be a super fun read aloud.

[Susan Waltman · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this book a negative rating, I would. It is the dumbest picture book I ever read.

[Lauren M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Silly just for the sake of being silly. Sure to get some laughs from the kiddos, but I didn't really find it appealling.
I was rooting for you, Mac Barnett!

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is from the future.  An omniscient narrator describes for a present-day audience, in a very straightforward way, some of the phrases and concepts that have become part of everyday life in the future.  Apples don’t exist anymore; dogs have not changed; but there is a new color called ‘blorange’ and noses are called ‘mushrooms.’ Many common words such as ‘night’ and ‘day’ now have opposite meanings, and there are new ways to show respect or kindness.  For example, instead of ‘bless you’ when someone sneezes, future folks say ‘Forgive me Susan!’ and in order to express gratitude, one does not say ‘thank you’ but places a fish on the other’s head.  The narrator concludes by recounting a recent visit to the store (the term ‘supermarket’ is obsolete, replaced by ‘bolly bolly hoo hoo’) which perfectly describes the way a typical human interaction may play out, including the new way to say good-bye:  “You smell like a baby!”

The Future Book is an essential purchase for all libraries that serve elementary age readers.  The deadpan delivery and ridiculous concept make it a surefire hit as a readaloud, and young patrons will want to read it independently too.  The ink and gouache illustrations utilize a lot of bright neon colors and indistinct edges, and many objects are labeled with red strips that look like they were printed with an old-fashioned Dymo label maker.  The premise of the book may cause some to reflect on the arbitrary nature of words and what they represent, and it will certainly get kids wondering why everyone will be called “Charlie Cheese Face” in the future.  There is no specific time frame for the setting of the book, but there is nothing science fiction about it - no robots or high tech gadgets in sight - so readers might infer that it is the not-too-distant future, and if everyone starts saying “You smell like a baby!” when they take their leave, that future may arrive sooner than later! Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...