Michael’s review of Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children > Likes and Comments
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What made you give the book 4 stars?
A reasonable question. I think it's that I appreciate *what* he has to say, even if I don't like *how* he goes about saying it (or what extra junk he throws in while saying it).
He believes children's books are real books. I'm on board with that. As he states (nice and clearly): "Kids books merit grown-up conversation." (p.x)
He considers a lot of what is out there (both past and present) to be junk. I agree.
He thinks this is because we underestimate children. Yes, definitely.
For all the complaints about didacticism in older books, he finds it all over today's 'bumper sticker' books. He points out "Choose kindness" as well as "Dare to be different" as ubiquitous themes that result in large quantities of homogenous crap.
So there are a bunch of what I consider to be important topics addressed, and he comes down on what I consider the "right" side of these issues.
But to get this I must endure his teenage reminiscences of being a camp counselor or a volunteer literacy aid. Or a two-page spread that states only "A children's book is a book written for children." because he thinks this is Profound and Important.
And there are other things I disagree with, like his final statement: "Every day we make new children. Let us also make new children's books!" Now, of course, he's going to push that view - he's a children's book author. But as a parent and educator, I'm more in the camp of Maurice Sendak, who once said:
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8338...
I was debating between three and four stars myself and finally decided on three stars, as I do think that Barnett's "crud" comment could be used to justify whole scale book banning (and I am kind of glad that I am not the only one who does not worship at Mac Barnett's altar so to speak).
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Laura
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Jul 20, 2026 11:10AM
What made you give the book 4 stars?
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A reasonable question. I think it's that I appreciate *what* he has to say, even if I don't like *how* he goes about saying it (or what extra junk he throws in while saying it). He believes children's books are real books. I'm on board with that. As he states (nice and clearly): "Kids books merit grown-up conversation." (p.x)
He considers a lot of what is out there (both past and present) to be junk. I agree.
He thinks this is because we underestimate children. Yes, definitely.
For all the complaints about didacticism in older books, he finds it all over today's 'bumper sticker' books. He points out "Choose kindness" as well as "Dare to be different" as ubiquitous themes that result in large quantities of homogenous crap.
So there are a bunch of what I consider to be important topics addressed, and he comes down on what I consider the "right" side of these issues.
But to get this I must endure his teenage reminiscences of being a camp counselor or a volunteer literacy aid. Or a two-page spread that states only "A children's book is a book written for children." because he thinks this is Profound and Important.
And there are other things I disagree with, like his final statement: "Every day we make new children. Let us also make new children's books!" Now, of course, he's going to push that view - he's a children's book author. But as a parent and educator, I'm more in the camp of Maurice Sendak, who once said:
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8338...
I was debating between three and four stars myself and finally decided on three stars, as I do think that Barnett's "crud" comment could be used to justify whole scale book banning (and I am kind of glad that I am not the only one who does not worship at Mac Barnett's altar so to speak).