Mondays with Mira: Review of Mac Barnett and Adam Rex's Guess Again!

If you are a 21st century children's book lover or creator, a teacher or a parent, chances are you've heard of Mac Barnett. The man is a treasure trove of funny, irreverent, anarchic, reality-and-convention-challenging children's books. Just about anything he writes takes you on a wild ride of childlike wonder and delight by breaking the rules and defying accepted writerly behaviors. As a kid lit teacher, I love sharing his work as examples of wonderful writing that surprises and delights. On the surface these books are mostly just tremendous fun, although that's not to say he isn't tender, especially in books like Extra Yarn, but if you sit with his books, sometimes you start reflecting on what he's actually doing as a writer. From what I can tell, he's not writing stories with deep messages other than encouraging us to question assumptions, expect the unexpected, and make friends with your imagination. And in a way, this is a deeply important message, especially in a society that has come to rely more and more on standardized tests that teach kids that there is only one right answer. Sigh. The last thing we need these days in an increasingly complex society needing independent thinkers more than ever before.

I think Mac B. a bit of a boy genius with books like this one below that play with the concept of prediction where kids yell out what they've been led to believe is coming next. Traditionally prediction has been seen as an important part of literacy learning but here Mac turns it on his head. In another favorite, Chloe and the Lion, he madly breaks all the rules by hijacking the story where the creators become characters in the story and show the collaborative process in the funniest warts and all way becoming a meta narrative about picture book story telling itself and the roles of writer and illustrator. Wow!! Heady. Hilarious.

FYI, Deborah Hopkinson also does this  meta move (story about story making within another story) in another favorite book, Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek, illustrated by the fabulous John Hendrix. So before I sign off with my video review (AKA slight love song to Mac Barnett) I want to acknowledge another super smart guy, Adam Rex, who illustrated both of these books. So here's the review. I hope that you enjoy this work as much as I do. Please I'd love to know if there are any other Mac Barnett fans out there or what you think and share if you think it might be helpful to others :)