Bianca with Mac Barnett and Christian Robinson

The Children's Book Review: Growing Readers Podcast

In this episode, we have a seat at the cool kids' table as award-winning picture book creators Mac Barnett and Christian Robinson talk about their fun and enjoyably profound collaboration, Twenty Questions.

Mac Barnett is the author of many beloved picture books for children, including Just Because, illustrated by Isabelle Arsenault; A Polar Bear in the Snow, illustrated by Shawn Harris; John’s Turn, illustrated by Kate Berube; and President Taft Is Stuck in the Bath, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen. He is also the author of several books illustrated by Jon Klassen, including Sam and Dave Dig a Hole, a Caldecott Honor Book and E. B. White Read-Aloud Awardwinner; the shape trilogy; and The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse, an E. B. White Read-Aloud Awardwinner. Mac Barnett lives in California.
Christian Robinson is the best-selling illustrator of several books for children, including Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, which was named a Caldecott Honor Book and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book; Leo: A Ghost Story by Mac Barnett; Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell, a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book; The Bench by Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex; and Nina: A Story of Nina Simone by Traci N. Todd, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book. Christian Robinson lives in California.

Transcription:

You can read the transcription on The Children's Book Review.

Order copies:

Twenty Questions on Bookshop.org and Amazon.

Resources:

Learn more about Mac Barnett here: https://www.macbarnett.com/.

Learn more about Christian Robinson here: https://www.theartoffun.com/.

Discussion Topics:

• Things that guide and drive Mac Barnett and Christian Robinson to write books for kids.
• Childhood books that inspire[d] them and influences their work.
• Their day-to-day practices that may surprise you.
• The seed of inspiration for Twenty Questions.
• The illustrations of Christian Robinson and creating the artwork.
• Taking straightforward concepts and turning them into something profound—the secret sauce of creating picture books.
• Collaborating between author and illustrator.
• Mac and Christian share their favorite parts of the book.
• The impact they hope Twenty Questions will have on readers.

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