Make Believe

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER 'A magnificent piece of writing - funny and sharp and true. Every adult should read it, whether or not they have a child. I loved it.' - Katherine Rundell Make Believe is a book for adults about books for children, a rallying cry for art and imagination, and a celebration of the power of storytelling in all our lives. Mac Barnett, the beloved, bestselling children's author and U.S. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, urges us to think expansively about the potential of children's books-and the particular brilliance of young readers: What if children are a great audience for art? What if they are in fact better equipped to engage deeply with stories than adults? What if humans' ability to appreciate art is, if not innate, awakened early in childhood? Well, then we'd better do our best to make some good kids' books. Barnett has published more than 60 children's books, which have been translated into 30+ languages and have sold more than 5 million copies worldwide, winning many international prizes along the way. Make Believe is his incisive, intimate, and timely invitation to approach children's literature not only as an art form worthy of deep study and criticism, but as a portal into the lives of the children. And at a time when we are faced with a national literacy crisis, he champions the profound joys of literature and the importance of reading for pleasure. Written with humor and academic rigor, Make Believe reads like a letter from one's smartest and funniest friend.

An exquisite poetry collection from the creator of The Daily Victorian that celebrates the hidden versions of ourselves, and unveils the healing power of nostalgia, imagination, and hope "This is for anyone who doesn't see deep feeling as a bad thing but would appreciate a warm and talented companion while they do it."--Mari Andrew, New York Times bestselling author of Am I There Yet? Maybe you're not old enough yet to believe in fairy tales again. But you can take a walk with optimism. You can hear her out when she tells you the universe is conspiring in your favor, and can keep your eyes peeled for signs that she's right. Victoria Hutchins's debut Make Believe is a reclamation of wonder and an invitation to return to childlike joy, wielding nostalgia and memory as lenses to imagine a fuller life. These poems pave a path of reconnection to our bodies, our past, our desires, and our wonder--beckoning readers to discover a world worth holding on to. Make Believe is for anyone who wants to take back the narrative of their life, whose body often feels like an enemy to their soul, or who might be struggling to stick around. This book will inspire readers to go out looking, heart in hand, for joy, purpose, and healing. With Hutchins's trademark sensory and evocative language throughout, Make Believe contains both viral spoken-word pieces and never-before-shared writing. Ultimately pointing readers toward transformation, Hutchins invites you to imagine: What would happen if you allowed yourself to believe again--in dreams and miracles, but mostly in yourself?

An exquisite poetry collection from the creator of The Daily Victorian that celebrates the hidden versions of ourselves, and unveils the healing power of nostalgia, imagination, and hope "This is for anyone who doesn't see deep feeling as a bad thing but would appreciate a warm and talented companion while they do it."--Mari Andrew, New York Times bestselling author of Am I There Yet? Maybe you're not old enough yet to believe in fairy tales again. But you can take a walk with optimism. You can hear her out when she tells you the universe is conspiring in your favor, and can keep your eyes peeled for signs that she's right. Victoria Hutchins's debut Make Believe is a reclamation of wonder and an invitation to return to childlike joy, wielding nostalgia and memory as lenses to imagine a fuller life. These poems pave a path of reconnection to our bodies, our past, our desires, and our wonder--beckoning readers to discover a world worth holding on to. Make Believe is for anyone who wants to take back the narrative of their life, whose body often feels like an enemy to their soul, or who might be struggling to stick around. This book will inspire readers to go out looking, heart in hand, for joy, purpose, and healing. With Hutchins's trademark sensory and evocative language throughout, Make Believe contains both viral spoken-word pieces and never-before-shared writing. Ultimately pointing readers toward transformation, Hutchins invites you to imagine: What would happen if you allowed yourself to believe again--in dreams and miracles, but mostly in yourself?