National Ambassador Mac Barnett's Comments Spark Outrage in Children's Book Community
Mac Barnett, the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, has faced backlash from the children's book community following comments made in his essay collection, 'Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children.' Barnett criticized the quality of children's literature, suggesting that a significant portion of it is subpar. He referenced Theodore Sturgeon's law, implying that 94.7% of children's books are 'crud.' This remark, perceived as dismissive of the efforts of children's authors, was widely shared and criticized on social media. The controversy prompted a petition against Barnett's comments, highlighting concerns about the impact of such statements on marginalized authors. Barnett has since apologized, acknowledging that his words were hurtful and admitting that he was overly hyperbolic in his critique. 
