NEWS

This Blog has Moved

2011-05-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

Followers of this blog should know that Mac Barnett news can now be found here.

BEA

2011-05-10T11:33:00.000-07:00

Mac will be at Book Expo America this year, at the Javetts Center in New York City, signing Mustache, illustrated by Kevin Cornell, and drawing mustaches on the faces of anybody who wants one. Here's his schedule:

5/24
11:oo am: Guys Read Panel with Jon Scieszka, Eoin Colfer, Matt de la Peña, and Jarrett Krosoczka.
1:00 Signing and mustaching at the signing area

THE GOODS

2011-02-22T21:37:00.000-08:00

The Nieman Journalism Lab interviewed me about The Goods, a syndicated kids' section I'm editing. The Goods will appear weekly in newspapers across the country, and will feature original content from some of the best children's writers and illustrators around. If you want to make sure you're getting The Goods, write your local paper and ask them to carry it.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

2010-10-25T23:15:00.000-07:00

Right now I am trying to think of a title for the next Brixton Brothers book. Here are some possibilities:

Mockingflock
The Mockingjays
Bird Wearing a Mock Turtleneck
Jay Wearing a Mock Turtleneck
Mimus dorsalis

Vote on your favorite! Actually I don't know how to set up one of those voting things and this joke doesn't seem good enough to justify learning. So maybe just read The Ghostwriter Secret!

TWO STARRED REVIEWS FOR GUYS READ: FUNNY BUSINESS

2010-10-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

Publishers Weekly calls Guys Read: Funny Business "stellar" and Booklist says it's a "must-have." But why take their word for it when you can check out these guys, who made this video immediately after finishing the book?

THE GHOSTWRITER TOUR

2010-10-07T23:31:00.000-07:00

Mac is heading out on the road to read and sign The Ghostwriter Secret. Catch him in Portland, Seattle, or the Bay Area.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9: WORDSTOCK, PORTLAND, OR.

2:00 PM
Reading at the Target Children's Stage
Oregon Convention Center

5:00 PM
Panel: "Writing for Children," with Renee Watson and Mark Williams, moderated by Dana Plautz
Target Children's Stage
Oregon Convention Center
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13: SEATTLE, WA

7:00 PM
Reading at Barnes & Noble
2675 NE University Village Street

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14: SEATTLE, WA

Reading at the Greenwood Space Travel Supply Co./826 Seattle
8414 Greenwood Ave North

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19: PETALUMA, CA
4:00PM
Reading at Copperfield's
140 Kentucky St

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10: CORTE MADERA, CA
10:00AM
Book Passage in-store event
51 Tamal Vista Blvd

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16
7:00PM
Reading at Kepler's
1010 El Camino Real

THE GHOSTWRITER SECRET

2010-10-07T00:48:00.000-07:00

In the latest Brixton Brothers adventure (out now!) Steve Brixton sets out to rescue his favorite writer from a gang of kidnappers. There's a review from Wired's GeekDad here. Ace!

GUYS READ: FUNNY BUSINESS

2010-09-21T19:19:00.000-07:00

Today marks the release of Guys Read: Funny Business, book one of the Guys Read Collection, and it's full of good stories by Eoin Colfer, Christopher Paul Curtis, Kate DiCamillo, Paul Feig, Jack Gantos, Jeff Kinney, David Lubar, Jon Scieszka, and David Yoo. And also Mac Barnett: his story is called "Best of Friends" and is accompanied by this fantastic illustration by Adam Rex:

Grab a copy. We think you'll like it!

EYEWITNESS REPORTS

2010-08-26T00:21:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the book Oh No! or How My Science Project Destroyed the World, Dan Santat has organized an online auction of thirty-seven pieces of original art by some of the best illustrators around. Artists created their own interpretations of the book's events: it's a great chance to pick up a fantastic picture of a rampaging robot, giant toad, and other mayhem. The proceeds benefit 826LA, a nonprofit center that gives kids free tutoring and help with their writing. Please, go bid! (image by Chris Appelhans)

Bookie Woogie Review

2010-06-28T21:07:00.000-07:00

"Hypnotized Puppies Dressed as Robots," by Lily

The gang at Bookie Woogie (Isaac, Grace, Lily, and, of course, Dad) have posted a review of Macaroni Barnett and Dan Sanitizer's latest, Oh No: Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World. (There's more great art over there, too.)

Book Passage Children's Writers & Illustrators Conference

2010-06-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

Terrific Bay Area bookstore Book Passage is hosting its Children's Writers & Illustrators Conference in July, and Mac is on this year's faculty. What is the Children's Writers & Illustrators Conference? Well:

The conference will cover all aspects of writing and illustrating for children—from developing ideas to honing skills to finding a publisher. Students will work closely with other writers and illustrators, as well as with agents, editors, and publishers. The conference is designed to meet the differing needs of those who create for different age groups. Students will choose an area of emphasis for the morning sessions, such as writing for picture books, early readers, young adult books or illustration, and then work with a teacher in a workshop setting. In the afternoon, students choose from panels of common interest, such as working with editors, working with agents, marketing and promotion. There will be many opportunities for faculty and students to talk, laugh, and exchange ideas in classes, lunches, and evening events.

Sign up here.

CLOCK WITHOUT A FACE ON NPR'S WEEKEND EDITION

2010-06-12T09:28:00.000-07:00

Click here to listen to Mac Barnett and Eli Horowitz talk about The Clock without a Face on Weekend Edition Saturday with Scott Simon. You'll also hear Christina Wagner, who had her dad drive her across state lines to dig up one of the book's buried treasures.

Two Starred Reviews for OH NO!

2010-05-29T17:03:00.001-07:00

KIRKUS REVIEWS - STARRED: Santat’s brilliantly hued digital illustrations are the perfect foil for Barnett’s almost-wordless tale of a science project gone awry. When the bespectacled heroine surveys the post-apocalyptic opening scene, the speech bubbles tell the tale—“Oh no…oh man…I knew it.” Like a 1950s B-movie, complete with the widescreen boundaries, the drama of her prize-winning robot stalking New York is one part cautionary tale and many parts over-the-top humor. When she screams, “HEY, ROBOT! KNOCK IT OFF ALREADY!” the page turn shows her shaky, understated realization, “I should have given it ears.” In a world where technology progresses rapidly and consequences are often not anticipated, this lesson in “I should have” is subtle, never preachy and always action-packed. Comic-book, picture-book and movie styles come together in a well-designed package that includes a movie poster on the reverse side of the jacket, an old-time computation book as the inside cover and detailed scientific drawings on the endpapers. The Japanese subtitles and translations on the pages before the title add to the fun. The only thing missing are the 3-D glasses! A must-have.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - STARRED
Santat and Barnett collaborate seamlessly on this slapstick adventure about a pigtailed, bespectacled science fair entrant trying unsuccessfully to control her prize-winning robot. "I probably shouldn't have given it a superclaw, or a laser eye, or the power to control dogs' minds," she sighs as she watches the metallic monster storm across her city. Barnett's (Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem) telegraphic text packs wicked humor into economical, comic book-style lines, while Santat's (Always Lots of Heinies at the Zoo) skylines pay homage to old monster movies. In one scene, the robot looms Godzilla-like, railroad car in hand, over an urban Japantown; another sequence is viewed through its fish-eye lens, with crosshairs trained on its creator. When the robot reacts with fury to the girl's futile attempts to stop it ("I should have given it ears," she laments), the girl and text become blurred, testimony to the impact of its stomps. Blueprints for the robot and the genetically altered toad she deploys to defeat it are included on the endpapers, but, kids, don't try this at home!

Fuse #8 Interview

2010-05-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

Click here to read an interview with Mac on Fuse #8.

The Joke

2010-05-16T22:41:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy this video of eleven writers telling one joke. Guys Read: Funny Business comes out in the fall.

National Bookmobile Day

2010-04-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, April 14, is National Bookmobile Day, and to celebrate Mac will be at the San Francisco Main Library, reading aboard Tom Corwin's bookmobile (which is not the bookmobile pictured). Tom is working on a documentary called Behind the Wheel of the Bookmobile, which follows a classic bookmobile across the country, with writers taking turns behind the wheel. The events kick off at 12:30 at the library's Fulton Street entrance.

THE TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS

2010-03-08T17:57:00.000-08:00

Mac is spending this weekend at the Tucson Festival of Books, on the University of Arizona campus. Here's where you can find him:

Saturday, 13 March 2010
10:3o-11:00: Reading at the Teen Author Lounge.

11:30-12:30: Teaching this workshop: Zombie Westerns & Sci-Fi Fairy Tales: A Genre Mash-Up Writing Workshop (Ages 9-12); at the College of Education Rm. 351. Autographing afterward.

2:00-2:45: Autographing at the Kids Center/Simon & Schuster booth.

4:00-5:00: Talking with fellow panelists Jon Scieszka, Adam Rex, and Chris Gall at the College of Education, Kiva. Autographing afterward.

6:00-8:00: Napping in the passenger seat of Adam Rex's car.

Guess Again! in TIME, The New Yorker, Indie Bound

2009-12-09T14:28:00.000-08:00

TIME Magazine just named Guess Again! the #2 children's book of the year! And this is a little older, but the New Yorker's book bench has a great review, too. Plus it's on the IndieBound Kids Next List. All right!

THE REAR END

2009-12-09T13:43:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, McSweeney's released its thirty-third issue, which took the form of a one-time-only newspaper called the San Francisco Panorama. The paper explores some bold possibilities and forgotten potentials of print. It's full of great stuff--Stephen King on sports, David Chang on ramen, comics by Chris Ware, Daniel Clowes, and Adrian Tomine--and a children's games page, called the Rear End, edited by me. I asked some of my favorite writers and illustrators--Jon Scieszka, Adam Rex, Carson Ellis, Jon Klassen, Kevin Cornell, Jenny Traig, and Jon Adams--to re-imagine the kiddie pages, and the result is both beautiful and fun:

You can order a copy here. And if you want to watch a video about the Panorama that features me as a shouting newsie in a bubblegoose, check this out. (For some reason it's embedded in an unrelated article about charity biking.)

TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED!

2009-09-23T17:29:00.001-07:00

Mac is hitting the road for the Guys with Books Tour, making stops around the country, usually with some, and often all, of the following friends: Adam Rex, Jon Scieszka, and David Shannon. You can find video and writing from the road here. Check it out:

26 September 2009

Riverside, CA
The Mission Inn Book Conference
with Adam

28 September 2009

6:30PM
Laughing Loudly For Literacy
Crescenta Valley High School Auditorium (entrance on Ramsdale)
2900 Community Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
with Adam, Jon, and David

29 September 2009

10:30AM
Borders
9301 Tampa Avenue
Northridge, CA 91324
with Adam, Jon, and David

7:00PM
Borders
125 West Thousand Oaks Blvd.
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
with Adam, Jon, and David

30 September 2009

6:00PM
Barnes & Noble
6050 El Cerrito Plaza
El Cerrito, CA 94530
with Adam and Jon

2 October 2009

6:00PM
Copperfield’s Bookstore
140 Kentucky Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
with Adam

4 October 2009

1:00PM
Leroy Haynes Center (sales through Mrs. Nelson’s Bookstore)
233 Baseline Road
La Verne, CA 91750
with Adam, Jon, and David

5:00PM
Warwick's
7812 Girard Avenue
La Jolla, CA 92037
with Adam, Jon, and David

6 October 2009

10:00AM
Office Max Day/ A Day Made Better donation
Location: 1844 South 40th Street
San Diego, CA 92113
with Adam, Jon, and David

8 October 2009

7:00PM
Changing Hands Bookstore
6428 South McClintock
Tempe, AZ 85283
with Adam

9 October 2009

6:00PM
Barnes & Noble
21001 N. Tatum Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85050
with Adam

10 October 2009

10:00 AM
University of Arizona WALK (Wildcats Advocating Reading and Literacy)
with Adam

2:00 PM
Borders
5870 East Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85711
with Adam

14 October 2009

4:30PM
RJ Julia
768 Boston Post Road
Madison, CT 06443
all by himself

15 October 2009

4:30PM
Books and Greetings
271 Livingston Street
Northvale,NJ
with Jon

16 October 2009

10:30AM and 11:30AM
Barnes & Noble Huntington
380 Walt Whitman Road
Huntington Station, NY 11746
with Jon

17 October 2009

Noon
Books of Wonder
18 West 18th Street
New York, NY
with Jon and Lane Smith, Art Spiegelman, and Francoise Mouly

18 October 2009

4:00PM
POWERHOUSE ARENA
37 Main Street
Brooklyn, NY
with Jon

19 October 2009

10:00AM
Book Passage
51 Tamal Vista Blvd
Corte Madera, CA 94925

31 October 2009

Austin Book Festival
Austin, TX
with Jon

The Blue Whale and the Gray Lady

2009-08-14T22:32:00.001-07:00

There's a great little write-up of Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem in this Sunday's New York Times. You can read it here, but the print edition comes with a piece of Adam Rex art, perfect for clipping, plus a crossword puzzle.

Also, a reminder for those in the Bay Area: Mac will be reading and signing Billy Twitters on Sunday, August 16, at a Great Good Place for Books in Oakland at 11:00 AM. Pick up a Times, come on over, and maybe Mac can give you an answer or two for the crossword.

Behind the Scenes at 7-Imp

2009-07-27T11:36:00.000-07:00

Adam and Mac discuss Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem on the always terrific blog Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast. There's background on their writing and illustration processes, plus lots of Adam's art and sketches for the book.

Readings and signings in August

2009-07-23T14:12:00.000-07:00

If you live in or near the Bay Area, you should come see Mac read Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem. He'll sign your book, too.

16 August 2009 at 11:00 AM: A Great Good Place for Books, 6120 LaSalle Avenue, Oakland, CA, 94611 (map)

29 August 2009 at Mrs. Dalloway's at 4:oo PM: Mrs. Dalloway's, 2904 College Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94705 (map)

If everything goes according to plan, Mac will be bringing a real blue whale with him to both these events!

A Boy and His Whale

2009-07-23T13:03:00.000-07:00

Mac's first picture book, illustrated by Mr. Adam Rex, is out now. It's the story of a boy's worst friend: the blue whale. Kirkus, in a starred review, calls it "definitely funny and slyly subversive." You can go buy it at your local bookstore, or order it online by clicking here.