The Important Thing about Margaret Wise Brown, Written by Mac Barnett, Illustrated by Sarah Jacoby

Many of you know the book Good Night Moon. Many of you don't know its author, Margaret Wise Brown. Mac Barnett has made sure that people know the author of some of our most beloved  children's books, and why she is important.

Barnett writes the book in a very conversational style, taking on some of Margaret Wise Brown's unique stylizations. He admits early on that in 42 pages he cannot cover her entire life, so he will cover what is important. He goes on to reveal Brown's love of animals, especially rabbits, and some of her quirky, unpredictable behaviors. Why is this important you ask? They are important, because they help you understand the basis for, and the reason behind her unique, quirky, and groundbreaking children's books. He then goes on to talk about her difficulty in getting them published, recognized and read. He spends several pages talking about Anne Carroll Moore, the children's librarian at the New York City Public Library. Her influence on library purchases across the country was profound. If she didn't like a book, it was not recommended for purchase, and she did not like Margaret Wise Brown's books. At all.

Eventually, Anne Carroll Moore retired, and although Margaret Wise Brown's books were unusual, people liked them, and the word spread. At the end Barnett touchingly explains that every good book will have a reader that doesn't like it. That while a book may be strange and unusual, so is life. Books like this are true, and books that are true are important. Children need important books, and it was important that Margaret Wise Brown wrote books. 

For read alouds, I would introduce and read some of Brown's books first, so children are familiar with the stories, subject and tone of her writing. With younger ones, you'll need to do a lot of explaining and editing. For older kids, especially ones already familiar with her work, the book can lead to discussions about writing, writing style, author's, and the influence of author's lives on their work.

Mark's Book Picks Score: Non-Fiction

Dewey: 921 • Reading Level: 4.2 • Interest Level: K-3 • AR Points: 0.5 • Lexile Level: 620 • Publisher: HarperCollins • Pages: 42 • Copyright: 2019 • ISBN: 978-0-06-239344-9 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding