It's a sort of patronizing idea that literature for children has to feature role models of exemplary behavior. I think not only is that bogus, but it…

- Mac Barnett

Danger is the snack food of a true sleuth.

- Mac Barnett

I think the trick of writing a good picture book manuscript is to leave that space for illustration. An illustrated novel can do the same thing.

- Mac Barnett

Pranking is a great way to indicate the underlying absurdities of the world.

- Mac Barnett

Every Librarian is a highly trained agent. An expert in intelligence, counterintelligence, Boolean searching, and hand-to-hand combat.

- Mac Barnett

I'm not sure we're presenting ourselves as real role models. I don't think literature has ever been a real place for role models.

- Mac Barnett

I love those adult writers with the pranking ethos, [Don] DeLillo and [Donald] Barthelme and David Foster Wallace. I don't see any reason not to brin…

- Mac Barnett

Pranking exposes the truth that underneath this appearance of order is joy, laughter, and disorder.

- Mac Barnett

Too often we tell kids pleasant stories devoid of truth, and stories without truth are not good stories. Our audience deserves more from us.

- Mac Barnett