What’s the book about?
This book is from the future. In the future, books are very popular. One of the most popular books in the future is called THE FUTURE BOOK, a silly, innovative picture book from two of today’s best picture book creators to read aloud again and again!
You might think you know what the future is like, and what words and phrases we use. But lots of things are different here in the future.
Have you seen the color BLORANGE? You haven’t? And how is it you say ‘goodbye’ again? It’s not ‘YOU SMELL LIKE A BABY?’ Well … that might seem goofy to you, but it’s absolutely normal for us in the future.
We invite you to turn the pages of this book to discover what else has changed in the future, and to see just how certain word combinations lead to a silly narrative that will have you rolling in the aisles of the BOLLY BOLLY HOO HOO.
Recommended for:
Ages 4+
Three reasons to read it:
- The book tells you that it’s from the future, a time when books are extremely popular, and one of the most popular books is called The Future Book. This playful idea makes you feel like you’re holding something important that has traveled back in time. Instead of just telling a story about the future, the book talks to you as if you’re living in the past. This totally flips the usual way stories work, making every page feel interactive.
- The Future Book is a silly, innovative picture book to read aloud again and again. It’s built for sound, rhythm and big reactions. The made-up words and strange future expressions invite readers to exaggerate, pause for laughter and play with tone. Kids can join in too. Because the humor comes from surprising word combinations, you notice new things each time you read it.
- The writing and the illustrations in this book work together to create a full experience. Instead of following a predictable pattern, The Future Book plays with language and the idea of what the future looks and sounds like. When strong writing is paired with imaginative illustration, the result is a book that feels lively and full of personality.
Buy a copy of The Future Book here.
About the author:
Mac Barnett was named the 2025–26 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature by the Library of Congress. He’s the author of more than sixty books for children, including Sam & Dave Dig a Hole, illustrated by Jon Klassen, which won a Caldecott Honor and the E. B. White Read Aloud Award. Mac’s books include the First Cat in Space graphic novels and the picture book A Polar Bear in the Snow, all illustrated by Shawn Harris. He lives in Oakland, California.
Shawn Harris is the author-illustrator of Have You Ever Seen a Flower?, which won a Caldecott Honor, and the Teeny-Weeny Unicorn picture books. Shawn has illustrated many other books for kids, including the Newbery Medal–winning The Eyes & the Impossible by Dave Eggers and a bunch of books by Mac Barnett, as mentioned in the bio above. Shawn lives not far from Mac, in Half Moon Bay, California.
This sounds like such a fun and clever concept! Mac Barnett always has such a unique way of approaching picture books, and the idea of a book literally from the “future” where language and everyday things have changed is brilliant. I love that they’re playing with familiar phrases and turning them on their head – “you smell like a baby” as a goodbye greeting is exactly the kind of absurdist humor that kids (and parents) find hilarious.
The fact that it’s illustrated by Shawn Harris too is exciting – his artistic style seems perfect for bringing this quirky future world to life. Picture books that make kids think while also making them laugh are the best kind, and this seems to fit that perfectly.
I think what I love most is the interactivity of it all – encouraging kids to discover what’s different in this imagined future. It’s the kind of book that could spark some great conversations and maybe even get kids creative about what they think the future might look like. Definitely adding this to our reading list!