Mac Barnett, who has been named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature by the Library of Congress, is set to appear at the Treehouse Children’s Museum in Ogden on Thursday from 5:30-8 p.m. for an event being dubbed “Behold, The Picture Book! Let’s Celebrate Stories We Can Feel, Hear, and See.” Earlier in the day, he will also address students at New Bridge Elementary School where Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski is set to proclaim “Behold the Picture Book Day” in honor of Barnett’s visit.

Treehouse Museum Executive Director Lynne Goodwin told the Standard-Examiner that the museum is one of only a few places Barnett is visiting on his tour this year.

“We’re one of only five places that he’s visiting this year as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature,” she said. “There were hundreds and hundreds of applications from museums and libraries and schools around the country to have him come. … He’s going to New Bridge Elementary during the day and talking to their students, and then we’re doing a big party here that evening to celebrate, not only his work, but picture books and children’s literature in general.”

She said the visit came about as a result of a partnership with New Bridge Elementary.

“We partnered with New Bridge Elementary School, which is right up the street from us here on 22nd Street, and they wanted to have him come,” she said. “They heard about it before we did and asked if we would be the public component of the application  and we were delighted to do that and work with them. We are the last stop on his tour this year, so we want to make it a really exciting one.”

Goodwin said that the celebration is free for the public to attend, but space is a bit limited.

“The tickets are totally free to come hear him, but because of our space limitations — our theater only seats 140 children and adults at a time — so he’s going to speak twice so that we can get as many people in as have tickets,” she said. “And then we’re doing activities throughout the museum that are tied to one of his books to keep celebrating his work. We’ll be having a book signing with him at the end of the evening. It’s going to be so much fun.”

She noted that this is a huge opportunity for literature fans, both young and old.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for young people, children and people who love children’s literature and want to encourage children to read, to come and hear somebody who’s as passionate about it as we are,” she said. “He just is so interesting to talk to and I’m hoping that the children and adults will come with questions for him. At the end of his talk, he’ll do a few minutes of question and answer, and I think that they will enjoy that part too. I think it’s going to be a really exciting and unusual opportunity to meet somebody who is a not only a best-selling author, but just somebody who really, really cares about encouraging children to read.”

For more information and to get tickets for “Behold, The Picture Book! Let’s Celebrate Stories We Can Feel, Hear, and See,” visit https://www.treehousemuseum.org/events/87/author-party-with-special-guest-mac-barnett.