Jessica Winter

The nation’s official advocate for children’s books says most of them are “crud.” But matters of literary quality don’t explain why kids aren’t reading.

Mac Barnett is a best-selling author of children’s books, including a suite of droll, spare picture-book collaborations with the illustrator Jon Klassen, and the whimsical “ First Cat in Space ” series of graphic novels, illustrated by Shawn Harris. Barnett is also the current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, and, last month, he published his first book for adults, titled “

J. D. Vance’s second memoir, “Communion,” tells the story of his decision to become Catholic, but it’s strangely distasteful of the faith he has joined.

Women use A.I. less than men and do more of the cognitive work at home. The A.I. “family assistant” promises to bridge both divides.

The cyclospora outbreak lays bare our underfunded and overwhelmed public-health system.

Shirley Martin had what nowadays we might call a parasocial relationship with John F. Kennedy.

For much of last year, Head Start, the federal program that provides child-care and preschool services for low-income families, appeared to have a doubtful future.

From the daily newsletter: Parents won’t soon forget the great dumpling infiltration of 2026.

Near the start of the year, Lindsay Clancy, the woman at the center of the criminal trial in Massachusetts that has mesmerized many chambers of

From the daily newsletter: Now we wait to find out who the jury was listening to, and what resonated most clearly.