New National Ambassador Announced!

January 06, 2010

On Tuesday, January 5, Librarian of Congress James Billington announced the appointment of beloved and award-winning author Katherine Paterson as the next National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. 

Paterson, a two-time winner of the National Book Award and Newbery Medal, will hold the post in 2010 and 2011. Her platform, "Read for Your Life," will encourage young readers to read widely to expand their horizons and delight their imaginations. She succeeds the first Ambassador, Jon Scieszka, who was appointed in 2008.

Don't forget to become a fan of Paterson on Facebook to hear updates, see pictures from her travels, and more! 

The National Ambassador initiative is a project of the Children's Book Council, Every Child a Reader, and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Financial support for the National Ambassador program is provided by Penguin Young Readers Group, Scholastic Inc., HarperCollins Children's Books, Random House Children's Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Macmillan Publishers, Holiday House, Charlesbridge, National Geographic Children's Books, Candlewick Press and Marshall Cavendish Publishers.