Save the Date: National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

The fourth National Ambassador for Young People's Literature will be announced on January 2, 2014. Not only am I a HUGE fan of the National Ambassador program, I am a member of the selection committee. I cannot wait for the announcement. I've been dreaming about it since August.  

Yay! Yay! Yay!  Save the date! 

The position of National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature was created to raise national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education and the development and betterment of the lives of young people.

The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature is named by the Librarian of Congress for a two-year term, based on recommendations from a selection committee representing many segments of the book community. The selection criteria include the candidate’s contribution to young people’s literature and ability to relate to children.

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress; the Children's Book Council (CBC); and Every Child a Reader (ECAR), a 501 (c)(3) literacy organization dedicated to instilling a lifelong love of reading in children, are the sponsors of the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature initiative.

The National Ambassador program was established in 2008 with the naming of Jon Scieszka for the 2008-2009 term. In January 2010, Katherine Paterson became the second National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. The third Ambassador is Walter Dean Myers, who assumed the position in January 2012.

Selection Criteria

• Author or illustrator offiction or nonfiction books
• U.S. citizen, living in the United States
• Excellent and facile communicator
• Dynamic and engaging personality
• Known ability to relate tochildren; communicates well and regularly with them
• Someone who has made a substantial contribution to young people’s literature
• Stature; someone who is revered by children and who has earned the respect and admiration of hisor her peers

Information taken from here.