National Ambassador for Young People's Literature facts for kids
The National Ambassador for Young People's Literature is a special honor given to an author or illustrator in the United States. This person must be a U.S. citizen. They also need to have written or drawn many great books for young people. The Library of Congress gives out this honor every two years.
This important role started in 2008. It's more than just getting an award. The Ambassador helps kids get excited about reading and books. They visit schools and libraries across the country. Because of this, the person chosen must be good at talking to kids. They also need a fun personality and enjoy working with young people.
This position is similar to the British Children's Laureate. That role began in 1999. The National Ambassador program gets support from the Center for the Book and the Children's Book Council. The Ambassador also receives $15,000 to help with their travel and work expenses. A similar honor is given every two years by the Poetry Foundation. This is called the Young People's Poet Laureate.
Meet the Ambassadors
Here is a list of the amazing authors who have held this special role:
- 2008–2009: Jon Scieszka
- 2010–2011: Katherine Paterson
- 2012–2013: Walter Dean Myers
- 2014–2015: Kate DiCamillo
- 2016–2017: Gene Luen Yang
- 2018-2019: Jacqueline Woodson
- 2020-2022: Jason Reynolds
- 2023-2024: Meg Medina
