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 — the CBC foundation — 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. On Jan. 5, 2010, Katherine Paterson became the second National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
Selection Criteria
- Author or illustrator of fiction or nonfiction books
- U.S. citizen, living in the United States
- Excellent and facile communicator
- Dynamic and engaging personality
- Known ability to relate to children; 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 his or her peers
National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Selection Committee 2010-2011
Rita Auerbach is chairperson of the ALA 2007 Notables committee (ALSC) and a retired school librarian.
Betty Carter is professor emerita in the School of Library and Information Studies at Texas Woman’s University. An avid reader of young adult books growing up in Raleigh, N.C., Carter has maintained that commitment to young adult literature during her many years of service as a board member of the Young Adult Library Services Association (a division of the American Library Association) and author of “Best Books for Young Adults.”
Diane Roback is the longtime children’s book editor of Publishers Weekly. Before coming to PW, she was children’s review editor of Kirkus Reviews, and before that was assistant manager of Robin’s Book Store in Philadelphia. She is in charge of all children’s book coverage in PW. In 2005 she started the weekly Children’s Bookshelf e-newsletter, which currently has 20,000 subscribers. She is past president of the New York chapter of the Women’s National Book Association.
Jon Scieszka is the author of several best-selling children’s titles, including “The Stinky Cheese Man,” which won a Caldecott Honor medal, “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” and the “Time Warp Trio,” a chapter book series, as well as the more recent “Trucktown” series and the autobiographical “Knucklehead.” Scieszka is the founder of Guys Read , a nonprofit literacy organization. He is the 2008-2009 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature and the first person to hold the title.
Angela K. Sherrill is the children’s book coordinator at 57th Street Books in Hyde Park, Chicago. She endeavors to create an environment where the literary opinions of children are valued, used and shared. Her passion is fostering strong connections between children’s books and readers of all ages through unique marketing, engaging activities and the trusted relationships only an independent bookseller can provide.
Roger Sutton has been editor-in-chief of The Horn Book Inc. since 1996, which was “founded in 1924 to herald the best in children’s literature”; previously he was editor of The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books and a children’s and young adult librarian.