Flora & Ulysses author Kate DiCamillo has been named the fourth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. She will serve in this role for the next two years.
As Ambassador, she will travel the country and promote reading under the platform “Stories Connect Us.” DiCamillo, who will be officially inaugurated on January 10th in Washington D.C., succeeds Fallen Angels author Walter Dean Myers. Past ambassadors also include The Stinky Cheese Man & Other Fairly Stupid Tales author Jon Scieszka and Bridge to Terabithia author Katherine Paterson.
Here’s more from the press release: “The selection criteria include the candidate’s contribution to young people’s literature and ability to relate to children. The position 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 initiative was founded by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, the Children’s Book Council (CBC) and Every Child a Reader. The program is administered by Every Child a Reader.”
Editor’s Note: This GalleyCat writer is currently employed at the Children’s Book Council.