Ambassador Emeritus

Learn more about our past Ambassadors and their missions.

Jason Reynolds

Jason Reynolds (2020-2022)

Jason Reynolds, recipient of a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, an NAACP Image Award, and multiple Coretta Scott King honors, became the 7th National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature on January 13, 2020.

Reynolds’ traveled the country both virtually and in-person during his extended three-year term, connecting with students and communities in rural America to have meaningful discussions with young people. Through his platform, “GRAB THE MIC: Tell Your Story,” Reynolds, who regularly talks about his journey from reluctant reader to award-winning author, redirected his focus as ambassador by listening and empowering students to embrace and share their own personal stories.

View the Library of Congress research guide, featuring resources, videos, bibliographic information, and more.

Read more about his ambassador program, GRAB THE MIC: Tell Your Story.

See Book Resumés for some of Jason’s books, created by United Against Book Bans.

Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woodson (2018-2019)

Jacqueline Woodson, four-time Newbery Honor Medalist, Coretta Scott King Book Award-winner, and National Book Award Winner for her memoir-in-verse, Brown Girl Dreaming, became the 6th National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature on January 9, 2018.

Woodson traveled nationwide over the course of her two-year term discussing her theme, “READING = HOPE x CHANGE (What’s Your Equation?),” which encouraged young people to think about – and beyond – the moment we’re living in, the power they possess, and the impact reading can have on showing them ways in which they can create the hope and the change they want to see in the world.

View the Library of Congress research guide, featuring resources, videos, bibliographic information, and more.

Read more about the esteemed author and illustrator.

Read more about her ambassador’s program, READING = HOPE x CHANGE (What’s Your Equation?).

See Book Resumés for some of Jacqueline’s books, created by United Against Book Bans.

Gene Luen Yang

Gene Luen Yang (2016-2017)

Printz Award winner and two-time National Book Award finalist Gene Luen Yang was appointed the fifth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature in 2016. He is the first-ever graphic novelist to hold the title.

On his official platform, “Reading Without Walls,” Yang says: “Reading breaks down the walls that divide us. By reading, we get to know people outside of our own communities. We gain knowledge others don’t expect us to have. We discover new and surprising passions.”

Yang turned his inspiring program into a popular reading challenge adopted by schools, libraries, and bookstores across the country during the month of April, and throughout the year.

View the Library of Congress research guide, featuring resources, videos, bibliographic information, and more.

Read more about the esteemed author and illustrator here.

Read more about his ambassador’s program, Reading Without Walls, here.

See the Book Resumé for American Born Chinese, created by United Against Book Bans.

Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo (2014-2015)

Kate DiCamillo is the Newbery Award winning author of Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures, The Tale of Despereaux, and numerous other novels for young readers. She was our fourth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

On her National Ambassador platform, “Stories Connect Us,” DiCamillo says: “When we read together, we connect. Together, we see the world. Together, we see each other.”

View the Library of Congress research guide, featuring resources, videos, bibliographic information, and more.

Read more about the beloved writer here.

Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers (2012-2013)

The late children’s book author and diversity champion Walter Dean Myers was the third National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. He was the recipient of five Coretta Scott King Awards and the first Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in young adult literature for his novel Monster. He was our third National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

Myers adopted “Reading is Not Optional” as his platform, sharing the life-changing power of literacy. Myers passed away in 2014, but his work continues to inspire readers of all ages and backgrounds.

View the Library of Congress research guide, featuring resources, videos, bibliographic information, and more.

Read more about the late author and advocate here.

Katherine Paterson

Katherine Paterson (2010-2011)

Katherine Paterson is a two-time winner of the National Book Award (The Great Gilly Hopkins and The Master Puppeteer) and the Newbery Medal (Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved). She was also named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress, in honor of her contributions to both children’s literature and literacy.

As the second National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Paterson took on the platform “Read for Your Life,” highlighting the power of books to enrich one’s life and the wider world.

View the Library of Congress research guide, featuring resources, videos, bibliographic information, and more.

Read more about the acclaimed author here.

Jon Scieszka

Jon Scieszka (2008-2009)

Jon Scieszka is the bestselling author of such titles as The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and The Stinky Cheese Man, for which he received a Caldecott Honor. Scieszka was the first to hold the title of National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

Throughout his term, Scieszka traveled the country empowering kids to choose the books that spark their imagination: “There is no one book that is right for all kids. But there are all kinds of crazy, interesting, and amazing books out there. It’s our job to help kids find that book that will inspire them to want to become readers.”

View the Library of Congress research guide, featuring resources, videos, bibliographic information, and more.

Read more about the celebrated author here.