CONGRATULATIONS to Walter Dean Myers!

Author Walter Dean Myers
Inaugurated as
Third National Ambassador
for Young People's Literature

In a ceremony held in the Library of Congress' Jefferson Building yesterday, author WALTER DEAN MYERS was inaugurated as our nation's third National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Myers is the recipient of two Newbery Honors, three National Book Award finalists, the Margaret A. Edwards Award, the Michael L. Printz Award, and five Coretta Scott King Awards. His titles include We Are America, Carmen, Looking for the Easy Life, Kick, and Cruisers.

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. For his two-year tenure as Ambassador, Myers has chosen to proclaim the message that "Reading is not optional." 

Students from area schools attended yesterday's ceremony to hear Myers speak and to participate in the inauguration. Following the ceremony and speeches, Myers chatted with students and signed copies of his books for the attendees.

Left to Right: Katherine Paterson, Walter Dean Myers,
and Jon Scieszka.

Myers succeeds Katherine Paterson, who served as Ambassador for the 2010-2011 term, and Jon Scieszka, who served as Ambassador for the 2008-2009 term. 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.

To learn more about Myers and his books, visit his website.

To learn more about the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature program, visit Read.gov.

All photos courtesy of Abby Brack, Library of Congress.