Katherine Paterson becomes Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

January 05 2010

Former Guild President and highly acclaimed children’s author Katherine Paterson is the new National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.  She follows Jon Scieszka, who has held the position since 2008 when it was created by the Library of Congress, the Children’s Book Council, and the Library of Congress’s Center for the Book to raise national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature.

Katherine’s appointment was announced on January 5 by James H. Billington, librarian of Congress. Scieszka and Paterson will appear together at the Children’s Choice Book Awards ceremony in New York City in May.  She will speak during Children’s Book Week in New York in May and at the National Book Festival in Washington in September.

Katherine has won the Newbery Medal twice (Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved) as well as the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the Hans Christian Anderson and Astrid Lindgren Awards. In 2000, she received the Library of Congress Living Legend Award as a writer who has made a significant contribution to America's diverse cultural, scientific and social heritage.

Katherine Paterson became a member of the Guild in1973.  She served as recording secretary, treasurer, and program chair.  She spoke at several of the Guild’s Book Week Luncheons and served as president of the Guild in 1977. Current Guild president Abby Nolan said, "We are thrilled that one of our longtime members is the new Ambassador. Congratulations to Katherine and to all of the young audiences who will get to meet her during her upcoming term."

Currently Katherine is vice president of the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance.  Her most recent book, The Day of the Pelican, is about a family of refugees from Kosovo who come to live in Vermont – where Katherine now makes her home.

Other resources and articles

Katherine Paterson’s website


Washington Post

New York Times


Publishers Weekly

Reading Rockets video interview


National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance