The new National Ambassador for Young People's Literature is Katherine Paterson, a two-time winner of the Newbery Medal who began her career as a children's writer while living in Takoma Park.
Paterson's best-known book is Bridge to Terebithia, a Newbery Medal-winning book based on the tragic death of a young girl in Takoma Park who was the best friend of Paterson's son David.
Paterson is the second children's author to be chosen for the ambassador's job, which is jointly sponsored by the Library of Congress and the Children's Book Council, a children's publishers' group. Paterson's apppointment was first reported by The New York Times on Monday.
Jon Scieszka, author of the Caldecott Honor-winning book The Stinky Cheese Man, was the first children's writer to hold the two-year position.
Posted by at January 4, 2010 09:26 PM