Jason Reynolds (2020-2022)

Jacqueline Woodson (2018-2019)

Gene Luen Yang (2016–17)

Kate DiCamillo (2014–15)

Walter Dean Myers (2012–13)

Katherine Paterson (2010–11)

Jon Scieszka (2008–9)

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.

The selection, made by the Librarian of Congress, is based on recommendations from an independent committee comprising educators, librarians, booksellers and children’s literature experts.

The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature is an initiative of the Library of Congress, in partnership with Every Child a Reader ad the Children's Book Council, with generous support from Dollar General Literacy Foundation.