Gene Luen Yang Named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

On Monday, the Children’s Book Council in conjunction with the Every Child a Reader, and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress announced that graphic novel creator Gene Luen Yang will be the next National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

Yang is no stranger to breaking barriers in the children’s and YA literature scene. In 2006 he was the first graphic novel creator to win the Printz Award, and he has been a National Book Award Finalist (2 times!) for graphic novels. Though today, graphic novels are practically mainstream in bookstores, libraries, and classrooms, early in Yang’s career it was still a challenge to convince adults that reading graphic novels was reading too. Today, many other mainstream literary awards have been awarded to graphic novels, such as last year’s Newbery honor book, El Deafo, and This One Summer garnered both a Caldecott honor and Printz honor.

The National Ambassador is selected based on the following criteria: his or her contributions to young people’s literature, the ability to relate to kids and teens, and a dedication to fostering children’s literacy as a whole. The selection is based on recommendations from a CBC-ECAR-CFB-appointed committee comprising educators, librarians, booksellers, and children’s literature experts.

Yang is taking the reins over from Kate DiCamillo, who has won multiple Newbery awards and Newbery honors. In addition, this position was held by on Jon Scieszka (2008–2009), Katherine Paterson (2010–2011), and Walter Dean Myers (2012–2013).

The inauguration will take place on Thursday, January 7 at 11 a.m. in room LJ-119 of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington D.C. The event is open to the public; no tickets are required.

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