The bright-burning torch of the national ambassador for young people’s literature has been passed: from the estimable and mischievous Jon Sciezcka to the estimable and mischievous Katherine Paterson, and we couldn’t be more delighted with both parties.
Motoko Rich of the New York Times has written a lovely article about Ms. Paterson, and I don’t want to repeat what has been said there. But I would like to say congratulations and thank you to both ambassadors. The multi-award-winning Mr. Scieszka has been a joyful and lively helmsman at the wheel of national awareness of and appreciation for children’s books (you didn’t realize that the "National Awareness of, & etc." is a ship, did you?). He has made something real, vital, and valuable out of what could have been a merely ornamental role.
To declare Ms. Paterson an ambassador for children’s literature is, of course, a redundancy. She participates in several international conferences on behalf of children’s literature, literacy, and peace. She has won countless awards for her individual works of fiction, and no fewer than 23 awards for her entire body of work, including the prestigious international Hans Christian Andersen Medal for Writing, and Sweden’s Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. The Boston and New York Public Libraries deemed her a Literary Light and a Library Lion, respectively, and she was even declared a Living Legend by the Library of Congress in 2000. 
You’d think a person might rest on her laurels after all that, but no: Ms. Paterson has also been on the board of the National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance since its founding and has served as its Vice President. She continues to travel widely, speaking and listening, writing and advising, learning and teaching.
In short, she is not only a brilliant, wise, and funny writer, but a tireless advocate for children around the globe. She’s also an exceptionally inspiring speaker. Not too shabby. She would be an utterly daunting role model, except that she won’t stand still long enough to be put on a pedestal, and wouldn’t stay there if you succeeded. There couldn’t be a better person to represent children’s books and the interests and concerns of both children and the people who write and create art for them.
I hope you’ll all add your cheers, anecdotes about Jon S or Katherine P, and/or any hopes for what might be achieved in children’s literature over the next few years. Oh, and Happy New Year!!
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Many thanks to the photographers: Photo of Jon Scieszka with his ambassador’s medallion by Michaela McNicholy. Photo of Katherine Paterson in Sweden by Helene Komlos Grill. Living Legend medal image found here.
I was so excited to read about this! Paterson’s books speak to generations with rare depth and meaning. She makes a great and enduring choice.
Brilliant choice for the job: Paterson will speak eloquently for the things children’s literature does best.
There could be no better choice! Paterson is truly a national treasure.
Nothing very personal here, but one time my husband and I showed up to our regularly-scheduled Game Day and found that everyone else had cancelled. So the host took out his newspaper and we looked for other things we could do together, whereupon I spotted a Katherine Paterson reading at our local indy (the Twig/Red Balloon, San Antonio) that I’d completely zoned on! I pointed it and said: “We’re doing that.” They said: “Who?” I said, “Trust me, and we can go whereever you want after that.” We didn’t have to go anywhere else. She read from Bridge to Terebithia and talked and answered questions and signed books. My husband was impressed and our friend was blown away. I knew he would be.