>In the footsteps of giants

by Roger Sutton
Aug 01, 2009 | Filed in Articles & Opinion
>I'm going to New York next week to help select the new National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and I'm taking names. Here are the criteria:
Author or illustrator of fiction or nonfiction books
U.S. citizen, living in the U.S.
Excellent and facile communicator
Dynamic and engaging personality
Known ability to relate to children; communicates well and regularly with them
Someone who has made a substantial contribution to young people’s literature
Stature; someone who is revered by children and who has earned the respect and admiration of his or her peers
Most important, he or she will have to follow in the big clown-shoe footsteps of Jon Scieszka. Who do we like? Leave your suggestions in the comments.

[Update: Thank you for all the suggestions and discussion. An announcement of the new Ambassador will be forthcoming later in the year. Your comments were very helpful as the committee deliberated.]
Roger Sutton
Roger Sutton

Editor Emeritus Roger Sutton was editor in chief of The Horn Book, Inc., from 1996-2021. He was previously editor of The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books and a children's and young adult librarian. He received his MA in library science from the University of Chicago in 1982 and a BA from Pitzer College in 1978.

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Anonymous

>They are young, have media attention, write poetry, will not have sex until married...thus I
nominate THE JONAS BROTHERS over all others

Lee Bennett Hopkins

Posted : Aug 04, 2009 08:20

Susan Thomsen

>I hereby nominate E.B. Lewis.

Posted : Aug 04, 2009 07:12

Anonymous

>Lisa Yee
Katherine Paterson
MT Anderson (let the man work in his pajamas)
Linda Sue Park

Posted : Aug 04, 2009 06:36

Anonymous

>It really is interesting how many male writers are being suggested, when the field is dominated by women. I wonder if more men write humor or seem "fun" in public . . . you know, like how Dad is always more fun than Mom.

Posted : Aug 04, 2009 05:01

Anonymous

>I voted for Gore, I voted for Kerry, and I voted for Obama, but I dislike the cheap shots at Laura Bush, Anon 11:28. She started something great with the annual Texas Book Festival, going strong since 1996, open to all political stripes, and I think her motives sincere, no matter what I think of her husband's legacy.

Posted : Aug 04, 2009 04:39

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