Yang succeeds beloved and esteemed authors Jon Scieszka (2008–2009), Katherine Paterson (2010–2011), Walter Dean Myers (2012–2013), and Kate DiCamillo (2014–2015) in the position. Gene Luen Yang is the first-ever graphic novelist to be named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.

The National Ambassador is selected for: 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.

The members of the selection committee for the 2016–2017 ambassadorship were:

●     Betsy Bird, Collection Development Manager of Evanston Public Library

●     Shelley M. Diaz, Senior Editor, Reviews at School Library Journal

●     Kate DiCamillo, Newbery Medal–winning author, National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, 2014-15

●     Jonathan Hunt, Coordinator of Library Media Services at the San Diego County Office of Education

●     Kimberly L. Jones, Store Manager at Little Shop of Stories, Decatur, GA

●     Deborah Taylor, Coordinator of School and Student Services at Enoch Pratt Free Library

●     Lisa Von Drasek, Curator of the Children’s Literature Research Collections at University of Minnesota Libraries

The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature program is administered by Every Child a Reader. Financial support for the National Ambassador Program in 2016 is provided by HarperCollins Children’s Books, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Penguin Young Readers Group, Random House Children’s Books, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, and the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation. 

For more information about the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, visit read.gov/cfb/ambassador