2008 -- Two Ambassadors

Jon Scieska was the absolute best, perfect, appropriate, inspired pick for the role as our first Ambassador of Children's Literature.

His visit to Houston in 2008 at Blue Willow Bookshop was an event officiated by a Cub Scout color guard, a brass fanfare and a red carpet.

I had never met an ambassador before. I attempted to get into a session with him at TLA once but the crowd was so large that the fire marshall closed the room before I got there.

I told him how much I had enjoyed his reports from the embassy, especially when his diplomatic intervention had been required to help Mo Willems with Knuffle Bunny 3.















Earlier, in 2008 Houston was graced with a visit by Katherine Paterson who came to speak at the Cool Brains InPrint series.

I know during her time as Ambassador she will be doing a lot of talking, like above, but, I will remember the joy on her face as she met with the children there that day. Her face was shining!

We are so happy about your appointment, Madame Ambassador.

National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

Make sure you've seen this article (by Jon Scieszka) about our hard working National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature's efforts on behalf of this nation during his visit to Washington D.C.

...Scieszka received his official Ambassador medal, and answered some hard-hitting questions from a class of local fifth-graders from Brent Elementary School.

“Where do you get your ideas?”

“Is it fun being an author?"

“Do you see Scholastic book orders as more of a bailout program or a rescue strategy to prop up sub-prime post-Harry Potter investments?”

More reading in case you missed his diplomatic efforts on behalf of Mo Willems earlier this year.
Scieszka is coming to town in the very near future. Must go.

BookMoot update

Here in the entwood, home improvements have consumed our every waking moment (along with the unsuccessful hunt for bridesmaids dresses that don't look like like beach wear since the wedding of the year is in January and even in Texas it gets c o l d in January.)

Barely have I had time for thoughtful introspection on my favorite topic, kidlit, except to expound (...hey, she asked...) to a young friend, just graduated from high school, who is reading The Secret Garden for the first time, and didn't see why the book rates "classic" status.

But...this morning I almost choked on my morning java reading this tremendously funny account of a day in the life of our esteemed National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature. His report on his diplomatic efforts on behalf of Mo Willems fully demonstrates why he is such an exemplary choice for this exalted title.

Outstanding opening line:

Got an emergency call at the embassy last week.
Kid Lit Code Red.
Author Mo Willems was in trouble. Big trouble

Quick, go click, you must read it.

Perfect!

Jon Scieszka has been named the first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.

Great article in the New York Times profiling Scieszka and his new role.

Update: NPR Interview with Jon Scieszka