Jon Scieszka First U.S. Kids' Lit Ambassador
by Rhonda Greenaway - Thursday Jan 17 2008 12:00 pm

The New York Times reports that renowned children's book author Jon Scieszka will become the United States' first national ambassador for young people's literature. He will "travel and speak to groups of children, parents and teachers to evangelize the need for reading," according to the Times.

The two-year appointment includes an annual $25,000 stipend.

Scieszka told the Times, "There's a huge population of kids who would be or can be readers but just choose not to. Kids see it just as a school activity or something that just can't compete with a Nintendo Wii or just hanging out and text messaging your friends. Parents and booksellers and teachers are dying for some help."

The Times said the group wanted "someone with charisma, who is comfortable traveling and speaking and who could reach children, parents, educators and speak to a roomful of librarians and then go one-on-one with Jon Stewart on the Daily Show."

Scieszka heads a program aimed at boys called Guys Read.

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