Katherine Patterson named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

Whoa, how did I not know this? Katherine Patterson got her masters at Union Presbyterian Seminary! Crazy. Selected by the Librarian of Congress to serve in this two-year position, Paterson has chosen “Read for Your Life” as the theme for her platform. In this new role she will carry her message of enthusiasm for books and […]

January 29, 2010; 8:09 AM • by North Richmond News

Whoa, how did I not know this? Katherine Patterson got her masters at Union Presbyterian Seminary! Crazy.

Selected by the Librarian of Congress to serve in this two-year position, Paterson has chosen “Read for Your Life” as the theme for her platform. In this new role she will carry her message of enthusiasm for books and reading to people across the country.

She says about her decision to become a writer:

“It was the late Professor of Christian Education Sara Little who suggested that maybe I should be a writer, but I didn’t want to add another mediocre writer to the world,” explained Paterson. Some years later and after gentle prodding by Little whom Paterson recalls as her “prodding angel,” the young author realized that if she didn’t dare mediocrity, she wouldn’t write anything at all.

Read the whole release after the jump.

About the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

The position of National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature was created to raise national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature as it relates to lifelong literacy, education and the development and betterment of the lives of young people.

The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature is named by the Librarian of Congress for a two-year term, based on recommendations from a selection committee representing many segments of the book community. The selection criteria include the candidate’s contribution to young people’s literature and ability to relate to children.

From read.gov.

Celebrated author Katherine Paterson has a dedicated following of readers and has been recognized with numerous awards throughout her writing career. Now she adds the title of National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature to her list of accolades.

Selected by the Librarian of Congress to serve in this two-year position, Paterson has chosen “Read for Your Life” as the theme for her platform. In this new role she will carry her message of enthusiasm for books and reading to people across the country.

“Read for your life,” Paterson told the audience at the award ceremony at The Library of Congress on Jan. 5. “Read for your life as a member of a family, as a part of a community, as a citizen of this country and a citizen of the world.”

Ms. Paterson, who is perhaps best known for the novel Bridge to Terabithia, earned a masters degree from The Presbyterian School of Christian Education (now Union-PSCE) in Richmond, Va., in 1957. The renowned author claims that if she had never gone to PSCE, she would never have become a writer.

“It was the late Professor of Christian Education Sara Little who suggested that maybe I should be a writer, but I didn’t want to add another mediocre writer to the world,” explained Paterson. Some years later and after gentle prodding by Little whom Paterson recalls as her “prodding angel,” the young author realized that if she didn’t dare mediocrity, she wouldn’t write anything at all.

Paterson has had a prolific career since writing her first book Who Am I in 1966 as a supplemental book of the Covenant Life Curriculum for the PCUS. She has written 39 books and garnered numerous awards for her work.

A two-time winner of the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award, she has also received the Hans Christian Andersen Medal, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, given by her home state of Vermont. Paterson was named a Living Legend by the Library of Congress in 2000.

The post of children’s ambassador was created by the Library of Congress, the Children’s Book Council and the Library of Congress’ Center for the Book to raise national awareness of the importance of young people’s literature. A six-member selection committee chose Paterson based on her contribution to young people’s literature and her ability to relate to children.

“My job is not only to talk to young people about reading but to alert adults, not only parents, but all of us tax payers to the importance of literature for the young,” said Paterson.

Union-PSCE (soon to be Union Presbyterian Seminary) offers graduate degree programs on campuses in Richmond, Va., and Charlotte, N.C., and through the Extended Campus Program, to prepare men and women for Christian ministries. Founded in 1812, it is one of ten theological seminaries of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.