This is a guest post by Deb Fiscella, a public affairs specialist in the Office of Communications.
Mac Barnett, the bestselling author of more than 60 children’s books, including “Twenty Questions,” “Sam & Dave Dig a Hole,” “A Polar Bear in the Snow” as well as the “Mac B., Kid Spy” series, will be inaugurated today as the 2025-2026 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
Barnett has won numerous prizes, including two Caldecott Honors, three New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Awards, three E.B. White Read Aloud Awards, and an International Children’s Literature Award.
“I’m excited for Mac Barnett’s tenure as the National Ambassador,” said Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress. “The way he elevates the picture book with originality and intentionality, making space for young readers to embrace the unknown, is magical.”
Barnett is the ninth author to hold this position; he succeeds Meg Medina, who served as the ambassador from 2023 through 2024.
“It’s a profound honor,” Barnett said. “When I got the news, I was speechless, which is unusual for me. Now I feel energized to proclaim the many glories of children’s literature, with a particular focus on a unique and marvelous way of telling stories: the children’s picture book.”
Barnett began working with children as a high school and college student, and these early experiences inspired a dream of writing for them. He’s known for his deep respect for children – for their intelligence, their emotional acumen and their time and attention.
“Picture books are a beautiful, sophisticated and vibrant art form, the source of some of the most profound reading experiences in children’s (and adults’) lives,” he said.
During his two-year term as ambassador, Barnett will showcase the children’s picture book through his platform, “Behold, The Picture Book! Let’s Celebrate Stories We Can Feel, Hear, and See.” Barnett will explore the ways picture books blend words and illustrations to create a powerful reading experience, one that is often the foundation for a lifetime of reading. Ultimately, Barnett will assert the picture book is a quintessential American art form and deserves its rightful place among the best American literature.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the selection of Mac Barnett as the next ambassador,” said Shaina Birkhead, associate executive director of Every Child a Reader, which partners with the Library in administering the program. “Who better to champion picture books in this national role than someone who has been doing just that their entire career?”
Hayden will formally inaugurate Barnett today at 11 a.m. The program will be livestreamed on the Library’s YouTube page.
For those in the D..C. area, you can meet Barnett in a “Storytime for Grown Ups” event at 6:30 p.m. in the Thomas Jefferson Building. For those further afield, proposals are now being accepted from schools, libraries and community groups to host Barnett this year. The deadline for proposals is March 3.
The National Ambassador position was established in 2008 to raise awareness of the importance of young people’s literature for lifelong literacy and education. The selection, made by the Librarian of Congress, is based on recommendations from a diverse group of children’s literature publishing professionals, as well as an independent committee comprised of educators, librarians, booksellers and children’s literature specialists.
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