Kate DiCamillo Named New Ambassador For Young People's Literature

Kate DiCamillo is the author of a number of acclaimed children's books including "Because of Winn-Dixie" and the Newbery Medal-winning "The Tale of Despereaux."

Now she's been named the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. The two-year position was created by the Library of Congress and other groups to promote children's reading.

DiCamillo is also author of the "Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures," which was long listed for the National Book Award.

Back in October, DiCamillo told Here & Now's Meghna Chakrabarti, “I think that I am a 10 or 11-year-old at heart, so it’s never anything I have to do to, to connect to that. It’s just a part of me ... I’m always writing towards the child that I was and that I am — that broken hearted, wondering, hopeful kid”.

Previous ambassadors include Walter Dean Myers and Jon Scieszka. You can hear our 2012 conversation with Myers here, and hear our interview with Scieszka below: