Kate DiCamillo Named Youth Literature Ambassador

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Kate DiCamillo, the best-selling author of "Because of Winn-Dixie" and "The Tale of Despereaux," is taking on a new role to promote youth literature and reading nationwide.

The Library of Congress named DiCamillo the new national ambassador for young people's literature Thursday. The Minneapolis-based writer succeeds Water Dean Myers and will serve through 2015. An inauguration ceremony is planned for Jan. 10.

In announcing the appointment, Librarian of Congress James Billington says DiCamillo is one of the nation's finest writers for young people and a strong advocate for the importance of reading.

The post was created in 2008 to raise awareness of the importance of young people's literature as it relates to lifelong literacy and education. The ambassadors appear at events across the country with young people.