Jon Scieszka

Surveys show a decline in children's reading - particularly for pleasure - in the United States and this has publishers, educators, librarians and even the U.S. government concerned. In an effort to motivate kids and get them excited about reading, a first-ever National Ambassador for Young People's Literature was appointed Thursday. From VOA's New York Bureau, Mona Ghuneim reports.

Jon Scieszka, previously an elementary school teacher and now a bestselling children's book author with over 25 titles, has been given a title of his own. For the next two years, he will be the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. The U.S. Library of Congress and the Children's Book Council, a nonprofit trade association for children's book publishers, recently created the position to help promote literacy and the joy of reading in young people.

Read the entire article at Voice of America News . . .