Social-media-savvy Cindy saw this fantastic message pop up earlier today, first on Katherine Paterson's Facebook page, then Kate DiCamillo's, Meg Medina's, and on. All past, living (RIP Walter Dean Myers 2012–2013) National Ambassadors for Young People’s Literature have signed and released this letter in support of the recently dismissed Dr. Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress. Children's literature enthusiasts (including Librarians with Superpowers): keep making your voices heard!

We, the former National Ambassadors of Young People’s Literature, are united in our strong opposition to the recent removal of Dr. Carla Hayden as the Librarian of Congress.

As advocates for the reading lives of children and their families, we believe in promoting libraries as places for young people to learn, grow, and connect. Through Dr. Hayden’s innovative leadership, the Library — a research institution with the largest holdings in the world — served as a national model of how all libraries could engage a new generation. Her wisdom and vision, along with her unfailing ability to work impartially with all constituents, are unparalleled.

Dr. Hayden’s dismissal is deeply disturbing and should alarm all Americans. We urge everyone who values our libraries and our foundational principles to contact their leaders in Congress now.

Jon Scieszka 2008–2009
[Read more from the Horn Book by and about the inaugural National Ambassador, Jon Scieszka]

Katherine Paterson 2010–2011
[Read more from the Horn Book by and about Katherine Paterson, including then-committee-member Roger Sutton's 2010 interview with the "Ambassador in Waiting"]

Kate DiCamillo 2014–2015
[Read more from the Horn Book by and about Kate DiCamillo, including 2015 interview as outgoing National Ambassador]

Gene Luen Yang 2016–2017
[Read more from the Horn Book by and about Gene Luen Yang, including 2017 interview about Reading Without Walls]

Jacqueline Woodson 2018–2019
[Read more from the Horn Book by and about Jacqueline Woodson, including 2018 Children's Literature Legacy Award speech and interview about her 2020 MacArthur Fellowship]

Jason Reynolds 2020–2022
[Read more from the Horn Book by and about Jason Reynolds, including 2021 Zena Sutherland Lecture while National Ambassador]

Meg Medina 2023–2024
[Read more from the Horn Book by and about Meg Medina, including her 2024 Zena Sutherland Lecture about being outgoing National Ambassador]