December is an exciting month. Children of all ages are getting ready for the holidays and a break from school and classes. (I know my son is in countdown mode.)

It also signals the end of a year and the start of a new one.

And (drum roll!) on January 5, a newly appointed National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature will begin his or her term. The announcement will be made at the Library of Congress. Jon Scieszka will end his highly successful term as the first ever U.S. ambassador.

As far as I’m concerned, every adult should be an ambassador for books for young people — especially at this time of year.

After all, it is the season of giving, so why not give stories? They come in lots of forms, can be factual or fictional, are found in books — and lots of them are available in audio. They can be read, told, or listened to together. Most important, these are the gifts that keep giving long after the holiday has passed.

Holidays are made of memories. Memories are made of stories. So share a story; make a memory. Reading Rockets has some book suggestions to get you started.

And stay tuned to find out who will be our next National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature!

About the Author

Maria Salvadore is Reading Rockets’ consultant for children’s literature and literacy. Maria curates our themed booklists and writes the blog, Page by Page, which explores the best ways to use kids’ books both inside and outside of the classroom. She leads parent workshops for Ready To Learn (RTL) at WETA Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C. She has also taught children’s literature at the University of Maryland, reviewed books for School Library Journal, and has served on various book award committees, including the Boston Globe/Horn Book Awards, Golden Kite, and the Caldecott Committee.

Publication Date
December 4, 2009
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