DiCamillo Named National Summer Reading Champion

Shelf Awareness

Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo, the two-time Newbery-winning author of Flora & Ulysses and The Tale of Despereaux, who's currently serving as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, has been named National Summer Reading Champion, a newly created position with the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP).

"We are overjoyed to have Kate join us as our first ever National Summer Reading Champion," said Karen Yother, CSLP president, in a statement yesterday. "Her dedication to lifelong learning through literacy from childhood to adulthood represents everything our organization stands for." DiCamillo will film a series of public service announcements, participate in a national media campaign and appear at events nationwide. 

Her goal is to encourage families to sign up for and participate in summer reading programs at their local libraries and to stress the importance of summer reading. 
"I am hopeful that in my role as National Summer Reading Champion with CSLP I can encourage young readers to go and find themselves at the library," DiCamillo said. "To find books that capture their imaginations and to spend time with others who love good stories."