Encouraging children to read isn’t an easy task, which is why the Library of Congress’s Center for the Book and nonprofit group Every Child a Reader created the position of National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Librarian of Congress James H. Billington announced this morning that succeeding wacky author and first ambassador Jon Scieszka (The Stinky Cheeseman and Other Fairly Stupid Tales) in the post will be Katherine Paterson, a two-time Newbery Medal winner and author of the beloved book Bridge to Terabithia.

Paterson will serve as ambassador throughout 2010 and 2011, and her duties include speaking at Children’s Book Week in New York in May and at the National Book Festival in D.C. in September. She’ll also travel around the U.S. to meet and speak with kids, their parents, teachers, and librarians.

Politics & Prose is hosting an event this afternoon to welcome Paterson to the post and say farewell to Scieszka.

MEET THE NEW AMBASSADOR FOR YOUNG PEOPLE’S LITERATURE TODAY FROM 4:30-6 P.M. AT POLITICS & PROSE, 5015 CONNECTICUT AVE. NW. FREE. (202) 364-1919.