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Mac Barnett, 2025-2026 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, is the ninth writer to hold this position. During his term, Barnett will celebrate the children’s picture book through his platform, “Behold, The Picture Book! Let’s Celebrate Stories We Can Feel, Hear, and See.”

Geraldine Brooks is the author of six novels, including “Horse,” “People of the Book,” “Year of Wonders” and the Pulitzer Prize-winning “March.” She has also written acclaimed works of nonfiction, including “Memorial Days: A Memoir,” “Nine Parts of Desire” and “Foreign Correspondence.” Her books have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold millions of copies around the world.

Jason Reynolds, 2020-2022 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, was the seventh writer to hold this position. During his term, Reynolds visited small towns across America to have meaningful discussions with young people.

Jesmyn Ward is the acclaimed author of the novels “Where the Line Bleeds,” “Salvage the Bones,” winner of the 2011 National Book Award, and “Sing, Unburied, Sing,” winner of the 2017 National Book Award. Her nonfiction work includes the memoir “Men We Reaped,” a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the 2020 work “Navigate Your Stars.”