Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden gives Jacqueline Woodson the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature medal.

“Books change us. They can help us have the bigger conversations,” Jacqueline Woodson said during her inauguration ceremony as National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature at the Library of Congress this morning.  

Hayden with previous Ambassadors Gene Luen Yang (center) and Jon Scieszka.

“We go into a book because we’re hopeful for something. When we come out of a book, we’re different.” During a conversation with librarian of congress Carla Hayden, Woodson spoke movingly of her literary heroes, mentors, and colleagues; the Harlem Renaissance; and the importance of kids pursuing and honing what “they’re really good at that they really love doing,” whether that be writing, music, or something else. Watch the full video of Woodson’s inauguration.