When Cuban American author Meg Medina was named the first Latina as the national ambassador for young people's literature by the Library of Congress in 2023, she knew this meant a change.
“For Latinos, I know I'm something new, something that goes against stereotypes,” she said.“ I'm an example of what a literary life could look like.”
She is motivated by the stereotypes around the Latino communities with books -- many perceive these communities don't read. Also, she is driven by her own experience growing up with a mother who barely spoke English, and of course, by her love for storytelling. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Meg Medina speaks during her inauguration ceremony, January 24, 2023.
Medina publishes books in English and Spanish because she believes “reading in any language is helpful, and being bilingual is a gift for life.”
In her books, we meet characters like Abuela, Tía Isa, and Señora Mimí, and readers share small moments with them like learning to dance, wanting a car, or getting sad because a friend is moving far away. She wants her readers to feel proud of their roots and the life they have in the U.S.
