WASHINGTON (AP) β A son of migrant farm workers in California, Juan Felipe Herrera will be the next U.S. poet in chief.
The Library of Congress is appointing Herrera the nation’s 21st poet laureate for 2015 through 2016. Herrera will be the nation’s first Latino poet laureate since the position was created in 1936. The appointment is being announced Wednesday.
Librarian of Congress James Billington says Herrera’s poems champion voices, traditions and histories that are a part of the American identity.
Herrera has written 28 books of poetry, novels for young adults and books for children. Most recently he published the picture book “Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes.” His most recent book of poems is “Senegal Taxi” from 2013.
Herrera is a visiting professor at the University of Washington.
