Gary Soto facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gary Soto
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Soto at the 2001 National Book Festival
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| Born | Gary Anthony Soto April 12, 1952 Fresno, California |
| Occupation | Author, poet |
| Education | MFA |
| Alma mater | CSU Fresno, UC Irvine |
| Period | 1977-present |
| Genre | poetry, novels, memoirs, children's literature |
| Notable works | Petty Crimes New and Selected Poems Living Up the Street |
| Notable awards | Academy of American Poets Prize American Book Award NEA Fellowship Guggenheim Fellowship |
Gary Anthony Soto (born April 12, 1952) is an American poet, novelist, memoirist, and author of children's literature. He is best known for his poems and children's storybooks.
Life and career
Soto was born to Mexican-American parents Manuel (1910–1957) and Angie Soto (1924-). Gary's father died when he was five years old. The family had a hard time finding work, and as a child, Gary worked in the fields of the San Joaquin Valley. He became interested in poetry while he was in high school after reading the works of Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, Jules Verne, Robert Frost, and Thornton Wilder.
After high school, Soto went to Fresno City College and California State University, Fresno, where he earned his B.A. degree in English in 1974. Next, he went to University of California, Irvine, where he was the first Mexican-American to earn an M.F.A. in 1976.
Soto taught at University of California, Berkeley and at University of California, Riverside, where he was a Distinguished Professor. He lives in northern California, dividing his time between Berkeley and Fresno, but he no longer teaches.
Work
Soto's poetry often talks about Mexican Americans' daily lives and experiences. His story "The No-Guitar Blues" was made into a film, and he produced another movie based on his book "The Pool Party." He has written many children's books.
Awards and honors
Soto has won many awards, including
- the American Book Award for Living Up the Street in 1985,
- the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Film Excellence from the Association for Library Service to Children for The Pool Party,
- the Hispanic Heritage Award for Literature from the National Education Association in 1999, and
- the Phoenix Award for his 1994 children's book Jesse.
The library at Winchell Elementary School in Fresno was named after Soto.
In 2011, the old Administration Building at Fresno City College became the permanent home of the Gary Soto Literary Museum.
Gary Soto quotes
- "You can always spot bright people. They are reading a book."
- "Proper writing, not texting, makes us really think about what we say."
- "As a writer, my duty is not to make people perfect, particularly Mexican Americans. I’m not a cheerleader. I’m one who provides portraits of people in the rush of life."
- "This is what poetry means—language that surprises and keeps us on our toes."
Interesting facts about Gary Soto
- Gary's father died in a work-related accident at Sun-Maid.
- Gary did not do very well in high school, academically – he graduated with a 1.6 GPA.
- Gary has been married to Carolyn Oda since 1975. The couple has a daughter named Mariko Heidi Soto.
- He retired from teaching in 1993 and focused on becoming a full-time writer.
- Gary Soto has authored over 45 books that are still in print.
- In 1997, he was NBC's person of the week.
- Gary's other interests and hobbies include playing tennis and basketball, watching theater, gardening, and traveling.
