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Pam Muñoz Ryan facts for kids

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Pam Muñoz Ryan
Pam Munoz Ryan
Pam Munoz Ryan
Born (1951-12-25) December 25, 1951 (age 73)
Bakersfield, California, U.S.
Occupation Writer
Nationality American
Alma mater San Diego State University
Genre Children's and young adult
Notable works Esperanza Rising
Echo

Pam Muñoz Ryan, born on December 25, 1951, is a well-known American author. She writes exciting books for children and young adults. Many of her stories celebrate different cultures and backgrounds.

About Pam Muñoz Ryan

Pam Muñoz Ryan grew up in Bakersfield, California. Her family background is a mix of Mexican, Basque, Italian, and Oklahoman cultures. These different influences often inspire her stories.

She has written more than forty books for young people. These include picture books for younger kids, early readers, and novels for middle schoolers and teens. Pam Muñoz Ryan has received many important honors for her writing. These include the Human and Civil Rights Award from the National Education Association. She was also nominated for the International Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2018.

Her popular novel, Esperanza Rising, was even turned into a play. It has been performed in theaters across the United States.

Her Early Life and Education

Pamela Jeanne Banducci was born in Bakersfield, California. Before she started school, her last name was changed to Bell. This was to match the name of her parents, Hope Bell and Donald Bell. She attended McKinley and Longfellow Elementary schools.

As a child, Pam enjoyed riding her bike to the library. She also took music lessons for piano and violin for a short time. She went to Washington Jr. High and Bakersfield High School. Later, she attended Bakersfield Community College. She then earned a bachelor's degree from San Diego State University.

Becoming a Writer

Pam Muñoz Ryan married James Ryan in 1975. She worked as an early childhood teacher for three years. After her four children were born, she became the director of an early childhood program. She also went back to school to earn her master's degree. Her goal was to teach Children's Literature in college.

After finishing her graduate program, she became very interested in writing. Her agent, Kendra Marcus, encouraged her to include her family name, Muñoz, in her author name. This was to honor her Mexican heritage.

Awards and Recognitions

Pam Muñoz Ryan has won many awards for her books. These awards show how much her stories are loved and respected.

  • 2024 Children’s Literature Legacy Award: This award honors an author whose books have made a lasting contribution to children's literature. It is given by the Association for Library Service to Children.
  • 2023 Regina Medal: This award is given by the Catholic Library Association.

Awards for Specific Books

  • Riding Freedom, illustrated by Brian Selznick
    • 1998 Parenting Magazine’s Reading Magic Award

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Pam Muñoz Ryan para niños

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