Pam Munoz Ryan ~ May 6

Celebrate the publication of her spectacular new novel, The Dreamer!

Pam Muñoz Ryan was born and raised in California's San Joaquin Valley.  She is the oldest of three sisters and the oldest of twenty-three cousins on her mother's side.  She grew up with many of her aunts and uncles and grandparents nearby and considers herself truly American because her cultural background is an ethnic smorgasbord.  She is Spanish, Mexican, Basque, Italian, and Oklahoman.

During many long, hot valley summers, she spent most of her time riding her bike to the library.  It became her favorite hang out because her family didn't have a swimming pool and the library was air-conditioned!  That's how she got hooked on reading and books.  After college, she knew that she wanted to work in a profession that had something to do with books, and she thought that would be teaching.  She became a teacher, an administrator and then, at the encouragement of a friend who thought she could write, began her first book.  That's when she finally knew what she really wanted to do.