Pam Muñoz Ryan is a New York Times bestselling author and U.S. nominee for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. She has written over forty books, including Esperanza Rising, Becoming Naomi León, Riding Freedom, Paint the Wind, The Dreamer, and Echo, a Newbery Honor book and the recipient of the Kirkus Prize. She is the author recipient of the National Education Association's Human and Civil Rights Award, the Virginia Hamilton Literary Award for Multicultural Literature, and is twice the recipient of the Pura Belpré Medal and the Willa Cather Award. Other honors include the PEN USA Award, the Américas Award, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, and the Orbis Pictus Award. She was born and raised in Bakersfield, California, but now lives near San Diego with her family. Many of her stories reflect her half-Mexican heritage. Pam's Hometown: Lives in North San Diego County in Encinitas, CA Cities where Pam is well-known: Was born and raised in Bakersfield, CA until college. Boston, MA San Francisco, CA Los Angeles, CA Long Beach, CA Pam's social media handles: Twitter @pammunozryan Instagram pammunozryan Facebook Pamela Ryan