Pam Munoz Ryan was born on Christmas Day 1951, in Bakersfield, California, the oldest of three daughters. Her parents, Esperanza Munoz and Don Bell, raised her in California's San Joaquin Valley surrounded by an extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Ryan's multicultural family broadened her awareness of how people live and think in other parts of the world. Her mother is the daughter of Mexican immigrants, and her father's parents are Italian. She also has Spanish and Basque ancestors. Ryan describes herself as an American because of her varied ethnic heritage. Ryan's maternal grandmother, Esperanza Ortega, spoke only Spanish, and Ryan became bilingual, appreciating how languages convey culture, history, emotions, and rhythm.

As a child, Ryan listened to her grandmother's stories about life in Mexico and the hardships she had experienced. She also was aware of her father's struggles as a migrant worker who...