Bakersfield Honors Author Pam Muñoz Ryan With Her Own Day!
This weekend, Russo’s Books at The Marketplace will celebrate two “hometown hero” authors. Congressman Kevin McCarthy will sign his new book, “Young Guns: A New Generation of Conservative Leaders” at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19. The day before, the bookstore will honor an award-winning children’s author. Read on for her story.
By Thomas G. Robinson, Russo’s Books Business Development Representative
It is not often that we get to take part in a proclamation. In this case, a “day” will be set aside to honor a local celebrity who is one of the biggest children’s and young adult authors in the nation. This national best-selling, multi-award winning and internationally recognized author will be honored by both Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall and Assemblywoman Jean Fuller on Saturday, Sept. 18.
Oh, and she happens to be a Bakersfield native, too – born and raised!
Author Pam Muñoz Ryan (“Esperanza Rising,” “Becoming Naomi León”) is a member of Bakersfield City School District’s Hall of Fame (having attended McKinley and Longfellow Elementary and Washington Junior High). After graduating from Bakersfield High School, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from San Diego State University. She currently resides in the San Diego area.
Pam Muñoz Ryan has been invited to the White House on three occasions for the National Book Festival and other literary events. She is the National Education Association Author recipient of the Civil and Human Rights Award. Next month, she will travel as the American author representative to South Korea, where she and others from 26 countries will collaborate on an international book on peace for the International Board on Books for Young People.
Saturday, Sept. 18, will be proclaimed Pam Muñoz Ryan Day in Bakersfield. The celebration will take place at 2 p.m. at The Marketplace fountain, 9000 Ming Ave., with a reception to follow at Russo’s Books at The Marketplace.
In attendance will be the author’s family, “Esperanza Rising” cover artist Joe Cepeda, Nick Olmos and the College Heights Elementary Mariachi Band (who will perform), actors Bob Kempf, Michelle Weingarden, Kristina Saldaña and Jason Monroe from The Empty Space Theatre (who will perform a play based on her children’s book “When Mirian Sang”), her cousin (and local journalist) Lisa Kimble who will speak on growing up with Pam, and Sandra Yoon, BCSD Coordinator of Library Media Services who will speak on the importance of the author’s literary efforts. Finally, Pam Muñoz Ryan herself will speak.
The event will conclude with refreshments served at Russo’s Books, where Pam will meet and greet her friends and fans, and sign copies of her books.
The event is part of a long line-up of programs being held from September to November in conjunction with National Hispanic Heritage Month and the latest One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern community read of “Burro Genius” by California author Victor Villaseñor. Learn more about the read and the events surrounding it by visiting the Kern County Library’s website.
