Pam Muñoz Ryan

Prize-winning American children's author. Born and raised in California, it was so hot that she spent many summers as a child in the local air conditioned library - and there learned to love books. As an adult she worked as a teacher and administrator before becoming the author of a number of children's novels and picture books.

She had ridden only a few times before deciding that she needed intensive lessons as research for a horsy story she was planning to write. Now she is an accomplished rider. She has written two horse-related novels including a historical story set in the days of the American stage coaches.

The author has her own website where you can find out more about her and her books.

Horse & Pony Books:

RIDING FREEDOM
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 1998)
ILLUSTRATED BY BRIAN SELZNICK
Reprinted in paperback by Scholastic.
SUMMARY: Historical story based on a true character known as "Six-Horse Charley." Orphan Charlotte pretends to be a stableboy in order to survive in a harsh world. Eventually she becomes a well-known stage coach driver. But through it all she still must pretend to be a man…

PAINT THE WIND
(SCHOLASTIC [USA] 2007)
ILLUSTRATED BY
Reprinted in paperback by Scholastic.
SUMMARY: A photograph and a box of plastic horses are all Maya has left of her mother. Then everything changes, and Maya finds herself in Wyoming, where she learns to ride and love the wild mustangs.

Collector's Info:
Easy books to find in the USA and UK. They are both still in print and can be bought new and there are also a number of second-hand copies around.