In the beginning of Gary Soto's life, he really never thought of becoming a writer, but had planned on becoming a paleontologist or a priest. Not until after high school, when he was in college at California State University in Fresno, did he finally come across a poetry book, which inspired him to try his hand at writing. He creates new and inspiring stories for the readers to teach them about his Mexican American heritage. Soto is also a "Young People's Ambassador' for the United Farm Workers of America" (Wikipedia). At Fresno College they have Soto's Literary Museum, it replaced the old administration building. It's funny because Mr. Soto strives to "paint a picture in the reader's mind." Mr. Soto, although well known for his plays, novels, and short stories, he is better known for his poems. Soto writes some of his works in both Spanish and English, he also helps those who cannot speak English with the language. He admires those who help those in need and it helps inspires some of his stories that he wrote. Most of his beginning works started out about childhood, but later works blurred between juvenile and adult poetry. Soto shares the violence of life, labor (its exhausting qualities), and tries to futility of seizing your childhood (at least trying). Soto has won awards such as the United States Award of the International Poetry Forum for "The Elements of San Joaquin," or for his film "The Pool Party" he won the Andrew Carnegie Award. Soto's themes are related to his short stories, memoirs, novels, and are central with his poetry . He also idealizes with the youth's generation as he has shared many of his past stories with readers in his writings. "Baseball in April" (1990), "Buried Onions" (1997), and "The Afterlife" (2003) are Soto's more well known young adult novels. Not only does he write books for young adults, but for young children, such as "Chato's Kitchen" (1995), and "My Little Car/Mi Carrito" (2006). His chi