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Cynthia Rylant

Biographical Information

"They say to be a writer you must first have an unhappy childhood. I don't know if unhappiness is necessary, but I think maybe some children who have suffered a loss too great for words grow up into writers who are always trying to find those words, trying to find a meaning for the way they have lived."

--- Cynthia Rylant, But I'll Be Back Again

Cynthia Rylant was born in Hopewell, Va., in June 1954. Her parents' unhappy marriage ended when she was four, and Rylant went to live with her grandparents in Cool Ridge, WV, while her mother attended nursing school. The young Rylant lived with her grandparents for the next four years; it is this time and place that she remembers in her first book When I Was Young In the Mountains, a picture book describing the joys of her Appalachian childhood, which earned Rylant the American Book Award in 1982, and illustrator Diane Goode a Caldecott Honor Award. Later she and her mother moved to Beaver, a small town in southern West Virginia. Young Cynthia had little contact with her father after her parents' divorce, though he wrote occasionally for a while after they moved to West Virginia. When he contacted her after years of silence, Rylant hoped for a reunion, but her father succumbed to the combined effects of alcoholism and hepatitis before such a reunion could occur. She was only thirteen when he died. It is this loss that she describes in But I'll Be Back Again as propelling her to a writing career.

After high school and with no real career plans, Rylant attended Morris Harvey College (what has now become the University of Charleston), graduating in 1975. She followed that degree with a Master of Arts in English from Marshall University and a Master of Library Science from Kent State. It was while working in the children's section of the Akron (OH) Public Library that Rylant was first truly exposed to children's literature; there had been no libraries or bookstores in the mostly poor, rural areas of her childhood.

When I Was Young In the Mountains, her first book, was published in 1982. The autobiographical tale caught the attention of critics and parents, becoming an ALA notable book and a Reading Rainbow selection. She followed with six more picture books before publishing the first volume in her popular Henry and Mudge series, Henry and Mudge: The First Book of Their Adventures, in 1987. She has continued writing prolifically, publishing more picture books, 34 Henry and Mudge volumes, as well as books for older readers including young adult novels and story collections, and collections of poetry.

In 1993, Cynthia Rylant donated her manuscripts to the Kent State University library.

Critical Responses

Cynthia Rylant has earned both loyal readers and critical praise for her simple yet evocative works. Children's Literature Review applauded Rylant's "straightforward approach, economical yet lyrical language, … and ability to express powerful emotions with restraint." She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her work, including two Newbery Honor Books (A Fine White Dust, 1987; Missing May, 1993); two Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor Books (The Relatives Came, 1985; Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds, 1991); and a Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Missing May (1993).

Critics have also praised the gentle but honest way that Rylant discusses difficult subjects, such as aging and the loss of a loved one. Commenting on A Fine White Dust for the Wilson Library Bulletin, Frances Bradbury said "The crafting of delicate subjects is . . . beautifully illustrated. Publishers Weekly called A Blue-Eyed Daisy, a coming-of-age tale about an eleven year-old Appalachian girl "an exquisite novel, written with love." Perhaps the Children's Literature Review best summed up Rylant's sincere and compassionate touch: "She stresses the importance of family and all living things. Despite the inclusion of such themes as loneliness, fear, or betrayal, her works ultimately convey understanding and hope.

Works Published

Picture Books

  • When I Was Young in the Mountains
  • Miss Maggie
  • This Year's Garden
  • The Relatives Came
  • Night in the Country
  • Birthday Presents
  • All I See
  • Mr. Griggs' Work
  • An Angel for Solomon Singer

Henry and Mudge

  • Henry and Mudge: The First Book of Their Adventures
  • Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble
  • Henry and Mudge in the Green Time
  • Henry and Mudge under the Yellow Moon
  • Henry and Mudge in the Sparkle Days
  • Henry and Mudge and the Forever Sea
  • Henry and Mudge Get the Cold Shivers
  • Henry and Mudge and the Happy Cat
  • Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps
  • Henry and Mudge Take the Big Test
  • Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend
  • Henry and Mudge and the Wild Wind
  • Henry and Mudge and the Careful Cousin
  • Henry and Mudge and the Best Day of All
  • Henry and Mudge in the Family Trees
  • Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers
  • Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night
  • Henry and Mudge and Annie's Good Move
  • Henry and Mudge and the Snowman Plan
  • Henry and Mudge and the Funny Lunch
  • Henry and Mudge and the Tall Tree House
  • Henry and Mudge and Mrs. Hopper's House
  • Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas
  • Henry and Mudge and a Very Special Merry Christmas
  • Henry and Mudge and the Wild Goose Chase
  • Henry and Mudge and the Big Sleepover
  • Henry and Mudge and the Tumbling Trip
  • Henry and Mudge and Annie's Perfect Pet
  • Henry's Puppy Mudge has a Snack
  • Henry's Puppy Mudge Takes a Bath

Other

  • Waiting to Waltz....a Childhood (poetry)
  • A Blue-Eyed Daisy (novel)
  • Every Living Thing (stories)
  • A Fine White Dust (novel)
  • Children of Christmas: Stories for the Season
  • A Kindness (novel)
  • But I'll Be Back Again: An Album (autobiography)
  • A Couple of Kooks and Other Stories about Love
  • Soda Jerk (poetry)
  • Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds
  • Missing May
  • Best Wishes
  • The Everyday Garden
  • The Everyday Town
  • The Everyday Children
  • The Everyday Pets
  • The Everyday House
  • I Had Seen Castles
  • The Dreamer
  • Something Permanent
  • The Blue Hill Meadows and the Much-Loved Dog
  • Mr. Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog
  • Mr. Putter and Tabby Bake the Cake
  • Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea
  • Mr. Putter and Tabby Pick the Pears
  • Dog Heaven
  • The Van Gogh Cafe
  • Gooseberry Park
  • The Whales
  • The Old Woman Who Named Things
  • The Bookshop Dog
  • Margaret, Frank, and Andy: Three Writers' Stories
  • The Blue Hill Meadows
  • Cat Heaven
  • An Everyday Book
  • Mr. Putter and Tabby Row the Boat
  • Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane
  • Poppleton
  • Poppleton and Friends
  • Silver Packages: An Appalachian Christmas Story
  • Scarecrow
  • Bear Day
  • The Bird House
  • Poppleton Everyday
  • Poppleton Forever
  • Bless Us All: A Child's Yearbook of Blessings
  • In Aunt Lucy's Kitchen
  • The Islander: A Novel
  • A Little Shopping
  • Mr. Putter and Tabby Take the Train
  • Mr. Putter and Tabby Toot the Horn
  • Tulip Sees America
  • Some Good News
  • Special Gifts
  • Bunny Bungalow
  • The Cookie-Store Cat
  • Give Me Grace: A Child's Daybook of Prayers
  • The Heavenly Village
  • Poppleton in Fall
  • Poppleton in Spring
  • The High Rise Private Eyes: The Case of the Climbing Cat
  • Poppleton Has Fun
  • Let's Go Home: The Wonderful Things About a House
  • In November
  • Mr. Putter and Tabby Paint the Porch
  • The High Rise Private Eyes: The Case of the Missing Monkey
  • Thimbleberry Stories
  • The Wonderful Happens
  • The Ticky-Tacky Doll
  • Little Whistle
  • Summer Party
  • Little Whistle's Dinner Party
  • Poppleton in Winter
  • The High Rise Private Eyes: The Case of the Puzzling Possum
  • The High Rise Private Eyes: The Case of the Troubling Turtle
  • Mr. Putter and Tabby Feed the Fish
  • The Great Gracie Chase
  • Wedding Flowers
  • Old Town in the Green Groves
  • Little Whistle's Medicine
  • Mr. Putter and Tabby Catch the Cold
  • Good Morning Sweetie and Other Poems for Little Children

 

Selected Bibliography

Antonucci, Ron. A Talk with 1993 Newbery Medallist Cynthia Rylant. School Library Journal. May 1993. pp.26.

Cooper, Irene. The Booklist Interview: Cynthia Rylant. Booklist. June 1, 1993. pp.1840.

Cynthia Rylant: A Quiet Craft. Publishers' Weekly. July 21, 1997. pp.178.

Meet the Author: Cynthia Rylant. Instructor. April 1994. pp.60.

Silvey, Anita. An Interview with Cynthia Rylant. Horn Book Magazine. Nov-Dec 1987. pp. 694.

Ward, Diane. Cynthia Rylant. Horn Book Magazine. July 1993. pp.420.

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