Cynthia Rylant

Cynthia Rylant

By: Brenda Wallsinger

Brenda’s BioI am currently a student at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. I received my degree in Business Administration in 1995 from The American Intercontinental University in Atlanta, GA, but have recently decided to go back to school to pursue a Teaching Certificate and a Master’s in Education. At this moment in time I am completing the coursework required to get into the Graduate Teacher’s Certification Program at GVSU.

Apart from school, I am the mother of two beautiful children, Hayden and Grace, and love to spend time helping in their classroom’s. I also help in the school library, as my passion is reading and I love books. I tend to help out wherever help is needed and love to get involved in community projects.

If you would like to contact me please feel free to drop me an email.

Welcome to the world of Cynthia Rylant

Favorite Series Children’s

Books

Young Adult Award Winners

Sample Chapter

Activities

PoetryYoung

Readers

Information About Cynthia

Rylant

Resources

Cynthia Rylant

Education

YouTube - "Henry and Mudge" Book Recommendation

What kids Think

What Teachers Think

About Cynthia

Her Dog

Email Me

History•Cynthia Rylant was born in 1954 in Illinois.

•She moved to West Virginia when she was four and a half years old.

•She was left with her grand parents while her mother persued a degree in nursing.

•During her formative years her idols were The Beatles and Bobby Kennedy.

•Her education history is on a different slide

•She didn’t read much growing up, mostly comic books and dimestore novels.

•She started writing after getting a job in a library and working in the children’s section.

•Her first manuscript sold in two months.

•She has written over 100 children’s books.

•She loves animals, taking walks, movies (while eating lots of popcorn and chocolate), collecting teapots and quilts.

•She rearranges her furniture A LOT!

Education

• Morris Harvey College

• Marshall University-Master’s in English

• Kent State University-MLS

What Kids ThinkWhen a class of First Grade children were asked if they had ever read Henry and Mudge all 21 kids had read at least ONE Henry and Mudge book, most had read more than one. Here is what the kids said about why they like to read Henry and Mudge books.

•Mudge does goofy stuff

•I like Mudge, “He’s Cool”

•They are funny

•They go on trips and stuff

•Some were funny and interesting, expecially when they went out West.

•Because they had good endings

•Cause Mudge keeps getting stuck and has fun

•They always have an adventure

•They are fun to listen to.

•They were always friends and cared for eachother.

•They are not just about Henry and Mudge, it’s about everyday life.

What Teachers ThinkIn a recent poll of six Kindergarten and First Grade teachers all six teachers said they use Cynthia Rylant books in their classroom. When asked what early reader books they use in their rooms, four of the six teachers responded Henry and Mudge books without being prompted. Here is why they use Henry and Mudge books.

•Kids like them

•They are realistic fiction – kids relate to them

•The books capture the kids interest

•They get used to the patterns of the books

•There is a real story in each book

•They don’t read like early reader books

•Laugh out loud funny

•Appeal to both children and adults

•The books use high frequency words and fit into the writing programs we use in school.

•There is a natural progression from picture books to chapter books that allows the children to feel successful with their reading.

Her Dog

Actually, Cynthia Rylant has several animals in her life. The dog in the picture is her dog Martha Jane, she also has another dog named Leia, and two cats named Blueberry and Edward Velvetpaws.

Martha Jane- loves pizza, chasing tennis balls and sleeping on the couch.

Leia- is a black and white dog that loves running in circles.

Blueberry- loves food and that’s about it!

Edward Velvetpaws- loves chipmunks, unfortunately they don’t love him back.

Young Readers

Miss MaggieEvery Living Thing

All I SeeAppalachia: The Voice of Sleeping Birds

An Angel for Solomon SingerThe Blue Hill Meadows

Gooseberry ParkSilver Packages

Thimbleberry StoriesThe WhaleThe EagleThe TurtleThe Storm

PoetrySoda Jerk

Boris

Waiting to Waltz

God Went To Beauty

School

Something Permanent

Favorite Series Books

Cobble Street Series

High Rise Private Eyes

Series

Henry and Mudge

Mr. Putter and Tabby

Annie and Snowball

Henry and Mudge

Henry and Mudge in the Family Trees (September 1998) Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers (February 1999)

Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night (May 1999) Henry and Mudge and Annie's Good Move (January 2000) Henry and Mudge and the Snowman Plan (October 2000) Henry and Mudge and Annie's Perfect Pet (February 2001)

Henry and Mudge and the Tall Tree House (December 2003) Henry and Mudge and Mrs. Hopper's House (January 2004) Henry and Mudge and the Wild Goose Chase (April 2004)

Henry and Mudge and the Funny Lunch (April 2005) Henry and Mudge and a Very Merry Christmas (October 2005)

Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas (June 2006) Henry and Mudge and the Tumbling Trip (October 2006)

Henry and Mudge and the Big Sleepover (May 2007)

Henry and Mudge: The First Book (1987) Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble (1987) Henry and Mudge in the Green Time (1987)

Henry and Mudge Under the Yellow Moon (1987) Henry and Mudge in the Sparkle Days (1988) Henry and Mudge and the Forever Sea (1989) Henry and Mudge Get the Cold Shivers (1989) Henry and Mudge and the Happy Cat (1990)

Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps (1991) Hanry and Mudge Take the Big Test (1991)

Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend (1992) Henry and Mudge and the Wild Wind (1993)

Henry and Mudge and the Careful Cousin (1994) Henry and Mudge and the Best Day of All (1995)

Mr. Putter and Tabby

1994 Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea 1994 Mr. Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog 1994 Mr. Putter and Tabby Bake the Cake 1995 Mr. Putter and Tabby Pick the Pears 1997 Mr. Putter and Tabby Fly the Plane 1997 Mr. Putter and Tabby Row the Boat 1998 Mr. Putter and Tabby Take the Train 1998 Mr. Putter and Tabby Toot the Horn

2000 Mr. Putter and Tabby Paint the Porch 2001 Mr. Putter and Tabby Feed the Fish

2002 Mr. Putter and Tabby Catch the Cold 2003 Mr. Putter and Tabby Stir the Soup

2004 Mr. Putter and Tabby Write the Book 2005 Mr. Putter and Tabby Make a Wish 2006 Mr. Putter and Tabby Spin the Yarn 2007 Mr. Putter and Tabby See the Stars

Annie and Snowball

Annie and Snowball and the dress up Birthday

Annie and Snowball and the Pink Surprise

Annie and Snowball and the Prettiest House

Annie and Snowball and the Teacup Club

Annie and Snowball and the Shining Star

Annie and Snowball and the Cozy Nest

Cobble Street Cousins

Summer Party

Special Gifts

Wedding Flowers

Aunt Lucy’s Kitchen

Some Good News

A Little Shopping

High Rise Private Eyes

The Case of the Climbing Cat

The Case of the Fidgety Fox

The Case of the Puzzling Possum

The Case of the Missing Monkey

The Case of the Troublesome Turtle

The Case of the Baffled Bear

The Case of the Desperate Duck

The Case of the Sleepy Sloth

Children’s Books

When I was Young in the MountainsThis Year’s GardenNight in the Country

Christmas in the CountryThe Relatives Came

Birthday PresentsChildren of Christmas

Mr. Griggs’ WorkBest Wishes

The Old Woman Who named ThingsDog Heaven Cat Heaven

The Bookshop DogThe Whales

Bear Day

The Bird HouseBless us AllScarecrow

Tulip Sees AmericaBunny Bungalow

The Cookie-Store CatGive Me GraceIn November

The Wonderful HappensGood Morning Sweetie PieThe Great Gracie Chase

Let’s Go HomeThe Ticky-Tacky Doll

Long Night MoonThe Stars will Shine Tonight

Puppies and PiggiesIf You’ll Be My Valentine

Little Whistle

Little Whistle’s Christmas

Little Whistle

Little Whistle’s Dinner Party

Little Whistle’s Medicine

PoppletonPoppleton Everyday

Poppleton Forever

Poppleton and

Friends

Poppleton in Fall

Poppleton in Winter

Poppleton in Spring

Poppleton Has Fun

Poppleton

The Everyday SeriesEveryday Town

Everyday Garden

Everyday Children

Everyday House

Everyday Pets

Award Winners

Missing May: Newberry Medal/Boston Globe/Horn Honor BookA Fine White Dust: Newberry HonorWhen I was Young in the Mountains: Caldecott AwardThe Relatives Came: Caldecott Award/Boston Globe/Horn Honor BookAppalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds: Boston Globe/Horn Book Honor BookA Kindness: Best Book for young Adults by ALASoda Jerk: Best Book for Young Adults by ALAA Couple of Kooks: Best Book for Young Adults by ALA

Young AdultA Blue-Eyed DaisyA Fine White Dust

A KindnessBut I’ll Be Back Again: An Album

A Couple of Kooks and Other Stories About LoveSoda Jerk

Missing MayI had Seen

The DreamerThe Van Gogh Café

Margaret, Frank, and Andy: Three Writer’s Stories

The IslanderThe Heavenly Village

Old Town in the Green GrovesLudie’s Life

Resources• http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-rylant-cynthia.asp

• http://www.harcourtbooks.com/authorinterviews/bookinterview_rylant.asp

• http://www.orrt.org/rylant/

• http://speccoll.library.kent.edu/children/rylant.html

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_Rylant

• Peach Plains Elementary School, Grand Haven, MI, for interviews of teachers and children.