Cynthia Rylant, author

An Annotated Bibliography

and A Pathfinder

Year Research Completed: 1994

CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Biographical Information on Cynthia Rylant

B. Scope of this Document

C. Intended Audience for this Document

D. Collection Used to Prepare this Document

E. Sources Consulted to Prepare this Document

F. Organization of the Annotated Bibliography

II. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF CYNTHIA RYLANT

A. Annotated Entries for Works I Examined and Evaluated

B. Complete List of Her Books (and their adaptations)

1. Books and Adaptations that I Examined and Evaluated
2. Books and Adaptations not Examined nor Evaluated
3. Her Professional Writings

C. Biographical and Critical References

III. PATHFINDER FOR STUDYING RYLANT & HER WORK

A. Summary

B. My Reading Suggestions

1. Personal Favorites
2. Recommended First Works for the Younger Reader
3. Recommended First Works for the Older Reader

C. Hints for Researching Cynthia Rylant and Her Writing

ENDNOTES

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Biographical Information on Cynthia Rylant

Cynthia Rylant was born on June 6, 1954, in Hopewell, Virginia. Her parents (John Tune and Leatrel Rylant Smith) separated when she was just four years old. [1] Then she went to live with her grandparents and cousins in Cool Ridge [2], West Virginia, while her mother attended nursing school. It is this house that she wrote about in her first book, When I Was Young in the Mountains. Cynthia lived there until she was eight, when she and her mother moved to Beaver, West Virginia. This is the town featured in her first book of poetry, Waiting to Waltz: A Childhood. In fact, most of the settings in Cynthia Rylant's works--although they are usually sensed rather than specific--are based on her young life in the Appalachian scenery of West Virginia.

Cynthia Rylant received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975 from Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) and an M.A. in English from Marshall University in 1976. Then she obtained a Master of Library Science degree in 1982 from Kent State University. She has worked as a college English professor and in a public library children's department. [3] It was in this library job that she first became exposed to children's books. (She had grown up reading mostly comic books, since there were no libraries or bookstores near her small-town homes [4].)

Interestingly, Ms. Rylant believes that her lack of early exposure to children's books actually enabled her to become a better children's author. She claims it allowed her to develop a fuller imagination and saved her from being intimidated by expectations of "great" literature. Her role models, especially James Agee and Harper Lee, write books for adults, and she claims this influences her to use language beautifully in her own books. She does not believe in "writing down" to children, and in fact, does not even write with a specific audience in mind. [5] In her interview with Ron Antonucci of School Library Journal, she stated, "I'm not interested in trying to entertain only children. If they like the books, that's fine, but I really expect everybody to like them."

Cynthia Rylant's literary style "has been described as unadorned, clear, and lyrical [6] ." According to Children's Literature Review, "critics laud Rylant for her straightforward approach, economic yet lyrical language, ..., and ability to express powerful emotions with restraint [7] ." Her development of plot and characterization are exceptional in her novels but could use improvement in her picture book and easy-reader formats. What she lacks in these elements, however, is more than made up for in theme and tone. This is confirmed in Children's Literature Review: "Thematically, 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 [8] ." Her stories usually leave the reader feeling happy and full of love.

Cynthia Rylant has received much recognition for her work as a children's author--most recently the ALSC Newbery Award for her 1992 novel, Missing May. Among the rest, two of her picture books, When I Was Young in the Mountains (1982) and The Relatives Came (1986), received the ALSC Caldecott Award, and her 1986 novel, A Fine White Dust, was named an ALSC Newbery Honor Book. Reflective of her versatility as a writer, three of her books (A Kindness, Soda Jerk, and A Couple of Kooks and Other Stories about Love) have been named a "Best Book of the Year for Young Adults" by the American Library Association. Of local (Pennsylvania) interest, Ms. Rylant was a 1986 winner of the Keystone to Reading Book Award [9] .

Cynthia Rylant currently resides with her 12-year-old son, Nate, in Kent, Ohio.

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B. Scope of this Document

This document includes a comprehensive list of Cynthia Rylant's trade works. The eleven items with annotated entries were selected because they are particularly well-suited for preschool and elementary-aged children and because, as a group, they demonstrate Rylant's variety of genres and formats. Secondary selection criteria were a) recency and b) receipt of awards. This document also includes references to some of her writings and speeches published in the professional literature, as well as citations to and information collected from several biographical sources.

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C. Intended Audience for this Document

This document is intended to assist parents of preschool and elementary-aged children, especially--but certainly not limited to--those living in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA) area.

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D. Collection Used to Prepare this Document

Trade books (and their non-print adaptations) were found in Drexel University's Hagerty Library, the Free Library of Philadelphia, and the Bucks County Free Library. Most of the biographical information and professional writings were located in Hagerty library, in the Drexel College of Information Studies Resource Center, and in Dr. Shelley G. McNamara's reserve collection of readings for Drexel course INFO683, "Resources for Children."

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E. Sources Consulted to Prepare this Document

The first source consulted was WorldCat, accessed via the "Dragnet" system at Hagerty Library. This initial search was followed by browsing the stacks and conducting on-line searches on the local catalogs at the Hagerty Library, the Bucks County Free Library, and the Free Library of Philadelphia. Most of the information about the awards and honors earned by Cynthia Rylant's works was obtained by scanning both the dust jackets of her books and Dr. Shelley G. McNamara's class readings and reading lists for Drexel course INFO683, "Resources for Children." Reference sources consulted to locate reviews, other awards and honors, professional literature, and biographical information included: Children's Book Review Index, Book Review Digest, Personal Name Index to New York Times Index, The New York Times Index, Children's Magazine Guide, Something About the Author, Children's Literature Review, Contemporary Authors, Authors of Books for Young People, and Humanities Index.

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F. Organization of the Annotated Bibliography

The eleven entries in the annotated part of the bibliography are arranged alphabetically. Each entry is comprised of the following nine fields (arranged in the order stated):

1. Bibliographic citation
2. Number of pages
3. ISBN number
4. LC number
5. Genre
6. Format
7. Summary / Evaluation
8. Reviews
9. Awards and honors.

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II. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF CYNTHIA RYLANT

A. Annotated Entries for Works I Examined and Evaluated:

Rylant, Cynthia. All I See. Pictures by Peter Catalanotto. New York: Orchard Books, 1988.

PAGES: 29

ISBN#: 0-531-05777-1

LC#: 88-42547

GENRE: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

FORMAT: Picture Book

SUMMARY / EVALUATION:
A boy named Charlie discovers a painter named Gregory. Charlie watches the painter in secret for many days before he gets the courage to leave a painted message on Gregory's canvas. Eventually the two meet and become friends, and Gregory teaches Charlie how to paint. This is an excellent book for a parent to introduce to a child who is showing signs of creative interest or talent. It inspires an appreciation for art and music, presents the basics of painting and drawing, and assures the timid beginner that their artwork is not expected to be wonderful from the start. This story encourages experimentation and imagination while teaching important lessons about friendship and patience.

REVIEWS:

• Litton, Karen. Rev. of All I See, by Cynthia Rylant. School Library Journal 35, no. 1 (September 1988): 173.
• Rev. of All I See, by Cynthia Rylant. Booklist 85, no. 1 (1 September 1988): 83.
• Rev. of All I See, by Cynthia Rylant. Center for Children's Books Bulletin 42 (January 1989): 133.
• Rev. of All I See, by Cynthia Rylant. New York Times Book Review 94 (2 April 1989): 26.

AWARDS & HONORS:

• Fairfield-Westchester Children's Reading Project "Students' Favorites", 1989 [10]
• IRA Children's Choices (for Younger readers), 1989

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Rylant, Cynthia. Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds. Illustrated by Barry Moser. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991.

PAGES: 24

ISBN#: 0-15-201605-8

LC#: 90-36798

GENRE: Nonfiction

FORMAT: Picture Book

SUMMARY / EVALUATION:
This book realistically describes the daily life and surroundings of typical small-town folk who live in the Appalachian Mountain region of the United States. Together, the author and illustrator have provided rich commentary on the subject, grounded in their personal experiences of growing up in West Virginia and Tennessee, respectively [11] . An elementary-aged child who is studying this part of the United States in school will find this geographic introduction gives them an exciting "behind-the-scenes" look at the material. Parents also may want to share this book with their family before going on vacation to this area.

REVIEWS:

• Chatton, Barbara. Rev. of Appalachia, by Cynthia Rylant. School Library Journal 37, no. 4 (April 1991): 137.
• Hearne, Betsy. Rev. of Appalachia, by Cynthia Rylant. Center for Children's Books Bulletin 44 (June 1991): 248.
• Rochman, Hazel. Rev. of Appalachia, by Cynthia Rylant. Booklist 87, no. 11 (1 February 1991): 1128.
• Watson, Elizabeth S. Rev. of Appalachia, by Cynthia Rylant. The Horn Book Magazine 67, no. 5 (September / October 1991): 613.

AWARDS & HONORS:

• ALSC Notable Book for Children (for All Ages), 1992
• The Boston Globe -The Horn Book Magazine  Nonfiction Award, 1991
• The Horn Book Magazine  Fanfare (Nonfiction), 1992
• IRA Children's Choices (for Younger readers), 1992
• NCSS Notable 1991 Book in the Field of Social Studies (Geography, Peoples, and Places)

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Rylant, Cynthia. Best Wishes. Photographs by Carlo Ontal. Katonah, New York: Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc., 1992.

PAGES: 32

ISBN#: 1-878450-20-4

LC#: 92-7796

GENRE: Biography (Autobiography)

FORMAT: Picture Book

SUMMARY / EVALUATION:
With a casual, conversational style, Cynthia Rylant talks about her family and her childhood. Then she describes how and where she lives as an adult, including her daily routines as a writer. Throughout, she relates her life experiences to the books she's written and to her inspiration to become an author. The story-like words are woven together with an inspiring theme that dreams can come true, which is reinforced by the realism of the photographs on nearly every page. Young children likely will be fascinated by the detailed, full-color illustration of real life in this book and may make up stories of their own to go along until they are able to read the text themselves. Elementary students studying biography or authors in school will find this book to be an invaluable reference source. It also provides concerned parents insight into the Rylant's life and perspective so they may feel comfortable recommending her works to their children.

REVIEWS:

• Phelan, Carolyn. Rev. of Best Wishes, by Cynthia Rylant. Booklist 88, no. 22 (August 1992): 2008.
• Piehl, Kathy. Rev. of Best Wishes, by Cynthia Rylant. School Library Journal 38, no. 8 (August 1992): 152.
• Sutton, Roger. Rev. of Best Wishes, by Cynthia Rylant. Center for Children's Books Bulletin 46 (September 1992): 19.

AWARDS & HONORS:
Information not available.

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Rylant, Cynthia. Birthday Presents. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Orchard Books, 1987.

PAGES: 27

ISBN#: 0-531-05705-4

LC#: 87-5485

GENRE: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

FORMAT: Picture Book

SUMMARY / EVALUATION:
Written like a chatty greeting card from two new parents to their female only child, this story tells a story of growing up, from birth to age six. The parents express their unconditional love for their daughter as they compassionately--and sometimes humorously--recount the ups and downs of their experiences together as a threesome. This story teaches important lessons about emotions, sharing, helping, friendship, and maturity. Parents will enjoy reading this book with their preschoolers, and it will help them to say, "I love you" in a new way. Young children will enjoy exploring the pictures and may even recognize and learn about themselves through the text.

REVIEWS:

• Fader, Ellen G. Rev. of Birthday Presents, by Cynthia Rylant. The Horn Book Magazine 63 (September 1987): 602.
• Jones, Trevelyn. Rev. of Birthday Presents, by Cynthia Rylant. School Library Journal 34, no. 1 (September 1987): 169.
• Sutherland, Zena. Rev. of Birthday Presents, by Cynthia Rylant. Center for Children's Books Bulletin 41 (November 1987): 56.

AWARDS & HONORS:

• Fairfield-Westchester Children's Reading Project "Students' Favorites", 1989 [12]
• IRA Children's Choices (for Younger readers), 1988

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Rylant, Cynthia. Children of Christmas: Stories for the Season. Drawings by S. D. Schindler. New York: Orchard Books, 1987.

PAGES: 38 (6 stories)

ISBN#: 0-531-05706-2

LC#: 87-1690

GENRE: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

FORMAT: Short Stories

SUMMARY / EVALUATION:
These stories each tell tales of the loneliness and longing that some people experience during the holiday season and how it can be changed into happiness. Readers will be reminded that Christmas is not just about getting presents but also about giving of oneself. Parents will not want to miss this golden opportunity for holiday-time togetherness. These stories are practically asking to be read aloud at bedtime with the whole family sitting around the Christmas tree.

REVIEWS:

• Rev. of Children of Christmas: Stories for the Season, by Cynthia Rylant. Booklist 84, no. 1 (1 September 1987): 71.
• Rev. of Children of Christmas: Stories for the Season, by Cynthia Rylant. Center for Children's Books Bulletin 41 (October 1987): 36.
• Rev. of Children of Christmas: Stories for the Season, by Cynthia Rylant. The Horn Book Magazine 63 (November 1987): 717.
• Rev. of Children of Christmas: Stories for the Season, by Cynthia Rylant. New York Times Book Review 92 (13 December 1987): 36.
• Rev. of Children of Christmas: Stories for the Season, by Cynthia Rylant. School Library Journal 34, no. 2 (October 1987): 34.

AWARDS & HONORS:

• The Horn Book Magazine  Fanfare (Fiction), 1988
• School Library Journal  Best Book of the Year

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Rylant, Cynthia. Every Living Thing. Decorations by S. D. Schindler. New York: Bradbury Press, 1985.

PAGES: 81 (12 stories)

ISBN#: 0-02-777200-4

LC#: 85-7701

GENRE: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

FORMAT: Short Stories

SUMMARY / EVALUATION:
These stories give a variety of instances of animals making a positive difference in the lives of humans. The book inspires or enhances a love for animal life and teaches important lessons about relationships. These stories would be comforting and relaxing to read to a child at bedtime, sure to encourage happy dreams. Beware, though: people exposed to these stories may find themselves wanting to have a pet!

REVIEWS:

• Burns, Mary M. Rev. of Every Living Thing, by Cynthia Rylant. The Horn Book Magazine 62 (March 1986): 203.
• Rev. of Every Living Thing, by Cynthia Rylant. Center for Children's Books Bulletin 39 (March 1986): 136.
• Sands, Kim. Rev. of Every Living Thing, by Cynthia Rylant. VOYA 9 (April 1986): 34.
• Vose, Ruth S. Rev. of Every Living Thing, by Cynthia Rylant. School Library Journal 32 (December 1985): 106.

AWARDS & HONORS:

• School Library Journal  Best Book of the Year

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Rylant, Cynthia. Missing May. New York: Orchard Books, 1992.

PAGES: 89

ISBN#: 0-531-05996-0

LC#: 91-23303

GENRE: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

FORMAT: Novel

SUMMARY / EVALUATION:
A 12-year-old orphaned girl (Summer) and her elderly foster father (Ob) mourn the death of her foster mother (May). With the help of Summer's eclectic classmate (Cletus), they search for a way to go on with their lives. This novel is rich in characterization of all it major players: Summer, Ob, Cletus, and even the late May. Also, its plot has lots of ups and downs, leading the reader through an exciting journey of unexpected events. A powerful story packed with themes, this book can help readers learn to cope with death and grief, to understand and communicate more effectively with old people, to see the good in others, and to learn how and when to listen rather than speak. While suitable as a read-aloud to youngsters, this book is an excellent choice for the independent reader.

REVIEWS:

• Burns, Mary M. Rev. of Missing May, by Cynthia Rylant. The Horn Book Magazine 68, no. 2 (March / April 1992): 206.
• Cooper, Ilene. Rev. of Missing May, by Cynthia Rylant. Booklist 88, no. 12 (15 February 1992): 1105.
• Hearne, Betsy. Rev. of Missing May, by Cynthia Rylant. Center for Children's Books Bulletin 45 (March 1992): 192.
• Hupp, Marcia. Rev. of Missing May, by Cynthia Rylant. School Library Journal 38, no. 3 (March 1992): 241.
• Ray, Karen. Rev. of Missing May, by Cynthia Rylant. New York Times Book Review (18 October 1992): 48.
• Schott, Joanne. Rev. of Missing May, by Cynthia Rylant. Quill & Quire 59 (April 1993): 36.

AWARDS & HONORS:

• ALSC Newbery Award, 1993
• ALSC Notable Book for Children (Older Readers), 1993
• The Boston Globe -The Horn Book Magazine  Fiction Award, 1992
• The Horn Book Magazine  Fanfare (Fiction), 1993

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Rylant, Cynthia.Mr. Griggs' Work. Illustrated by Julie Downing. New York: Orchard Books, 1989.

PAGES: 29

ISBN#: 0-531-05769-0

LC#: 88-1484

GENRE: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

FORMAT: Picture Book

SUMMARY / EVALUATION:
In this book, Rylant tells the tale of an old postman who loves his work but gets sick and can't go in. This story is rich in its characterization of Mr. Griggs and enables readers to feel both his hurts and his happiness. In addition, the book nurtures qualities like dedication, neatness, and industriousness. It also teaches children about the inner workings of a post office. Parents will, no doubt, find these words fun to read aloud, and young children will be absorbed by the artwork.

REVIEWS:

• Hart, Anna Biagioni. Rev. of Mr. Griggs' Work, by Cynthia Rylant. School Library Journal 35, no. 8 (April 1989): 90.
• Sutherland, Zena. Rev. of Mr. Griggs' Work, by Cynthia Rylant. Center for Children's Books Bulletin 42 (February 1989): 156.
• Twichell, Ethel R. Rev. of Mr. Griggs' Work, by Cynthia Rylant. The Horn Book Magazine 65 (March 1989): 203.

AWARDS & HONORS:
Information not available.

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Rylant, Cynthia. The Relatives Came. Illustrated by Stephen Gammell. New York: Bradbury Press, 1985.

PAGES: 29

ISBN#: 0-02-777220-9

LC#: 85-10929

GENRE: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

FORMAT: Picture Book

SUMMARY / EVALUATION:
This is the tale of a visit from extended family who live in another state. The beginning reeks of excitement and anticipation. The middle pours out love and happiness, born of family togetherness. The end stirs up the sadness that comes from unwanted good-byes and wanting to have that togetherness for just a little longer. Nevertheless, Rylant leaves the reader with a renewed feeling of hope and anticipation for the future. Parents and young children will want to take turns reading this story to each other. The poetic style of the words makes them fun to read, and the humorous illustration is very inviting. Children will be proud to call this one of the first books they learn to read on their own.

REVIEWS:

• Gale, David. Rev. of The Relatives Came, by Cynthia Rylant. School Library Journal 32, no. 2 (October 1985): 162.
• Hoopes, Lyn Littlefield. Rev. of The Relatives Came, by Cynthia Rylant. Christian Science Monitor 77 (1 November 1985): B6.
• Rev. of The Relatives Came, by Cynthia Rylant. Center for Children's Books Bulletin 39 (December 1985): 77.
• Tyler, Anne. Rev. of The Relatives Came, by Cynthia Rylant. New York Times Book Review 90 (10 November 1985): 37.

AWARDS & HONORS:

• ALSC Caldecott Honor Book, 1986
• ALSC Notable Book for Children (for Younger Readers), 1986
• Booklist  U.S.A. through Children's Books (Picture Books and Easy-to-read Books), 1986
• The Horn Book Magazine  Fanfare (Picture Books), 1986
• The Keystone to Reading Book Award, 1986

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Rylant, Cynthia. Waiting to Waltz: A Childhood. Drawings by Stephen Gammell. Scarsdale, New York: Bradbury Press, 1984.

PAGES: 47 (30 poems)

ISBN#: 0-02-778000-7

LC#: 84-11030

GENRE: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

FORMAT: Poetry

SUMMARY / EVALUATION:
These free-verse poems read like short, disjoint chapters. They tell the tale of growing up in Beaver, West Virginia. With very casual--sometimes humorous--language, the poems address the confusion and frustration of adolescence and can provide warning, comfort, and insight to upper-elementary children. Parents will want to recommend this book to their third- and fourth-grade poetry-lovers at home.

REVIEWS:

• Howell, Margaret C. Rev. of Waiting to Waltz: A Childhood, by Cynthia Rylant. School Library Journal 31, no. 3 (November 1984): 138.
• Rev. of Waiting to Waltz: A Childhood, by Cynthia Rylant. Center for Children's Books Bulletin 38 (January 1985): 94.
• Twichell, Ethel R. Rev. of Waiting to Waltz: A Childhood, by Cynthia Rylant. The Horn Book Magazine 61 (January / February 1985): 64.

AWARDS & HONORS:

• ALA Notable Book for Children, 1984

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Rylant, Cynthia. When I Was Young in the Mountains. Listening Version (side 1) and Read-Along Version (side 2). 1983. Random House / Miller-Brody Productions W566. Audiocassette.

PAGES: N/A

ISBN#: 0-676-30624-1

LC#: Unknown

GENRE: Historical Fiction

FORMAT: Sound Recording

SUMMARY / EVALUATION:
The author's first book, this is a reminiscent-style tale about growing up in a coal-mining family in the Appalachian Mountains, without the amenities of running water and electricity. Although not specifically stated, the story is set in the 1950's. Side one provides the more moving of the two versions and allows for more imagination. The listener can't help but envision the narrator rocking on her back porch, remembering "the good ole days." And the background side effects can make the audience of any age feel like one of the children who is probably sitting on that porch floor, entranced with her words. Side two, while less engaging and nearly absent of sound effects and music, is valuable as a learn-to-read tool and as an enforcement for good listening skills. This read-along version, however, does not pay close enough attention to detail. Its pace is so quick that readers don't have time to stop and enjoy the picture before turning the page. This may discourage a child from following the words and, thus, defeats its purpose. Side two also indiscriminately skips over pages prior to the start of the story without properly notifying the follow-along reader, who is obediently waiting for instruction and may, consequently, get lost from the outset. Parents of young children will want to have Side one along for listening on long car trips.

REVIEWS:

• Klockner, K. M. Rev. of When I Was Young in the Mountains, by Cynthia Rylant. The Horn Book Magazine 58 (June 1982): 282.
• Rev. of When I Was Young in the Mountains, by Cynthia Rylant. Booklist 78, no. 16 (15 April 1982): 1098.
• Rev. of When I Was Young in the Mountains, by Cynthia Rylant. Center for Children's Books Bulletin 35 (April 1982): 157.
• Sanhuber, Holly. Rev. of When I Was Young in the Mountains, by Cynthia Rylant. School Library Journal 28, no. 9 (May 1982): 56.

AWARDS & HONORS:

• ALSC Caldecott Honor Book, 1983
• Booklist  "Popular Reading" Picture Books with Historical Settings (Twentieth Century), 1987

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B. Complete List of Her Books (and their adaptations)

Books and Adaptations that I Examined and Evaluated

• Rylant, Cynthia. All I See. Pictures by Peter Catalanotto. New York: Orchard Books, 1988. [Annotated Entry]
• Rylant, Cynthia. An Angel for Solomon Singer. Paintings by Peter Catalanotto. New York: Orchard Books, 1992.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds. Illustrated by Barry Moser. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991. [Annotated Entry]
• Rylant, Cynthia. Best Wishes. Photographs by Carlo Ontal. Katonah, New York: Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc., 1992. [Annotated Entry]
• Rylant, Cynthia. Birthday Presents. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Orchard Books, 1987. [Annotated Entry]
• Rylant, Cynthia. A Blue-Eyed Daisy. New York: Bradbury Press, 1985.
  (British Edition: Some Year for Ellie. Illustrated by Kate Rogers. Viking Kestrel, 1986.)
• Rylant, Cynthia. But I'll Be Back Again: An Album. New York: Orchard Books, 1989.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Children of Christmas: Stories for the Season. Drawings by S. D. Schindler. New York: Orchard Books, 1987. [Annotated Entry]
• Rylant, Cynthia. A Couple of Kooks and Other Stories about Love. New York: Orchard Books, 1990.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Every Living Thing. Decorations by S. D. Schindler. New York: Bradbury Press, 1985. [Annotated Entry]
• Rylant, Cynthia. A Fine White Dust. New York: Bradbury Press, 1986.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps: The Ninth Book of Their Adventures. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Bradbury Press, 1991.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge and the Happy Cat: The Eighth Book of Their Adventures. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Bradbury Press, 1990.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge in the Green Time: The Third Book of Their Adventures. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Bradbury Press, 1987.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge in the Sparkle Days. Paintings by Sucie Stevenson, animated by Paratore Pictures. Narrated by Rick Adamson. Music by Arthur Custer. Directed by Rosemary Killen. 1989. 11 min. Produced by Random House / Miller Brody. Videocassette.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge in the Sparkle Days: The Fifth Book of Their Adventures. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Bradbury Press, 1988.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge Take the Big Test: The Tenth Book of Their Adventures. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Bradbury Press, 1991.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge Under the Yellow Moon: The Fourth Book of Their Adventures. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Bradbury Press, 1987.
• Rylant, Cynthia. A Kindness. New York: Orchard Books, 1988.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Miss Maggie. Illustrated by Thomas DiGrazia. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1983.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Missing May. New York: Orchard Books, 1992. [Annotated Entry]
• Rylant, Cynthia. Mr. Griggs' Work. Illustrated by Julie Downing. New York: Orchard Books, 1989. [Annotated Entry]
• Rylant, Cynthia. Mr. Putter and Tabby Pour the Tea. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. San Diego: Harcourt & Company, 1994.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Night In the Country. Pictures by Mary Szilagyi. New York: Bradbury Press, 1986.
• Rylant, Cynthia. The Relatives Came. Illustrated by Stephen Gammell. New York: Bradbury Press, 1985. [Annotated Entry]
• Rylant, Cynthia. Soda Jerk. Paintings by Peter Catalanotto. New York: Orchard Books, 1990.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Waiting to Waltz: A Childhood. Drawings by Stephen Gammell. Scarsdale, New York: Bradbury Press, 1984. [Annotated Entry]
• Rylant, Cynthia. When I Was Young in the Mountains. Illustrated by Diane Goode. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1982.
• Rylant, Cynthia. When I Was Young in the Mountains. Listening Version (side 1) and Read-Along Version (side 2). 1983. Random House / Miller-Brody Productions W566. Audiocassette. [Annotated Entry]

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Books and Adaptations not Examined nor Evaluated

• Rylant, Cynthia. The Blue Hill Meadows Series. [1994].
• Rylant, Cynthia. The Dreamer. Illustrated by Barry Moser. New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1993.
• Rylant, Cynthia. The Everyday Children. New York: Macmillan, 1993.
• Rylant, Cynthia. The Everyday Garden. New York: Macmillan, 1993.
• Rylant, Cynthia. The Everyday House. New York: Macmillan, 1993.
• Rylant, Cynthia. The Everyday Pets. New York: Macmillan, 1993.
• Rylant, Cynthia. The Everyday School. New York: Macmillan, 1993.
• Rylant, Cynthia. The Everyday Town. New York: Macmillan, 1993.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge and the Best Day Ever: The Fourteenth Book of Their Adventures. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Bradbury Press, [1995].
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge and the Careful Cousin: The Thirteenth Book of Their Adventures. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Bradbury Press, 1991.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge and the Forever Sea: The Sixth Book of Their Adventures. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Bradbury Press, 1989.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend: The Eleventh Book of Their Adventures. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Bradbury Press, 1992.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge and the Wild Wind: The Twelfth Book of Their Adventures. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Bradbury Press, 1992.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge Get the Cold Shivers: The Seventh Book of Their Adventures. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Bradbury Press, 1989.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble: The Second Book of Their Adventures. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Bradbury Press, 1987.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge: The First Book of Their Adventures. Pictures by Sucie Stevenson. New York: Bradbury Press, 1987.
• Rylant, Cynthia. I Had Seen Castles. San Diego: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1993.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Mr. Putter and Tabby Bake the Cake. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. San Diego: Harcourt & Company, 1994.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Mr. Putter and Tabby Row the Boat. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. San Diego: Harcourt & Company, [1995].
• Rylant, Cynthia. Mr. Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. San Diego: Harcourt & Company, 1994.
• Rylant, Cynthia. The Old Woman Who Named Things. [1994].
• Rylant, Cynthia. The Relatives Came. 1986. Random House. Filmstrip.
• Rylant, Cynthia. This Year's Garden. 1983. Random House. Filmstrip.
• Rylant, Cynthia. This Year's Garden. Illustrated by Mary Szilagyi. New York: Bradbury, 1984.
• Rylant, Cynthia. When I Was Young in the Mountains. 1983. Random House. Filmstrip.

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Her Professional Writings

• Rylant, Cynthia. "1993 Newbery Acceptance Speech." Journal of Youth Services in Libraries  6, no. 4 (Summer 1993): 353-356.
• Rylant, Cynthia. "Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds." The Horn Book Magazine  68, no. 1 (January / February 1992): 31.
• Rylant, Cynthia. "Letters to the Editor." The Horn Book Magazine  62, no. 4 (July / August 1986): 387.
• Rylant, Cynthia. "Missing May." The Horn Book Magazine  69, no. 1 (January / February 1993): 52-53.
• Rylant, Cynthia. "Thank You, Miss Evans." Language Arts  62, no. 5 (September 1985): 460-462.
  (Reprinted in: Senick, Gerald, and Melissa Reiff Hug, eds. "Cynthia Rylant 1954-." Children's Literature Review  Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research Company, 1988, 15:167-168.)

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C. Biographical and Critical References

• Antonucci, Ron. "Rylant on Writing: A Talk With 1993 Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant." School Library Journal 39, no. 5 (May 1993): 26-29.
• Foss, JoAnne. "And the Winner Is ... Part II." The Journal of the Children's Literature Council of Pennsylvania 6, no. 1 (1992): 7-8.
• "Henry and Mudge: by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Sucie Stevenson." Videogram: Children's Literature Video Collection (Random House) [in case with video for Henry and Mudge in the Sparkle Days].
• Ruby, Mary K. "Rylant, Cynthia 1954-." Contemporary Authors Edited by Susan M. Trosky. Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research Inc., 1992, 136:357-360.
• Saccardi, Marianne. "Books to Go: A Portable Reading Project." School Library Journal. 35, no. 13 (September 1989): 168-172.
• Senick, Gerald, and Melissa Reiff Hug, eds. "Cynthia Rylant 1954-." Children's Literature Review Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research Company, 1988, 15:167-174.
• Telgen, Diane, ed. "Rylant, Cynthia 1954-." Something About the Author Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research Inc., 1994, 76:193-199.
• Ward, Martha E., Dorothy A. Marquardt, Nancy Dolan, and Dawn Eaton. "Rylant, Cynthia 1954-." Authors of Books for Young People: Third Edition Metuchen, New Jersey: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1990.

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III. PATHFINDER FOR STUDYING RYLANT & HER WORK

A. Summary

Cynthia Rylant has authored more than fifty books for children and young adults, but much of her work is enjoyed by adults as well. She mostly writes contemporary realistic fiction and in the form of picture books. However, her first book (When I Was Young in the Mountains, 1982) was of historical fiction, and her Newbery Award-winning book (Missing May, 1992) was a novel. She also writes pure nonfiction and autobiographies, and other formats in her repertoire include poetry and short stories. Rylant's youth in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia has served as the background for most of her stories.

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B. My Reading Suggestions

Personal Favorites

• Rylant, Cynthia. All I See. Pictures by Peter Catalanotto. New York: Orchard Books, 1988.
• Rylant, Cynthia. A Couple of Kooks and Other Stories about Love. New York: Orchard Books, 1990.
• Rylant, Cynthia. A Fine White Dust. New York: Bradbury Press, 1986.
• Rylant, Cynthia. A Kindness. New York: Orchard Books, 1988.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Waiting to Waltz: A Childhood. Drawings by Stephen Gammell. Scarsdale, New York: Bradbury Press, 1984.

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Recommended First Works for the Younger Reader

• Rylant, Cynthia. All I See. Pictures by Peter Catalanotto. New York: Orchard Books, 1988.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Best Wishes. Photographs by Carlo Ontal. Katonah, New York: Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc., 1992.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Every Living Thing. Decorations by S. D. Schindler. New York: Bradbury Press, 1985.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge in the Sparkle Days. Paintings by Sucie Stevenson, animated by Paratore Pictures. Narrated by Rick Adamson. Music by Arthur Custer. Directed by Rosemary Killen. 1989. 11 min. Produced by Random House / Miller Brody. Videocassette.

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Recommended First Works for the Older Reader

• Rylant, Cynthia. A Fine White Dust. New York: Bradbury Press, 1986.
• Rylant, Cynthia. A Kindness. New York: Orchard Books, 1988.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Missing May. New York: Orchard Books, 1992.
• Rylant, Cynthia. Soda Jerk. Paintings by Peter Catalanotto. New York: Orchard Books, 1990.

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C. Hints for Researching Cynthia Rylant and Her Writing

A WorldCat search is time-consuming and gives a lot of superfluous, poorly-organized information. For most bibliographic searching needs, OCLC will suffice and prove to be far less frustrating.

The Free Library of Philadelphia holds most of Rylant's works, many in several copies. However, they tend to be spread out over the entire system. Locating them may require trips to several branches or use of inter-library loan. The Bucks County Free Library also holds many of her works. Unlike the Free Library of Philadelphia, though, one trip to the main branch in Doylestown should provide great finding success. (Anyone holding a valid "Access Pennsylvania" library card can obtain a free card in either of these systems.)

Children's Book Review Index  is the most comprehensive source for short citations to reviews. However, Book Review Digest  prints samples of reviews and provides reviewer names, when applicable. Personal Name Index to New York Times Index  and The New York Times Index  are a waste of time.

Something About the Author  is the best overall source for information about Cynthia Rylant and her work. It is rich in both biographical and bibliographical data, and it is a helpful pointer to her professional writings. Contemporary Authors  is nearly identical in content, but it is less attractive in presentation and may not be as current. Children's Literature Review  offers a helpful introduction to Rylant's works and writing style, but provides little else of value. As a last resort, consult Children's Magazine Guide  to locate some of her professional literature. Authors of Books for Young People  and Humanities Index  are useless.

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¹ Diane Telgen, ed., "Rylant, Cynthia 1954-," Something About the Author (Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research Inc., 1994), 76:193-94. [Return to Text Reference]

² "Henry and Mudge: by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Sucie Stevenson," Videogram: Children's Literature Video Collection (Random House). [Return to Text Reference]

³ Telgen, 193. [Return to Text Reference]

⁴ Cynthia Rylant, Best Wishes, photographs by Carlo Ontal (Katonah, New York: Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc., 1992), 7. [Return to Text Reference]

⁵ Ron Antonucci, "Rylant on Writing: A Talk With 1993 Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant," School Library Journal, May 1993, 27-28. [Return to Text Reference]

⁶ Telgen, 195. [Return to Text Reference]

⁷ Gerald Senick and Melissa Reiff Hug, eds, "Cynthia Rylant 1954-," Children's Literature Review (Detroit, Michigan: Gale Research Company, 1988), 15:167. [Return to Text Reference]

⁸ Senick and Hug, 167. [Return to Text Reference]

⁹ JoAnne Foss, "And the Winner Is ... Part II," The Journal of the Children's Literature Council of Pennsylvania, 1992, 7. [Return to Text Reference]

¹⁰ Marianne Saccardi, "Books to Go: A Portable Reading Project," School Library Journal (September 1989), 172. [Return to Text Reference]

¹¹ Cynthia Rylant, Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds, illustrated by Barry Moser (San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991), 24. [Return to Text Reference]

¹² Saccardi, 172. [Return to Text Reference]

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• Susan L. Tolbert's Library-Science Research or
• Susan Lank Tolbert's home page

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