1. Cynthia Rylant

2. Biographical Information
Born: June 6, 1954 in Hopewell, Virginia.
Childhood: Ages 4-8, after her parents’ divorce, Cynthia lived with her
grandparents in Cool Ridge, West Virginia. Age 8, she
moved back to live with her mother in Beaver, West Virginia.
Education: BA from Morris Harvey College, 1975
MA in English from Marshall University, 1976
Masters of Library Science from Kent State University, 1981
Jobs: Waitress, Librarian, College English Teacher, and Author.
Hobbies: Going to the movies, collecting tea pots and quilts, and
playing with her pets.

3. Many of Cynthia Rylant’s books are connected to her real life.
Appalachia Influence
Many of Cynthia Rylant’s books are connected to her real life.
She especially draws on memories of her childhood and growing up in Appalachia.

4. Book Series Cynthia Rylant is the author of several
popular series for beginning readers.
Henry and Mudge The High-Rise Private Eyes
Poppleton Mr. Putter and Tabby

5. Awards Caldecott Honor Book and American Book Award,
When I Was Young in the Mountains
Caldecott Honor Book and Notable Children’s Social Studies Trade Book
The Relatives Came
John Newbery Medal and Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Missing May
John Newbery Medal and ALA Best Books for Young Adults,
A Fine White Dust
Junior Literary Guild Selections,
All I See
Henry and Mudge in the Green Time
Night in the Country
Children’s Choice Books, Birthday Presents and A Blue-Eyed Daisy
School Library Journal Best Book of the Year Citation, Children of Christmas
Ohioana Award, Appalachia: The Voices of Sleeping Birds

6. FINAL THOUGHTS ADVICE FOR YOUNG WRITERS:
“The best thing for young writers to do is play. Playing helps you to love life, to relax, and to cook up interesting stuff in your head.”
WORDS TO LIVE BY:
“Always do the best you can with what you’ve got.”
LOOKING AHEAD:
“I like being a writer, but I don’t know if I’ll be one all my life. It seems like a long time to keep writing books, a whole lifetime. But I’m grateful that I’ll be leaving something important and beautiful on the earth for other people, something honest for them to read.”
Cynthia Rylant