Cynthia RylantCynthia Rylant

Biographical InformationBiographical Information

Born: June 6, 1954 in Hopewell, Virginia.Born: June 6, 1954 in Hopewell, Virginia.

Childhood: Ages 4-8, after her parents’ divorce, Cynthia lived with Childhood: Ages 4-8, after her parents’ divorce, Cynthia lived with her her

grandparents in Cool Ridge, West Virginia. Age 8, she grandparents in Cool Ridge, West Virginia. Age 8, she moved back to live with her mother in Beaver, West moved back to live with her mother in Beaver, West

Virginia.Virginia.

Education: BA from Morris Harvey College, 1975 Education: BA from Morris Harvey College, 1975 MA in English from Marshall University, 1976 MA in English from Marshall University, 1976 Masters of Masters of Library Science from Kent State University, Library Science from Kent State University,

19811981

Jobs: Waitress, Librarian, College English Teacher, and Author.Jobs: Waitress, Librarian, College English Teacher, and Author.

Hobbies: Going to the movies, collecting tea pots and quilts, and Hobbies: Going to the movies, collecting tea pots and quilts, and playing with her pets.playing with her pets.

Appalachia InfluenceAppalachia 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.

Book SeriesBook Series

Poppleton Mr. Putter and TabbyPoppleton Mr. Putter and Tabby

Henry and MudgeHenry and Mudge The High-Rise Private The High-Rise Private EyesEyes

Cynthia Rylant is the author of several Cynthia Rylant is the author of several popular series for beginning readers.popular series for beginning readers.

AwardsAwards 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 SeeHenry and Mudge in the Green TimeNight 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

FINAL THOUGHTSFINAL THOUGHTS

ADVICE FOR YOUNG WRITERS:ADVICE FOR YOUNG WRITERS:““The best thing for young writers to do is play. Playing helps 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 you to love life, to relax, and to cook up interesting stuff in your head.”your head.”

WORDS TO LIVE BY:WORDS TO LIVE BY:““Always do the best you can with what you’ve got.”Always do the best you can with what you’ve got.”

LOOKING AHEAD:LOOKING AHEAD:““I like being a writer, but I don’t know if I’ll be one all my life. 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 It seems like a long time to keep writing books, a whole lifetime. But I’m grateful that I’ll be leaving something lifetime. But I’m grateful that I’ll be leaving something important and beautiful on the earth for other people, important and beautiful on the earth for other people, something honest for them to read.”something honest for them to read.”

Cynthia RylantCynthia Rylant