Cynthia Rylant is an American author born in 1954 in Hopewell, Virginia. She has written many novels, short stories, poems, and picture books for children and young adults. Rylant often draws from her childhood in West Virginia for her works. Common themes in her writing include kindness, compassion, and making the world a better place. She has received several literary honors for her books, including the Newbery Medal for Missing May in 1993.

1. Cynthia Rylant
Recommended Web Site: http://biography.jrank.org/pages/1628/Rylant-Cynthia-1954.html
Biography
Awards
Cynthia Rylant was born June 6, 1954 in Hopewell, Virginia. Cynthia Rylant is
recognized as a gifted writer who has contributed memorably to several
• A Fine White Dust
genres of juvenile literature. She is the creator of contemporary novels and
(1987) won the Newbery
historical fiction for young adults, middle-grade fiction and fantasy, lyrical
Honor
prose poems, beginning readers, collections of short stories, volumes of
poetry and verse, and books of prayers and blessings.
Missing May (1993) won
•
the Newbery Medal
When I was Young in the
•
Mountains (1982) and
The Relatives Came
(1985) Caldecott Honors Common Threads Author’s Quote
•She often bases her works on her “I love being a writer because I
•The Relatives own background, especially on her want to leave something here on
Came, Appalachia: The childhood in the West Virginia earth to make it
Voices of Sleeping Birds mountains. better, prettier, stronger. I want to
(1991) and Missing May do something important in my
are Horn Book Honor •In her life, and I think that adding beauty
Books novels, characteristically, she to the world with books . . . is really
portrays important. Every person is able to
A Kindness (1988), Soda
• introspective, compassionate young add beauty, whether by growing
Jerk (1990), and A people who live in rural settings or flowers, or singing, or cooking
Couple of Kooks and in small towns and who tend to be luscious meals, or raising sweet
Other Stories about set apart from their peers. pets. Every part of life can be art. I
Love (1990) have each am so grateful to be a writer. I hope
been named a "Best •She often uses animals as every child grows up and finds
Book of the Year for characters. something to do that will seem
Young Adults" by the important and that will seem
American Library •Common themes include precious. Happy living
Association kindness, compassion, concern for and, especially, happy playing.”
others and how to make the world a
www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-rylant-
better place.
Using Cynthia Rylant’s Books in the Classroom
cynthia.asp
•Pre-Reading: Opinionnaire /Questionnaire could be used with Missing May
as a tool to examine values, attitudes and opinions regarding
death, spirituality, and acceptance of those who are different from us.
•During Reading: Graphic Organizer could be used with Appalachia The
Voices of Sleeping Birds to map or web information learned about
Appalachia and its people.
•Post Reading: Retelling Picture Books could be used with any of the
Henry & Mudge, Annie & Snowball, Poppleton or Mr. Putter & Tabby books.