Bio

As a child in West Virginia, Cynthia Rylant never dreamed of becoming a writer. In her free time, she devoured Archie comic books and paperback romances and enjoyed the outdoors. But after taking one college English class, she was, “hooked on great writing... I didn’t know about this part of me until I went to college-didn’t know I loved beautiful stories.” And one night, inspired by the Southern writer James Agee, she sat down and wrote When I Was Young in the Mountains. Named a Caldecott Honor Book and an ALA Notable Book, it was an instant success.

Since that night, Rylant hasn’t stopped creating wonderful books. Her stories explore friendship, love, grief, and other mysteries, and often draw on her memories of growing up in Appalachia. “I get a lot of personal gratification thinking of those people who don’t get any attention in the world and making them really valuable in my fiction — making them absolutely shine with their beauty.”

She lives with her many pets in the Pacific Northwest.

Booklists/Awards

ALL I SEE (1988)

AN ANGEL FOR SOLOMON SINGERBIRD HOUSE (1996)

BIRTHDAY PRESENTS (1991)

THE BOOKSHOP DOG (1996)

CAT HEAVEN (1997)
*American Bookseller Pick of the Lists
CHILDREN OF CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY (2002)

THE COOKIE-STORE CAT (1999)

COUPLE OF KOOKS (1990)

DOG HEAVEN (1995)

GOOSEBERRY PARK (1998)

THE GREAT GRACIE CHASE: STOP THAT DOG! (2001)

THE HEAVENLY VILLAGE (2002)

MISSING MAY (1992)
*1992 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
*1993 Newbery Medal

MR GRIGGS' WORK (1993)

POPPLETON (1997)

POPPLETON AND FRIENDS (1998)

POPPLETON EVERYDAY (1998)
*Parent's Guide to Children's Media Award Winner

POPPLETON FOREVER (1998)

POPPLETON HAS FUN (2000)

POPPLETON IN FALL (1999)

*2000 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award

POPPLETON IN SPRING (1999)
*Parents' Choice Storybook Recommendation

POPPLETON IN WINTER (2001)

SILVER PACKAGES (1997)

SODA JERK (1990)

TULIP SEES AMERICA (2002)

THE VAN GOGH CAFE (1998)