Reviews (70)

I just love Dog Heaven!
This book is such a wonderful way to help anyone who has lost a dog, especially children. I teach preschool and one of my student's lost his dog. I gave him this book as well as I'll Always Love You. His parents said the books really helped, and it really helped our entire class learn about the passing of a beloved family member. It's hard for children to understand death anyway, but when it's someone like a dog or cat who just loves so unconditionally, books like this one really help to alieviate any fear that the pet is in pain, or that pet might forget us! I HIGHLY recommend this book!

Comforting to Think about Where our Sasha is now
This is a great book for kids and adults alike who may be grieving the loss of a beloved dog. The illustrations are charming, and the sentiments are great. (God makes dogs special treats in heaven, and they play with angel children, who need their company.) I have given this book to an adult friend who also lost a pet, and she found it very comforting too. We still miss our Sasha dog, but this book helped our family through a rough time.

TEACHER RECOMMENDS!
I have given this book to countless children (and adults) who are grieving the loss of a furry friend. Being a teacher, I am quite often faced with a student who experiences the loss of a beloved pet. If you believe dogs go to heaven, this book offers wonderful comfort in allowing children to imagine what it might be like for their dog in heaven. I would recommend this book to almost any parents trying to ease some of that heartbreak for their child and quite possibly themselves.

A very sweet image of Heaven!
I got this book for my 6 year old son to read for school (to earn AR credits). At the time, he had been very anxious about death, having lost one pet when he was 3 and having another who was very old. We also had two older neighbors die in the past year. He had often had deep worries about death and dying. I was almost afraid for him to read it - worrying that it would bring out those feelings again. But I am so glad he did read it.

The comforting way Dog HEaven is depicted was JUST what we needed. He did ask me if this was real - non-fiction, as he put it. I told him that nobody who is living today has ever been to heaven, so people just have to guess what it is like, and this is what the author believes it is like. That did the trick.

When our second dog passed on, it was very helpful to the children to remember the ideas in Dog Heaven. They were happy that Penny would be able to be with our other dog - Edison; and they had a good time thinking about Edison "showing Penny around in heaven". And also, thinking about our neighbor being there to give biscuits and throw balls to Penny.

It should be on the bookshelf of every family who has a dog!

Great book
This is a sweet book which I initially bought due to my love of dogs. I wanted to share that love with my children and teach them about God as well. Recently our dog passed away and my 4 year old was having a hard time dealing with it. This book helped her to think of Moose being in a special place where he doesn't hurt anymore, he can run and have fun. ... Read more

Book Description

For twenty years, Cynthia Rylant's story of childhood in the Appalachian Mountains has been an enduring favorite. Growing up in the mountains is depicted with a spare, lyrical text and beautiful, tender illustrations by Diane Goode. The book was awarded a Caldecott Honor Medal.

To celebrate its twentieth anniversary, When I Was Young in the Mountains is being released with a commemorative copper-colored band.

Illustrated by Diane Goode ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A wonderful story!
I read this book to my children (then ages 3 and 6) and they both loved it. I always look for stories about people who live or lived differently than we do today to help my children realize how EASY we have it today. They were especially interested (and amused by) the "johnny house" (my son still paraphrases the part about the child promissing not to have more than one serving of okra again after having to make repeated trips to the johnny house at night).

The illustrations were charming and complemented the text beautifully.

Appalachia never looked so good
Author Cynthia Rylant has written a tender story of her childhood days, living in the Appalachian Mountains not so long ago. Accompanied by the excellent illustrator Diane Goode, the book is a straightforward look at life amongst the best-known American mountain folk. Scenes of daily life include everything from needing a brave adult to accompany you out into the dark scary night (on your way to the outhouse) to getting baptized in the local swimming hole.

The book is remarkable for its lack of overt sentimentality. Some might disagree with me, but I was struck by how this book did not fail to note the less than desirable elements of living in the wilderness. Swimming in a swimming hole of your own might be fun. Just watch out for snakes. And baths required an awful amount of work. Pumping the water. Carrying it to the house. Heating it. Goode's delicate illustrations accompany the text of this story perfectly. If Rylant says that the proprietors of the local store (Mr. & Mrs. Crawford) were identical, then gosh darn it, the people look identical. And I especially adored the moment when the narrator's grandmother kills a big nasty snake in the woods. The next picture displays the narrator, her brother, and two other red-headed childred posing sheepishly for a traveling photographer, gigantic dead snake draped across their heads.

I cannot think of many other book that take place in Appalachia. And I certainly can't think of any that are better than this. A sweet good-hearted story, "When I Was Young In the Mountains" understands what it meant to live a difficult life with pleasure and human warmth.

When I Was Young in the Mountains
This is a magical book for those of us who remember grandmothers who were just like this. For me, a nostalgic evocation of time spent years ago in the West Virginia mountains with my grandmother doing the very things that are mentioned in this book. A very special book.

A love song to the Appalachian region
Cynthia Rylant's enduring favorite "When I Was Young in the Mountains" is the tale of her own childhood growing up in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia. The gently repetitive text details her everyday life, from swimming in a swimming hole (even if there were snakes!) to taking a bath to drinking cocoa made by her grandmother. Each page starts off with, "When I was young in the mountains . . . " By the final page, we see that not only did Ms. Rylant appreciate her low-tech, memory-making childhood, but she wouldn't have traded it for anything.

Diane Goode's softly colored illustrations beautifully dovetail with the text, whether she's showing a river baptism, a nighttime trip to the "johnny-house" after too much fried okra, or a stint at the water pump. It's a lovely ode to the simple life, and to being happy with what you have instead of worrying about what you don't have.

Wonderful Memories
Reading this book was truly a joyous experience for me. I grew up in southern West Virginia and spent many days with my grandmother at her house out in the hills. Ms. Rylant's book reminded me so much of my own childhood! This book is beautifully written and illustrated, and brings to the reader a wonderful feeling of warmth and friendliness. Her descriptions are true-to-life, heartfelt, and easily understood by young children. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Everything you would want for your kitty is in "Cat Heaven"
Thank you Cynthia, for such a sweet, touching, loving book. I have read it many many times - although I have yet to get past the page of kitty coming back and watching her family from outside without getting teary eyed!

I also read this book with my 3 1/2 year old daughter, and it always sparks more wonderful conversation and questions about God and Heaven and angels. She is very pleased that the kitties in Cat Heaven have lots of "little pink fishes" to eat, lots of toys to play with and lots of love!

Your whimsical, wonderful illustrations are refreshing and uplifting, and although the words are simple and few, they speak volumes to anyone who has ever loved and or lost a special cat.

a must-read for cat lovers
I read a review of this book in a magazine and decided to purchase it. I ended up buying 2 copies - one for myself and one for a close friend whose cat is terminally ill. She found it so touching and comforting, and her son enjoys the story as well, particularly the pictures of cats sitting in God's lap and on top of God's head. I purchased it for my own family because we too have a terminally ill kitty. I knew it would be a wonderful way to prepare my daughter for our kitty's eventual passing. Of course losing a beloved kitty is tragic and heartbreaking. But this book does provide true comfort by encouraging the readers to envision their cat in a wonderful, loving place that truly is cat heaven.

A beautiful gift for the grieving cat owner
I bought this book after loosing my kitty Juliet and it was such a comfort. It is a children's book, but it also comforts the adult heart after the loss of a beloved cat.

I have given this book as a gift countless times to friends who have suffered a loss and also to adults whose children are having a difficult time understanding why their kitty is no longer with them. This is a real comfort when it comes to pet loss.

There is also a version called Dog Heaven that is equally beautiful.

This will touch your heart!
I bought this book after loosing my kitty Juliet and it was such a comfort. It is a children's book, but it also comforts the adult heart after the loss of a beloved cat.

I have given this book as a gift countless times to friends who have suffered a loss and also to adults whose children are having a difficult time understanding why their kitty is no longer with them. This is a real comfort when it comes to pet loss.

There is also a version called Dog Heaven that is equally beautiful.

Wonderful for all ages
We lost our cat several weeks ago, and I bought this book to help my young daughter with her feelings of grief. *I* was the one who ended up crying while reading it aloud to her, not because I was sad, but because the words and illustrations are so comforting. My daughter and I talked after reading it, and agreed that now we can picture our beloved kitty doing all of the wonderful things in the book. Cynthia Rylant was already our favorite author (the Mr. Putter and Tabby series is fantastic, as is the better known Henry and Mudge series.) She has captured our feelings once again with Cat Heaven -- it's just perfect. ... Read more

Book Description

He got into nails, of course,
because He'd always loved
hands --
hands were some of the best things
He'd ever done.

In God Went to Beauty School Cynthia Rylant imagines a God whose curiosities about the world He created inspire Him to go out and experience human things. But what would God do if He could live in a human world? Would He write a fan letter? Get a dog? Make spaghetti?

God Went to Beauty School celebrates the simple things in life while taking a long, hard look at what it means to be human. Rylant's soft, reflective, and often humorous verse glimpses everyday life through wide and wondering eyes and blends the familiar with the profoundly spiritual.

Reviews (7)

The holy and the profane
The first Cynthia Rylant book I ever read was the picture book, "When I Was Young In the Mountains". The story was not long or drawn out, and the words in the books were simple and pure. You might expect that in a picture book anyway, but there's a difference between saying what you want clearly and directly and simply being brief. Rylant never says any more nor less than she has to. It's a talent that has served her well in the past and made possible the succinct eloquence that is, "God Went to Beauty School".

I don't know if this book is profane or the holiest collection of poems I've ever read. I think maybe it's a little of both. Unabashedly Christian (with nods of the head to Buddhism) the book is a series sweet simple views of how God goes about His day. 23 poems in all, the book shows God getting a dog, ordering a couch from Pottery Barn, seeing a movie, and so on. These are small vignettes that take a what-if stance and enjoy what they conjure up. The great danger of the book, I suppose, was that it might fall into that old, "What If God Was One of Us", trap. Some could argue that this book is unnecessary if you believe that Jesus was already God. Rylant anticipates this point in the final longest poem, "God Died".

The book is simultaneously funny and touching. I have heard that Bible study groups use the poems to study. That groups of people without religion will ponder the poems line by line. The nicest poem in the group is, to my mind, "God Went to India". I have heard that people have read this poem at funerals. That it encompasses something in all of us, touching us deeply, revealing the truth that everything changes from one thing into another. The book is small and it does not impose itself upon you. It invites you to read it and whether you love it or hate it, it will not attempt to convert you one way or another. It is a book to love.

Slim Volume of Powerful Poems
Cynthia Rylant doesn't need to use a lot of words to get her point across. This Newberry Medal winning author gives a whimsical and endearing view of God in this book. From eating spaghetti to sailing a boat, God does all the things a human might and sees them with a deep and innocent intensity.
While the book may not be a perfect representation of a real God, it does soften the edges and round the corners of the most powerful being.
Overall, this book is light on the surface but thought provoking in it's simplicity. A great read!

Disappointed
I was looking for a new genre for my 5th grade daughter, and I picked this book, normally a huge fan of Rylant. I found the cover statement "soft, reflective and often humorous" to be totally untrue. The book was disturbing in an offensive way. I didn't find any humor at all. The God she tries to know is not the God I know. It seemed very disrespectful. I've read better books that touch on the attributes of God in a loving, funny, soft way while opening the reader's eyes to the possibility of being inside God's mind. Rylant missed the mark in a big way this time. I will continue to read her work, and I hope that it will reflect growth, especially in this area.

What IF God was one of us?...
This poetry about placing god in "mundane" situations, dealing with them as if a mere human, is not only whimsical/fanciful. I implore you to read the poems multiple times (preferably after giving them some time to sink in) if they initially strike you as this shallow. Mrs. Ryant verses far transcends the trite, flippant or ... rolls eyes... blasphemous. These poems are refreshing, as they creatively hit the bullseye of imbuing everyday situations with godliness. There is plenty of genuine humor thinking about something traditionally associated with omnipotence becoming a nail stylist, having difficulty with credit card companies, or about owning a dog. And if a book can get across some genuine spiritual lessons to me all the while making me chuckle, if not outright laugh... it's worth having.

a great book
I loved the whole idea of God being "normal", that he had a cold, that he would like someone else to have dinner with (because communion is just not the same as having dinner) I read this twice, smiled, thought, grinned, giggled. what a neat way of humanizing the Man Upstairs! ... Read more

Book Description

In a rainbow-colored station wagon that smelled like a real car, the relatives came. When they arrived, they hugged and hugged from the kitchen to the front room. All summer they tended the garden and ate up all the strawberries and melons. They plucked banjos and strummed guitars.

When they finally had to leave, they were sad, but not for long. They all knew they would be together next summer. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Hug after hug after hug!
This children's book is a joyous and hilarious visit by a very large family to relatives in another State. Although everything gets very hectic, when the relatives finally leave, everyone seems to miss the visitors right away and already are looking forward to the next visit. I think that every family can relate to this story. The book was illustrated by Stephen Gammell and it was a 1986 Caldecott Honor book (that is, a runner-up to the Medal winner) for best illustrations in a book for children.

Wonderful Memory of a Family Reunion
This is a delightful and sweet story of a family traveling to visit relatives. The illustrations really bring the book to life. This is a great summer story for any child, but is especially fun and perfect for my 5 year old son who does better with new situations if he is able to have a sort of preview of what it is going to be like. We originally checked this book out from the library but have purchased a copy to keep. He loves to read the book and look at our photos from our family reunion trip.

Reminds me.....
I and my family are from Virginia. This is just the way we are when we visit family in other states...we sleep on the floor, eat lots of food, everything! I am going to purchase this book to send to my niece. I hope that she remembers when her family comes from Virginia to do all the things in the book. When she misses us, she can read the story and think about us.

the relatives came
This is a great book for kids ages 3-9. It is a good book for young people because I think it teaches kids no matter what all ways love your family and they will love you back. I read this for English class and if I have a choice to read it again I would. It is about a family that comes from another state to visit their relatives, they get there hug for hours on end and eat dinner then go to bed. There's not enough beds for everyone so each person has a arm or leg on them but, they don't mind at all because there with family. I loved the book personally and I think kids would too. After the age 10 or so they might think the book is childish, any age 9 and under I think would love it.

Challenged Book
This book was selected to be included on a banned book list. While taking Children's Literature at West Virginia State College I was given the opportunity from Mr. Samples to explore the possible reasons why this book was challenged. After unlimited amount of time researching this book I never found a concrete answer why. Also, I did not find who had selected the book to be on the list. I did however have my own opinion of the possible reason. One of the illustrations in the book showed two cousins sleeping together, each were of the opposite sex. This would be the only "flaw" this book would have, overall this is a great book. I would highly recommend using this book with your students in a classroom. This book celebrates the meaning of family with hugs and more hugs. Please enjoy reading and re-reading The Relatives Came. ... Read more

Book Description

The first book in the acclaimed easy-to-read series featuring Henry and his lovable 180-pound dog, Mudge. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The beginning of a wonderful friendship!
As of this writing, there are some 20+ Henry & Mug books, each one a small masterpiece. However, this is the one that started it all!!

Everything great or small has it's beginning, and in the beginning of THIS book, which begins, in turn, the whole series, we meet our hero, Henry. Henry lives with mom and dad, but he really doesn't have any friends. No other children live on his block, he doesn't have any brothers or sisters. So, he asks for a dog. That dog is Mudge who swiftly goes from a teeny, handful-sized puppy to the 180-pound pooch we know and love through the rest of the series.

What makes H&M books so wonderful are the bright, simple illustrations that mirror the text and the easy realism of Mudge the dog. Unlike other fictional dogs, Mudge doesn't talk, walk about on his hind legs or save the universe: he is just a big, happy, loving pooch who, like dogs everywhere, is totally dedicated to his pal, Henry. He's like a real dog... a real BIG dog, but a real dog nonetheless. He falls asleep when he's bored, he follows Henry everywhere and is unhappy when Henry's not around, and occasionally he eats things he's not supposed to. Practically any child would love to have a companion like Mudge.

H&M are one of those rare types of books that easily fall between two categories: picture books and chapter books. They're well illustrated and the text is simple and easy to read, but the story is also divided up into chapters (usually three). This makes these books perfect for young readers who may feel that they are starting to move beyond picture books but may not be ready for full-blown chapter books with little or no illustrations. The stories are simple and comfortable and the stuff of everyday life, so a child doesn't need to have a great deal of worldly experience climbing mountains or leaping tall buildings in a single bound to see that reading can be fun.

If you start here with Henry & Mudge, by all means, don't stop here! Go on to enjoy all the other adventures that these two share! You and your children will never be disappointed!

great for the reluctant reader
My son was reluctant to read in his elementary school days. This series caught his attention and by the time he finished all the books in the series that we could find he was intrigued enough with reading to go on to other books. Now, he is a high school senior with stellar SAT scores. I'll give partial credit to Henry and Mudge!

Great book, great series!
I just wanted to say that I unexpectedly found myself homeschooling my 1st grade son for part of the year and I have no idea what I would have done without Henry and Mudge! The series has really gotten my son's reading off the ground. We have read every book in the series that we could get our hands on and we're looking forward to new ones being released. Every book in the series is well written, interesting and has just the right amount of humor without being outrageously silly. The Henry and Mudge series are my son's favorite books by far - they are great books for a beginning reader.

A book review by a 7 and 9 year old boy
I like this book because the pictures are amazing. It is a great book for all ages and easy to read.

I thought it was a good book for me and my brother because it wasn't too easy and it wasn't too hard. It was about right, and the pictures were good.

THE FIRST BOOK OF MANY
My son, a kindergartener, was truly driven to read by Henry and Mudge and their fun, loving relationship. He now reads to his delighted 3 year old brother. Thank goodness the adventures continue in so many wonderful books. Don't stop here! Puddle Trouble, Green Time, Yellow Moon, Sparkle Days, Long Weekend, Starry Night......all simple, pleasant stories. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Solomon Singer's Great Angel
This was a good book about a man who grew up in Indiana. He moved to New York. He hated his home in New York. But then he finds a place that reminds him of his old home in Indiana. I recommend this book for all people because it had a lot of interesting topics and good describing words.

An angel for Slomen Singer
Slomen Singer dreamed for things he could not have. During the 1900's he lived in a mens hotel in New York City,and longed for a fireplace, cat, and love. Slomen Singer had no time and the hotel would not alow a cat or fireplace. One day he goes to a diner named West Way Cafe and meets someone named Angel. I recemmend this book to people who long for something but can only get it only in dreams and wishes.

TRULY A CLASSIC
Solomon Singer lives in a men's shelter in Manhattan's Upper West Side. Very little is known about Solomon's background other than he is an Indiana native. This, however, proves to be a very effective tool in the telling of this story.

Lonely, longing for the natural joys of birds and countryside as he knew in Indiana and a friendly person to talk to, Solomon takes to going for walks during the day. A creative man, he dreams of being able to paint the dingy walls at the men's shelter purple; he years for freedom of decision making that he does not have at the shelter.

Luckily for Solomon, he finds the Westaway Cafe, a friendly and fun place. A man aptly named Angel works at the Westaway and the two become instant friends. Angel listens to Solomon and genuinely cares about him. The question is, is Angel really an angel. Yes, he is!

This is a heartwarming, very moving story that will find a permanent place in the hearts of all who read and hear it. One of these days it will become a classic.

heartwarming
this is a great book for all ages. I had to read it for aChildren's lit class and found it to be inspiring and full of hope.Something the world needs more of for sure. ... Read more

Book Description

There is no night so dark, so black as night in the country. And while the people dream of daytime things, the nighttime world awakens. Owls swoop, a rabbit patters, and in the yard an apple falls -- pump! -- from the tree.

Listen. Go to the window. Across the field a light glows. Who else is up so late? Who else watches and hears the sights and sounds of night in the country -- the many stirrings of silence, the many colors of the dark?

Lyrical text and velvety pictures present a very different kind of nighttime: a mysterious, moving night that will lull small children to sleep. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

From One Who Knows
I bought this title for Grandma to read to her Grandkids and decided to keep it for our home. This is an excellent portrait of what life really is like in the country: the blackness, the soft sounds, the swooping owl. A great find for parents to read to kids to follow up on a visit to a relative in the country.

Author paints picturesque Appalachian landscape
As in her book, "When I Was Young in the Mountains," Cynthia Rylant's "Night in the Country" paints a picturesque landscape of Appalachia. Warm country nights, cool breezes, fireflies and other common sights highlight this book. The art is beautifully calming. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

The combo of poetry/photos will make your heart ache.
Walker Evans' photos speak volumes without any poetry alongside them but Cynthia Rylant did a superb job of complementing the photos with her gritty observations. I bought this book several years ago and have read it numerous times since. Just looking at his brutally honest snapshots of the hard times (supposedly) gone by was worth the books' price but just as you think you've absorbed all the beauty his photographs hold, you look over to read her accompanying poem and your heart aches a little more! This book is beautiful and moving - there are really no other words to describe it! It truly makes one relate to and hurt for the suffering/troubles of the people in the photos. And, one should always keep in mind, just because the photos were taken so long ago doesn't mean there aren't still people in the grip of poverty (& classism, suffering, depression, etc.) just as badly as the people whose images were captured in Evans' photos so many years ago. I've not really done that great a job explaining just how moving this book is but I guarantee you'll find it both gripping and touching and you'll laugh, cry, and get angry. Definitely a classic worth adding to your library!

Beautiful book!
Though they are simple and black and white, I found the photographs by Walker Evans to be fascinating. Cynthia Rylant's poetry adds depth to the photographs in this interesting look at the Depression era. I recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (16)

One of the finest children books ever!
I don't know why this book didn't get more attention. If I had to choose one children's book as my favorite, this may well be it. And it's never failed me when I've read it for children either - each time, a hush comes over the room.

What's interesting to me about this book, it's one of the few children's books that don't have any 'children' characters. Basically, it's the story about a lonely woman finding a dog, but, like all great books, there's all kinds of other things put in on top of that - old age, death, the memory of good friends and the lesson that you have to be willing to risk and lose in order to love and be happy.

Cynthia Rylant has written a very special book here and I urge you to get this book. You will not be disappointed.

Even better than I expected!
I bought this book because, well, my grandma is an old woman who names things. I was really pleased with it. I didn't take to the illustrations at first, but they really grew on me; I love all the colors and details (from the car's smile to the woman's paisley pants). The story is touching and held my attention well; it really is great for children and adults alike. My parents liked it, and I hope to read it to my children someday. I'm so glad The Old Woman Who Named Things showed up in my amazon.com recommendations!

The woman who took a risk
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to lose every one you know? Read and find out how life is like without any friends in this book called the Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant.
In this book there is an old woman who has outlived every one of her friends. She decides to name her car,her bed, and her chair. One day a small brown dog comes to her house.The dog has no name. He comes regularly. One day the dog stopped coming back. Will she find the dog and keep it as her own? Read and find out!
I like this book because it shows that people should take risks and try new things. I recommend this book to people who have a hard time making friends.

The Old Woman Who Named Things
The book The Old Woman Who Name Things is a good story. I think it's good for all ages. The old lady named her bed Roxanne, her Car Betsy, her old chair Fred and her old house Franklin. She has outlived all of her friends. One day a stray dog wanders into her yard. She feeds him and tells him to go home. The dog leaves and returns every day for more to eat. Then one day the dog doesn't come. A few days go by and she doesn't see the dog. The old lady gets worried so she calls the pound and asks about him. They said they might have him.
She decides to go to see if he's there. He is, so she takes him home with her and names him Lucky. This story is funny and makes the characters seem real. Parents will want to keep reading this story over and over again to their children.

Magnificent artwork!
I bought this wonderful little book because I love Ms. Rylant's book, "Cat Heaven" and had intended to give it to my grandson, but I'm keeping it for myself I love it so much (I can read it to him when he visits!) The illustrations are awesome. I love the little old lady's outfit, complete with flowered baggy pants and pointy-toed cowboy boots. Readers from age 5 to 99 out there need this book about love, life and loss. It'll make you smile. ... Read more

Book Description

Here are twelve deeply moving short stories from the perceptive pen of Cynthia Rylant. Each captures the moment when someone's life changes -- when an animal causes a human being to see things in a different way, and, perhaps, changes his life. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Touching stories about people and animals
"Every Living Thing," by Cynthia Rylant, is a collection of 12 short stories. Although different characters appear in each tale, the collection as a whole is unified by style and by theme. Each story deals with an encounter or ongoing relationship between a human being and one or more non-human animals. Since the book is only 81 pages long, each tale is quite brief.

This is a gentle, moving book. Rylant has a gift for capturing resonant details. She also writes with great compassion for both her human and non-human characters. Her non-human characters come in many different species: a turtle, dogs, a parrot, squirrels, and more. Her human characters are also diverse: both adults and children, both male and female. I found one of the most memorable characters to be an alcoholic wartime veteran (from "Drying Out").

My overall favorite story in the collection, "A Pet," is about a girl who becomes the owner of a blind old goldfish. I would recommend this book especially to those interested in the short story as a literary form and to those interested in literature about animals. If you like this book, I would also recommend Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's novel "Shiloh."

Just a plain old good book
This may be the last in the series, but was my first read. Each chapter is a minnie story depicted in the rolling hills of Scotland. The humble vet brings his interesting account of his practice to the reader in such a way that you cannot put the book down. That's not just a cliche, either. It IS a very good book.

For lovers of animals and people!!`
Wonderful stories!! Life as it is!! Having read these stories aloud to adults in nursing homes on numerous occassion and found them to satisfy our need to hear good resolves, we can all recommend this good read. "A Bad Road for Cats", one of the favorites, that hits the hard realities of human relationships and good resolves in our dealing with others when things aren't right. Stories of people finding there way through realationships with others and the place that animals play in our lives to make bridges. Read them! You will love them if you love people and animals. Write more of these Cynthia! ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

scarecrow
Title: Scarecrow
Author: Cynthia Rylant
Favorite Characters: scarecrow, birds

This story tells about a scarecrows life from a scarecrow's point of view. It begins with the scarecrow being made in the spring and the garden is being planted. The birds love to hang around on his arms and talk all day. He goes through summer, fall, and all he knows is that plants are growing up all around him.
This book shows how a scarecrow's life is peaceful and relaxing. It also shows the seasons and what happens during those seasons. It's not ever day you get to read about a scarecrow and it's life, so I recommend you read this book.

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A beautifully illustrated book!
Although I usually love Ms. Ryland's work (this is the 5th book by the author I have) and the illustrations are warm, colorful, and inspiring, I felt the story to be not very easy for children to understand and not as particularly uplifting as some of her other works. I was a little disappointed but will continue to read it to my children as they age and see if they catch on.

Children love it
From an adult viewpoint, I thought the book was "very nice", but my child fell in love with this book. I am rating it as he would rate it. After all, the book is intended for children. He came home from school one day to describe a wonderful story that their teacher had read to them. He said it was so special because the words were soft and pleasing. This is a first! He also loved the pictures. So,I couldn't resist getting him a copy for Christmas. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (7)

Very Entertaining
My son has ALL the Mr.Putter and Tabby books (which I highly recommend!), but this one is his favorite. These books are so sweet and funny and the illustrations are just tremendous!!

Great, Humorous Book For Children
This was the very first Cynthia Rylant book I purchased for my 7 year old daughter and after reading it together several times, I bought all of the other Mr. Putter and Tabby books. It is easy to read, and very, very funny. The illustrations are great, very entertaining and whimsical. Thoroughly enjoyable!!!

Funny and sweet
This is another winner from the "Mr. Putter and Tabby" series. Old Mr. Putter and his old cat like to sit and watch the snow, but they must act soon if they want to think of something to give their nice neighbor, Mrs. Teaberry, for Christmas. Knowing her unlikely fondness for fruitcake, the intrepid pair decide to bake her one that wouldn't "break her toe if she dropped it." After much ado, they finally succeed in their effort, and fall asleep on Christmas morning in Mrs. Teaberry's house, having just delivered the cake. In the end, Mr. Putter goes home with "a very nice toaster that sang 'America the Beautiful' when the bread popped up." This gentle, subtle humor runs throughout the book and goes well with the colorful, expressive illustrations. Mr. Putter's persistence in trying to bake a cake is admirable. Furthermore, like many good Christmas books, this one shows the importance of giving. A fine book for kids who are just beginning to read.

A Wonderful Christmas Story - Mr. Putter and Tabby Style!
The Mr. Putter and Tabby series are the sort of books that I would have loved to have when I was a beginning reader. I know that I would have read them over and over again to no end, even once they began to fall apart from constant use. That's why I am so glad that Mr. Putter and Tabby are around now while my youngest brother is learning to read. The non-repetitious (words are repeated, but not enough to become explicit), non-rhyming storytelling contained within the books makes them a pleasure to read continually, unlike many other easy-reader books. And in my opinion, the Mr. Putter and Tabby books are a step in front of Ms. Rylant's Henry and Mudge collection, due to the fact that, in their own way, they create an appreciation for the elderly as the reader comes to love Mr. Putter, the aging main character whose only companion is his cat, Tabby.

In Mr. Putter and Tabby Bake the Cake, Christmas is soon approaching, and Mr. Putter must decide what to give Mrs. Teaberry, his fruit-cake-loving next-door neighbor. Mr. Putter does not understand how anyone could enjoy a fruit cake, and so he sets out to make Mrs. Teaberry a "light and airy" cake for Christmas, one that "could not break her toe if she dropped it." Young readers will follow along with Mr. Putter and his good cat Tabby as they try to make Mrs. Teaberry's cake, from start to finish. Mishap prevails, leaving you to wonder if they will ever get through in time. It all adds up to a cheery Christmas story about giving and the saying, "It's the thought that counts!"

Mr. Howard's cartoon-style illustrations greatly enhance this wonderful story, which is written in such a format to be used as either a 3-chapter book for the beginning reader, or a bedtime story that is longer in length. Either way, the Mr. Putter and Tabby books would be a great find for emerging readers' shelves. Like having a kindly old grandpa next door, they only make life richer!

A nice change-of-pace Christmas story
A delightful Christmas story that emphasizes giving of oneself and pokes a little fun at commercialism. Mr. Putter is as "light and airy" (or light and HAIRY as my five-year-old points out in chapter 4) as ever. Mr. Putter teaches us that we are never too old to learn! ... Read more

Book Description

MEET THE COBBLE STREET COUSINS

Lily, who wants to be a poet.
Tess, who wants to be a Broadway star.
Rosie, who wants a little cottage with flowers by the door.

It's winter vacation and there's no school for three weeks, but the Cobble Street Cousins aren't worried about being bored. They're learning how to sew from their neighbor Mrs. White. And they're starting to keep a diary about their year living in the wonderful attic room in Aunt Lucy's little blue house. Best of all, there's a Winter Solstice party at Aunt Lucy's boyfriend Michael's apartment, with special presents for everyone. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Cobble Street Cousins - Special Gifts
The "special gift" is this book and the entire series of Cobble Street Cousins. I am the proud mother of four lovely daughters and what a pleasure to find such a sweetly written book. I have recommended this book to friends with daughters and they have loved it as well. It is hard to find a morally appropriate, light, non-violent book for young girls. Thank you, thank you, thank you! This is the type of book all little girls should grow up on. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (1)

Another winner from Mr. Putter and Tabby
Cynthia Rylant and Arthur Howard have created a winning combination in the Mr. Putter and his cat Tabby along with their quirky neighbors, Ms. Teaberry and her good dog Zeke. This latest offering in the series is laugh out loud funny. Mr. Putter and Tabby try to make soup while they are continually pestered by Zeke in his desire for a little attention. Yes, it is a simple story but it's timing is great and the illustrations as always are great. My four year old daughter loves this book and it leaves her in tears of laughter.

This is about the 6th book we bought in the series and they have all been great. It is nice to see stories that involve older people and have such winning story lines. I cannot recommend these books strongly enough. With the holiday season still in mind, check out Mr Putter and Tabby Bake the Cake - A great Christmas book ... Read more

Book Description

Meet the
COBBLE STREET COUSINS

• Lily, who wants to be a poet •

• Tess, who wants to be a Broadway star •

• Rosie, who wants a little cottage with flowers by the door •

The cousins' parents are coming home! Of course Lily, Tess, and Rosie are looking forward to seeing their parents, but they're also sad about leaving their cozy attic room in Aunt Lucy's little blue house on Cobble Street -- and each other. So they plan a summer party to welcome their parents back and to cheer themselves up. But it's Aunt Lucy's boyfriend, Michael, whose wonderful surprise makes the party really special. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Summer Party is a Blast!
The book Summer Party is by Cynthia Rylant. A quick summary of Summer Party is that three girls named Tess, Rosie, and Lily live in their Aunt Lucy's attic for the summer. At the end of the summer, the three girls plan a party for their family. They're at the party with Japanese Lanterns, entertainment, and fortunes. After the party, Michael, Aunt Lucy's boyfriend asks, "Aunt Lucy will you marry me?" I would give this book to my friend Renee because she loves the summer. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This wonderful book revolves around a few delightfully named characters: Summer, Uncle Ob, Aunt May and Cletus Underwood. After being passed among relatives, Summer joins her aunt and uncle and marvels at the couple's deep love for one another. But after Aunt May dies, Summer and Uncle Ob are brought together in their struggles to come to terms with the death. Cletus, a neighbor boy, comes along to help provide an answer. This simple and sweet story, which won the Newbery Medal in 1993, is injected with just the right touches of humor and mysticism. ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Two people try to live on after May dies.
Summer, a seventh grader, from Ohio, lives with her Uncle Ob, in West Virginia. Her best friend is Cletus, who in Summer's opinion is crazy.

The night of May's funeral; Ob went out into his Chevy and just sat there. All three of them try to communicate with May by doing anything they can. They even tried putting whriligigs out in May's garden. When that didn't work, they went to see Reverend Miriam B. Young, also known as the "Bat Lady".

Missing May is a heartwarming story with special and emotional parts. It had it's up and downs but it still is very sad. I would recommend it to anyone who has ever read a book. It is a story I will remember forever.

A Lovely Read for all ages
Book Review: Missing May By: Cynthia Rylant

Summer is six years old when her aunt May and Uncle Ob decide to rescue her from her loveless home situation. This is different mainly because May and Ob are passed middle age, more like the age of grandparents. They live as a happy three-person family. May is eccentric and has a heart as big as the universe. Ob and Summer revel in their lives with May.

Unfortunately, six years after the three people became a family, May is found in her garden...dead. Ob is so lonely and Summer is afraid that if she can't help him to feel better and find a life on his own without May she is going to lose him, too. Ob tells Summer and her (reluctantly) new friend Cleus Underwood that he feels May around him and would like to contact her. It is Cletus, the strange boy from school that has elderly parents of his own, that thinks he has found a person to help Ob contact her. Ob brightens up, he dresses once again, there is a glint back in his eye, and he even puts his "whirligigs" in May's now uncared for garden. All these signs are a relief for Summer. She will go along with just about anything, including this hair-brained idea, as long as Ob is the better for it. The three set out to meet this soothsayer. Sadly, when they finally go to meet him they find that he has passed on. Ob is again silent. Like all the air has been winded out of him. They are going to leave the city without seeing the sights Cletus has been dying to see.

Ob, however, does some internal soul searching and finds that, although they will always miss May, he will be able to live the rest of his life until they meet again in the hereafter. A wonderful and touching book that helps the reader understand a little about how people cope at all ages when a loved one is gone.

Missing May
Missing May is about a girl named Summer, whose Aunt May dies while 'gardening'(not working in the garden). After May dies, her Uncle Ob acts as if he doesn't want to continue with his life. This, of course, worries Summer. See how Ob and Summer learn to cope, if they do, with May's death.

Rylant writes beautifully in her second Newbery book. If you like 'May', then you'll love A Fine White Dust, also by Cynthia Rylant

WONDERFUL
Missing May is a wondrous tale of grief and recovery. The author deserves all the recognition she received for this book. I am amazed that, even though it is written for young readers, just how much it appeals to adults. I remember years ago when it was read to one of my college classes by our professor. It literally brought tears to almost everyone's eyes. The book is so skillfully written that it transcends age levels, genres, and labels. Not a single word is wasted in this story. I highly recommend it.

If you have just lost a family member this book is for you!
Missing May by, Cynthia Rylant is filled with adventure and mixed emotions. Missing May takes place in a town called Deep Water. By using clues from the story I can interpret that it takes place in the present. May, Summer, Ob and Cletus are the four main characters. May is a gentle old woman and her husband Ob is artistic in a creative way. Their niece Summer is independent and always tries to prove herself right. However Cletus their neighbor is always sticking his nose where it doesn't belong. Summer's, Cletus' and Ob's determination to get in touch with May after her death is what this story revolves around. Missing May is a heartwarming adventure that is just too exciting to put down.
Cynthia Rylant's Newberry Medal book is a must read! May's family fights to connect with her death is just one detail that makes this book a must read. When Cletus enters the life of Summer and Ob he spices up their life with photographs of places and objects they have never seen before. Intense feelings shared by these three characters also make you want to keep turning the page. Whoever sees this book and doesn't read it is missing out on a book you will never forget.
Cynthia Rylant, the author of this book and her history will make you want to read all of her books. Cynthia wrote sixty books and published her first book in 1982. Ms. Rylant has also won many Newberry Medals overall Cynthia Rylant's book Missing May will change the way you look at life forever. ... Read more

Book Description

Pandora, Seabold, Whistler, Lila, and Tiny have all been enjoying the love and comfort that being a family brings. It is a comfort they are unexpectedly reminded of when Whistler and Lila hear the cries of a lonely baby beluga whale named Sebastian. When they learn that he has lost his mama, the Lighthouse Family, with the help of a cranky but noble old cormorant named Huck, does all it can to bring Sebastian and his mother together again. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Amazing New Book for Young Readers
Pandora the cat; Seabold the dog; and Whistler, Lila, and Tiny, the orphaned mice, make-up the wonderful, Lighthouse Family. Together they live amongst each other in an old Lighthouse on the water, where they help to direct ships. However, one day Whistler and Lila hear the cries of a whale, a baby beluga whale named Sebastian, to be exact. Soon they have found that poor Sebastian has lost his Mother, and doesn't know where to find her. It's now up to Whistler and Lila, with the help of the rest of the Lighthouse Family, and a cranky old cormorant named Huck, to find Sebastian's Mother, and bring mama and baby together once again.

In this wonderful, adorable new series by Cynthia Rylant, we are introduced to various wonderful new animal characters, who are sure to rival those found in classics such as THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS. Each character is unique, and possesses his or her own quirks, yet they all share one thing in common, their love for each other, and caring nature. Filled with wonderful sketches by Preston McDaniels amongst almost every page, as well as a delightful plot that will please all young readers, THE WHALE is sure to be a hit.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

I like this book.
This book is so cool!I love it.I like that there's a baby beluga in the book, and the cat and the dog and the mice.Because they keep the baby beluga company and they help him get home. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Poor Gracie. All this little pooch wanted was a quiet house, with "thekitty sleeping on the windowsill, the big dog sleeping on the couch, the quietfish going ploop-ploop." But then one day the painters came. In a "big,noisy truck," with "clangy ladders and big-person voices." Clearly, there wasonly one solution: "She barked and barked and told them to go outside. But doyou know what? Gracie was put outside!"

And so begins the Great Gracie Chase, as this otherwise obedient little pup goesfrom miffed to mischievous, leading everyone from the paperboy to the deliverywoman to the painters themselves on a town-wide caper, in search of the onething she wants most--a little peace and quiet.

As a proven master of the cute but not cloying, Cynthia Rylant (author andillustrator of Dog Heavenand Cat Heaven) sets afun pace for little Gracie Rose (also the name of her real-life dog). But thereal winner in Chase is rascally illustrator Mark Teague, who infuses witand bounce into subject matter that's decidedly more mundane than in some of hisother work (How Do Dinosaurs SayGoodnight?, The Lost andFound). (Ages 4 to 8) Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Cute story, wonderful illustrations
I love the illustrations of Mark Teague, they are just wonderful. We like this book because Gracie reminds us of our own little round dog. My 4 year old and I read this so often I think he's starting to memorize it. Very cute.

Our Gracie Review
Gracie was a really cool dog. She was a very helpful dog. She liked quiet but it got noisy in her house and she did not like the noise.
We liked this book because it has good colors and details. Gracie is funny.

Fun!
This book reminds grown-ups just how much fun it can be to read picture books. It is a silly, quick-moving, adorable little story that every toddler I know loves. Mark Teague's genius really carries the simple tale in a delightful way. After all, if you are a pre or emergent reader you can't help but adore his plump, colorful images. Especially good, and worthy of a spot on your already crowded personal book shelf.

The Day Gracie Got Away.....
Gracie is a good little dog who likes a nice quiet house. She never caused a bit of trouble until the day the painters came. The painters drove up in their noisy truck, yelling back and forth to each other, dragging furniture and clanging ladders and Gracie began to bark. She barked and barked, but the painters wouldn't leave. Instead, they put her outside, so that she wouldn't disturb THEM. Gracie saw the open gate and decided to take a little walk all by herself. She had just set off down the street, when she heard someone shout, "Where's Gracie?" and that's when the Great Gracie Chase began..... Cynthia Rylant has written a delightful and vivid story that's full of energy and magic. Her easy to read text is complemented by Mark Teague's bold, bright and expressive artwork that pulls you into the story and let's you join the chase. With each page, the chaos grows larger and busier, until it almost spills off the page. Together, they've authored a charming and humorous book that's perfect for youngsters 3-7. The Great Gracie Chase is a winner and a wonderful addition to all home bookshelves.

Illustrations are wonderful...story is not
I'm a dog-lover and enjoy almost any book about dogs, but this story sounds as if it was written by a second-grade student. The sentences run on and on and on, and the reader is left feeling as if there was no real ending...the story just seems to stop. I've read most of Cindy Rylant's books and have enjoyed many of them, but I must say that I felt sorry for Mark Teague having to illustrate a book that lacked so much. A real disappointmet. ... Read more