Rylant, Cynthia

Cynthia Rylant was born June 6, 1954 in Hopewell, Virginia. She graduated from Morris Harvey College in 1975 and later received a master's degree from Marshall University in 1976 and a MLS from Kent State University in 1982. Cynthia Rylant worked as a part-time English instructor, children's librarian, and part-time lecturer before becoming a full-time writer. In 1982, she published her first picture book When I Was Young in the Mountains. The story drew on her own childhood in West Virginia with her grandparents and was well received by readers and critics. Cynthia Rylant has continued to write picture books and has published fiction for older children and young adults as well as poetry and her autobiography. Critics have lauded her writing style as "unadorned, clear, and lyrical" and have also praised her for writing with "sensitivity and perceptiveness". Cynthia Rylant's fiction is noted for her "use of language" and strong characterizations of both child and adult characters. Her "Henry and Mudge" series for young readers also features distinct and appealing characters as well as gentle humor and experiences that children can relate to and appreciate. Cynthia Rylant has received many honors for her books including a Newbery Honor citation for a A Fine White Dust (1986) in 1987 and the Newbery Award for Missing May (1992) in 1993.Biographical sources: Something About the Author. Volume76, pp 193.199. Twentieth-Century Children's Writers. 3rd edition, pp 846-848.

From the description of Cynthia Rylant Collection 1985-1988. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 432980288

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