The Old Woman Who Named Things

The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Kathryn Brown There was a time in my family’s reading history when we had books by Cynthia Rylant in every room, all of the time.  Henry and Mudge books.  Mr. Putter and Tabby Books.  The Cobble Street Cousins. Gooseberry Park.  The Blue Hill Meadows. …

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The Cobble Street Cousins

The Cobble Street Cousins series by Cynthia Rylant has a sweet, old-timey feel – with everyday things making the stories, and nothing really upsetting happening.  These books are great for newer readers who are ready to tackle chapter books (around 55 pages), but still enjoy having smaller illustrations on most pages.  The series has at…

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The Blue Hill Meadows

The Blue Hill Meadows by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Ellen Beier Willie Meadow lives with his family (mother, father, and big brother) in Blue Hill, Virginia – a green valley with mountains and lakes nearby. Things in Blue Hill seem to belong to a simpler, slower time.  This is a book about Willie and his…

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Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend

Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Sucie Stevenson One morning in February, Henry woke up and looked out of his window and found wet yuck.  It was one of those gray days that isn’t Winter (with snow and exciting outdoor fun), but really isn’t anything else either. What to…

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Gooseberry Park

I first came across Cynthia Rylant’s writing through the Henry and Mudge books when my children were learning to read.  When they were ready for longer books, we found several books by Cynthia Rylant that seemed safe, yet still new and interesting, to my blossoming readers. Gooseberry Park by Cynthia Rylant was a favorite for…

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