Books with author Cynthia Rylant

Playing dress-up with Brownie & Pearl is a delight in this adorable Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read story.Brownie and Pearl adore playing dress-up. With powder, glitter, and a bit of rosy spray, Brownie and Pearl know they’re so dolled up. But will Mom and Dad agree? This charmingly sparkly story, originally published as a picture book, is now a Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read that’s perfect for beginning readers.

The touching story of an unusual friendship, from one of today's most masterful children's book writers. Now repackaged with an updated look and feel.You could call it unusual. Strange in fact. Most dogs chase squirrels. But not Kona. He's friends with a squirrel. A squirrel named Stumpy. Kona thinks Stumpy's the best thing since chocolate doggie treats.So when a dangerous ice storm hits Gooseberry Park, all Kona can think about is Stumpy -- and her newborn babies. Can they survive in the freezing cold? Kona wants to help. But the journey to Gooseberry Park is icy and treacherous. It will be a difficult, risky trip. But sometimes, a dog will risk it all -- for a best friend.

Cynthia Rylant returns to her home state of West Virginia with this powerful and evocative collection of poems. In a heartbreaking narrative that flows like a novel, we follow Ludie from childhood to falling in love and getting married, through the birth of her own children, and on into old age. This is the story of one woman’s experiences in a hard­scrabble coal-mining town, a story that brims with universal themes about life, love, and family—and all of the joy, laughter, heartache, and loss that accompany them. Would she tell you that six childrenwere too many,that some disappointed,that others surprised,but that, all in all,sixwere too manyand onewould have been just fine.Would she tell you that she marriedthat boy at fifteennot only because he was tall and kindbut also becauseshe needed a way out. —from LUDIE’S LIFE

“Eloquent and resonant…poignantly underscores the significance of family, friendship, and home.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Gentle and old-fashioned in the best sense…a little gem about small-town life.” —Booklist (starred review) “A sweet story for children dealing with change.” —Kirkus Reviews From Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant comes the charming story of nine-year-old Flora Smallwood and the eventful year she spends in the quiet community of Rosetown, Indiana.For nine-year-old Flora Smallwood, Rosetown, Indiana, is full of surprises, many of the best of which happen at the Wing and a Chair Used Book Shop, where she loves to read vintage children’s books after school in the faded purple chair by the window. But lately, those surprises haven’t been so good. Her dear old dog, Laurence, recently passed away. Not long after, her parents decided to take a breather from their marriage, and now Flora has to move back and forth between their two houses. Plus, she’s just begun fourth grade, and it is so much different than third. Luckily Flora has two wonderful friends—one old and one new. And with them around to share thoughts and laughs and adventures big and small, life in Rosetown still has many sweet moments—and even some very happy surprises!

“Eloquent and resonant…poignantly underscores the significance of family, friendship, and home.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Gentle and old-fashioned in the best sense…a little gem about small-town life.” —Booklist (starred review) “A sweet story for children dealing with change.” —Kirkus Reviews From Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant comes the charming story of nine-year-old Flora Smallwood and the eventful year she spends in the quiet community of Rosetown, Indiana.For nine-year-old Flora Smallwood, Rosetown, Indiana, is full of surprises, many of the best of which happen at the Wing and a Chair Used Book Shop, where she loves to read vintage children’s books after school in the faded purple chair by the window. But lately, those surprises haven’t been so good. Her dear old dog, Laurence, recently passed away. Not long after, her parents decided to take a breather from their marriage, and now Flora has to move back and forth between their two houses. Plus, she’s just begun fourth grade, and it is so much different than third. Luckily Flora has two wonderful friends—one old and one new. And with them around to share thoughts and laughs and adventures big and small, life in Rosetown still has many sweet moments—and even some very happy surprises!