Cynthia Rylant

Quick Facts

Full Name	Cynthia Rylant
Occupation	Children'S Author
Date Of Birth	Jun 6, 1954(1954-06-06)
Age	70
Birthplace	Hopewell
Country	United States
Birth City	West Virginia
Horoscope	Gemini

Cynthia Rylant Biography

Cynthia Rylant is one of the most popular and richest Children's Author who was born on June 6, 1954 in Hopewell, West Virginia, United States. American children’s author who received the Newbery Medal for her 1993 book, Missing May. Her other highly acclaimed books for children are A Fine White Dust, I Had Seen Castles, and the Cobblestreet Cousins and Annie & Snowball series.

She was awarded her Newbery Medal in 1993, just one year after Lois Lowry won the same prize for The Giver.

Rylant was born in Hopewell, West Virginia, the daughter of a U.S. Army veteran, John Tune Smith, and Leatrel Smith née Rylant. Rylant uses her mother’s maiden name as her pen name. She spent her first four years in Illinois. Her parents separated when she was four years old, and she was sent to live with her mother’s parents in Cool Ridge, West Virginia, while her mother attended nursing school and was able to visit her only a few times a year. Growing up in the Appalachian region of the U.S. during the 1960s, Rylant lived in a very depressed economic environment. Her grandparents, extended family and kind local townspeople provided a loving, nurturing, safe environment, while the little girl “waited … until someone could return for me”, but they were very poor and lived a rustic life, with no electricity, running water or automobiles. As a result, she never saw children’s books as a child, reading mainly comic books and enjoying the outdoors.

Rylant earned a B.A. degree from Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston) in 1975 and a M.A. degree from Marshall University in 1976, discovering and studying English literature and greatly enjoying her years in school. In 1977, she married Kevin Dolin. Unable to find a job in her field after completing college, she first worked as a waitress and later as a librarian at the Cabell County Public Library in Huntington, West Virginia, where she finally became acquainted with children’s books. She taught English part-time at Marshall University in 1979 and wrote her first book, When I Was Young in the Mountains, based on her experiences as a young child living in the country with her grandparents. The picture book, which Rylant later said took her an hour to complete, earned an American Book Award in 1982 and was a Caldecott Honor Book. Her marriage with Dolin ended in 1980, and she earned a Masters degree in Library Science from Kent State University in 1981. She lived in Kent, Ohio, for many years, working as a librarian at the Cincinnati Public Library. She later moved to Akron, Ohio, and worked at the Akron Public Library while teaching English part-time at the University of Akron. During the early 1980s, she was married briefly to a professor at the University of Akron.

She was taken care of by her grandparents after her parents split when she was just four years old. Her short union with an University of Akron professor produced one son who was named Nathaniel.

Cynthia Rylant Net Worth

Cynthia Rylant is one of the richest Children'S Author from United States. According to our analysis, Wikipedia, Forbes & Business Insider, Cynthia Rylant 's net worth $5 Million. (Last Update: December 11, 2023)

Her first work The Time I Was Young in the Mountains (1982) is a memoir of how she grew up within The Appalachian part in West Virginia. Later, she earned degrees from Morris Harvey College and Marshall University.

The novel she wrote, A Fine White Dust was an Newbery Honor winner in 1987.

Cynthia Rylant (born June 6, 1954) is an American author and librarian. She has written more than 100 children’s books, including works of fiction (picture books, short stories and novels), nonfiction, and poetry. Several of her books have won awards, including her novel Missing May, which won the 1993 Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, which was a 1987 Newbery Honor book. Two of her books are Caldecott Honor Books.

Height, Weight & Body Measurements

Cynthia Rylant height Not available right now. Cynthia weight Not Known & body measurements will update soon.

Who is Cynthia Rylant Dating?

According to our records, Cynthia Rylant married to Kevin Dolin. As of December 1, 2023, Cynthia Rylant’s is not dating anyone.

Relationships Record : We have no records of past relationships for Cynthia Rylant. You may help us to build the dating records for Cynthia Rylant!

For a period she was in a romantic relationship with Dav Pilkey, author of Captain Underpants. In 1993, Rylant relocated to Eugene, Oregon, with her son Nathaniel from her first marriage. In 2003, she moved to Portland, Oregon.

Facts & Trivia

Cynthia Ranked on the list of most popular Children's Author. Also ranked in the elit list of famous people born in United States. Cynthia Rylant celebrates birthday on June 6 of every year.

What is Cynthia Rylant's most famous work?

Rylant has received much acclaim for her writing. She won the Newbery Medal for Missing May (1992); two of her picture books, When I Was Young in the Mountains (1982) and The Relatives Came (1986), received the Caldecott Award; and A Fine White Dust (1986) was named a Newbery Honor Book.

What inspired Cynthia Rylant to write books?

Inspiration and Education When her mother finished nursing school, Rylant returned to live with her in Beaver, West Virginia. Her father died when she was just 13, and the sadness associated with the absence of her father growing up inspired the themes of loss and loneliness in her writing.

Does Cynthia Rylant pets?

About Cynthia Rylant. I have two cats, Benjamin (the young one) and Boris (the old one). Benjamin was a stray cat who asked to come inside one cold February day.

Where does Cynthia Rylant lives?

Cynthia Rylant is the author of more than 100 books for young people, including the beloved Henry and Mudge, Annie and Snowball, Brownie & Pearl, Motor Mouse, and Mr. Putter & Tabby series. Her novel Missing May received the Newbery Medal. She lives in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

What college did Cynthia Rylant attend?

Education