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27th out of 179 books
—
109 voters
The Relatives Came
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...more
Paperback, 32 pages
Published
July 31st 1993
by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
(first published 1985)
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"The Relatives Came" is a book about a family who's relatives come to visit them. It is summer time and the relatives are on their road trip, headed to their cousin's home for the summer. When the relatives arrive, they hug all of them. They get settled in and start doing many activities together that they enjoy. They tended the garden and picked and ate all of the strawberries and melons. They slept all over the house. They ate all of the food they could eat and enjoyed doing it together. When...more
This book has wonderful illustrations and portrays the story of a family whose relatives come visit from Virginia. They stay for weeks and weeks and weeks. There is lots of hugs and laughter and the relatives do a great job of helping to fix broken things around the house. The relatives leave Virginia while their grapes are not yet yet purple and the must return home when they know the grapes will be a dark plum. When it is time to leave, both sides of the family are a little sad but they cheer...more
I enjoy this story about the relatives came to visit. This family show alot of love, joy, and kindness. These family were so far apart they were eager to talk, laugh, hug and see each other happy faces. This was a large family sharing beds and space in a house. This family gather together to sing songs and the children had time to play with different relatives. The illustrator had shade of colored pencils of pictures to keep it pleasant, calm and warm. It is easy to read for age of 4-8. The rela...more
This book reminds of when I was little and we would go on trips to visit family, and we always left early in the morning. You can feel the anticipation of getting to the place and the love you feel once you get there. Everyone helps each other by fixing things, and tending to the garden. When the relatives left the house was quiet and empty, everyone had gotten used to the crowd of people, but vacations have to end. The illustrations are happy and bring more to the story, so much going on in eac...more
The whole family is together again, which adds to the already big family. Dinner gets complicated and the family has to eat in shifts. There is not enough food for all to have a good helping. Bedtime and sleeping gets complicated when there are piles of people everywhere in every bed in the house. Even though there's a big mess of family all over the place, there is a lot of love and hugs.
The pictures are vibrant and full of many colors. The lines on the page outline the main objects in the pic...more
The pictures are vibrant and full of many colors. The lines on the page outline the main objects in the pic...more
Summary: From School Library Journal
The title of Rylant's exuberant tale is an understatement, for when "those relatives" came, they came en masse and they came for an extended stay. Their anticipation at seeing kin during their long, long drive and finally hugging them "against their wrinkled Virginia clothes" set the tone for this welcome family reunion, a visit that never wears thin. The relatives are depicted as a support system to help a fatherless family with all the things that need to be...more
The title of Rylant's exuberant tale is an understatement, for when "those relatives" came, they came en masse and they came for an extended stay. Their anticipation at seeing kin during their long, long drive and finally hugging them "against their wrinkled Virginia clothes" set the tone for this welcome family reunion, a visit that never wears thin. The relatives are depicted as a support system to help a fatherless family with all the things that need to be...more
I really enjoyed this story. It is a about a large family who live in two different places. They come to visit each other once a year. The author starts out the book describing one family (from Virgina) packing up their things and piling into a car together to drive all day and night to see the other part of their family. Once they arrive they are so estatic to see each other that they can't stop hugging or talking with each other. It talks about how they make room to house both families. The au...more
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In this story, one family is making a trip to visit another. It is told from the perspective of a family member on the receiving end of the visit, referring to the visitors as the relatives.
The artwork is illustrated with light shading using colored pencils of cool and warm colors. Overall the combination of the value and mixture of hues, gives the pictures a joyful mood. On closer examination, the artist’s use of color extends the text, by allowing the reader to imagine related scenes that are...more
The artwork is illustrated with light shading using colored pencils of cool and warm colors. Overall the combination of the value and mixture of hues, gives the pictures a joyful mood. On closer examination, the artist’s use of color extends the text, by allowing the reader to imagine related scenes that are...more
I'm sorry, but this one just wasn't very enjoyable for me. I'll chalk one up for it being a very SMELLY copy of the book. So hard for me to really enjoy a book when I'm wincing from awful odors. The pictures were a little confusing to me at times, but I think that was to go along with how much uproar comes with visiting families. I also couldn't help (at least at the beginning) wondering if they were saying something about Virginians. Maybe that's just me.
What I did like about the book is how m...more
What I did like about the book is how m...more
This book is a recipient of the 1985 Caldecott Honor Award, and it chronicles a lengthy visit of extended family members. The story begins as they leave their house in Virginia, and drive through the country onwards towards an exuberant family reunion of sorts that lasts for the whole summer. The absence of a father is more than accounted for by the many helping hands around the house, as the relatives aid in cleaning, cooking, gardening, farming, and a whole other host of chores. This visit is...more
Critique-Picture Book/Caldecott Honor Book
This is a story about when a family’s relatives come to visit and how families can be both challenging and rewarding. The theme of family is one that most students can relate to. There is the excitement of seeing family members that do not often visit, or live far away, but it can also be overwhelming and different when all these people are in one place. This story addresses the joy of getting together with family from far away, but also the difficulties...more
This is a story about when a family’s relatives come to visit and how families can be both challenging and rewarding. The theme of family is one that most students can relate to. There is the excitement of seeing family members that do not often visit, or live far away, but it can also be overwhelming and different when all these people are in one place. This story addresses the joy of getting together with family from far away, but also the difficulties...more
The Relatives Came is a story about a family from Virginia who packs their bags and takes a summer trip to visit family. Upon arrival family members hug one another and are overfilled with joy to reunite. Their days are spent fixing broken things, gardening, eating strawberries and melons, and spending time together. When it is time to return home, they are sad and realize how much they will miss one another. However, the family is comforted by the fact they will see each other again next summer...more
The book "The Relatives Came", by Cynthia Rylant is a light-hearted story about a large family that gets together every summer. The relatives travel up north from Virginia to have a fun-filled time all summer. The story starts out with the relatives driving up north and pulling into their family's home. They spend the summer together playing games, eating, working in the garden, fixing things, playing instruments, and more. When the summer was over, the relatives say their goodbyes and drive all...more
The Relatives Cameis one of my favorite books from my childhood. I can remember having a unit on Cynthia Rylant in elementary school. This book follows the "relatives" on their journey from Virginia to visit family in another state, possibly Ohio since that is where Rylant is from. Once in Virginia there is lots of hugging when the family finally arrives as well as laughing, eating and talking. The relatives stayed for "weeks and weeks" and helped around the house with whatever they could find t...more
The Relatives Came
by, Cynthia Rylant
1. Brief Summary
This book is about a summer full of visiting from Relatives that live in Virginia. The book was very descriptive of what the family did. The family did things such as eat yummy food, play games, fix broken things, they had picnics, and also played music for weeks and weeks. Even though they were sad to leave at the end of the summer, they always new that next summer they would be doing it again.
2. Potential Audience
The book demonstrates a f...more
by, Cynthia Rylant
1. Brief Summary
This book is about a summer full of visiting from Relatives that live in Virginia. The book was very descriptive of what the family did. The family did things such as eat yummy food, play games, fix broken things, they had picnics, and also played music for weeks and weeks. Even though they were sad to leave at the end of the summer, they always new that next summer they would be doing it again.
2. Potential Audience
The book demonstrates a f...more
Great book! The illustrations in this book really help to bring it alive. The story is about a family who lives in Virginia going to visit their family that lives far across town. They arrive safely and they all get together to laugh and hug and play and eat. They are a rambunctious family but they always have such a great time together.
This book can be used in the younger grades to teach about illustrations and how beneficial they are to a story. It is important that kids learn to make their i...more
This book can be used in the younger grades to teach about illustrations and how beneficial they are to a story. It is important that kids learn to make their i...more
The Relatives is a great book that can be very relatable to children of all ages. This book describes what it is like and how one feels when their relatives come to town. This book somewhat reminds me of the feeling I have when I go on a family road trip or when our family has a huge family reunion. Therefore, this book invites the readers to make text-to-self connections.The illustrations are very detailed and they bring life to the story. I think that this book would be a great book to use to...more
My grandmother bought me this book, and after reading it I realized why. This is a story about a family preparing for a long visit from their many, boisterous relatives. They pile into the home, stuff themselves around the table, help out with the house chores, and sleep wherever they find room.
The book is well-written with enthusiasm and vibrant illustrations. The relatives remind me of my loud and loving family of many members, so this book is very relatable. The events are also plausible. Whe...more
The book is well-written with enthusiasm and vibrant illustrations. The relatives remind me of my loud and loving family of many members, so this book is very relatable. The events are also plausible. Whe...more
1. Summary: The relatives come from Virginia to visit over the summer and stayed for weeks and weeks. There were so many people in one house! The story describes in detail about the visit. All summer they tended the garden and ate up all the strawberries and melons. They plucked banjos and strummed guitars. When the relatives finally had to leave, they were sad, but not for long – they all knew they would be together next summer.
2. reading levels: Transitional reader.
Genre: Fiction.
Topic: Fa...more
2. reading levels: Transitional reader.
Genre: Fiction.
Topic: Fa...more
This lively book reminds the reader of family vacations in the car, to how much fun they have with their family. A warm story of just being with family and enjoying the togetherness brings a smile to the readers face.
The illustrations in this book look as though they were done with colored pencils. The pictures are very smooth in texture but they show a lot of detail. The colors are very light in this book which leaves the reader relaxed and calm while reading the book. The detail in the people’...more
The illustrations in this book look as though they were done with colored pencils. The pictures are very smooth in texture but they show a lot of detail. The colors are very light in this book which leaves the reader relaxed and calm while reading the book. The detail in the people’...more
The Relatives Came is a Slice of Life book about the life of a extended farming family. It tells the story of how The Relatives from Virginia to spend some time during their off season. The narrator goes to explain how the relatives from Virginia would come for an extended stay before their grape season. They would drive “up” in their car filled with sack lunches. When they arrived the family would hug and reminisce about their last visit together and the time they’ve spent apart. They entire fa...more
This is a very good book for children around three to six. The topic of this book is very uncommon which is about relatives. Children learn how to get along with the visiting relative from this educational book.
The illustrations in this book are drawn by crayons with rich colors. The illustrator use big color lump to paint the background, such as grassland, mountain, and the sky; the color in these parts are always monotonous and cold. On the contrary, the main characters are very bright and va...more
The illustrations in this book are drawn by crayons with rich colors. The illustrator use big color lump to paint the background, such as grassland, mountain, and the sky; the color in these parts are always monotonous and cold. On the contrary, the main characters are very bright and va...more
The Relatives came discusses the unity of family. The characters of the book appear to be two very close knit farm families that visit each other during the off seasons of their crops.This is a realistic fiction book about family bonding.I like this text because it can be used in the classroom to display the importance and value of family and how different cultures value their family.For example, you could discuss with the class how these families need one another to work the farmlands during th...more
Ohhhh that Cythnia Rylant writes such beautiful children's literature. This book is written with so much love and passion and I believe students can sense this passion. This reminds me of Wondrous Words by Ray and how she pushes her students to study the work of Rylant because she feels so familiar with all her work. Even though this book was written in the 1980's, and it would see as though it is outdated, it's underlying message of family is just as strong today as it was decades ago. I am alw...more
Useful for a writing prompt, but I would not use this for a back to school writing prompt, because not all kids get to visit other places. Some kiddos spend their summer at home, because their parents are not able to attend a large function. This book would be great to use as a writing prompt about a place you have visited or if you could visit anyplace....What would you do when you arrived? Who would be there? Would there be any characters like in the story? What would the car ride be like? Who...more
Summary: This fictional tale of relatives coming for a visit is told in a first person narrative style. The name or gender of the narrator is unknown. The illustrations feature a boy or girl, perhaps allowing the reader to decide who is telling the story. The action-packed illustrations compliment the text, giving a detailed picture of the words on the page.
Audience: K-2
Uses in the classroom: Read-aloud and discussion for early elementary. Text could be used in guided or shared reading for earl...more
Audience: K-2
Uses in the classroom: Read-aloud and discussion for early elementary. Text could be used in guided or shared reading for earl...more
I think this book really told a great story on how things go when relatives come to visit from out of town. I like how it mentions the long drives to give an idea of what the family has to go through in order to make it there. This would give a young child, five years of age or older, a good idea of what to expect when family is coming to visit from out of town. I like the illustrations.
Extension Activity: Have the children bring in pictures of their family so they can create a family tree. If...more
Extension Activity: Have the children bring in pictures of their family so they can create a family tree. If...more
The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant is a wonderfully written book about a long family visit over the summer... something many students can relate to, and enjoy fond memories of. The dialect used in this story ties in excellently with the theme of southern family and truly makes the story. This would be a great book to use when working on text-to-self connections or sequencing of events. I remember loving this story as a child, and still love the crazy, loving relatives who live in the pages. I...more
This is a familiar book that we all know from reading The Book Whisper. Cynthia Rylant most famous book. This is a book about family. It is good to read during the holidays when students are seeing more family members at that time.
An activity that could be done with this book is the students get to write about their family coming to town or going to see family members. This activity allows students to connect with something they know and love, family. It gives them instant motivation to write. F...more
An activity that could be done with this book is the students get to write about their family coming to town or going to see family members. This activity allows students to connect with something they know and love, family. It gives them instant motivation to write. F...more
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An author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for children and young adults as well as an author and author/illustrator of picture books for children, Cynthia Rylant is recognized as a gifted writer who has contributed memorably to several genres of juvenile literature. A prolific author who often bases her works on her own background, especially on her childhood in the West Virginia mountains, she...more
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I have also read this book with my students and I found they could relate to it as well. Initially I thought they would have difficulty because...more
Nov 01, 2009 07:58pm