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When I Was Young in the Mountains
For twenty years, Cynthia Rylant's story of childhood in the Appalachian Mountains has been an enduring favorite. Growing up in the mountains is depicted with a spare, lyrical text and beautiful, tender illustrations by Diane Goode. The book was awarded a Caldecott Honor Medal.
To celebrate its twentieth anniversary, When I Was Young in the Mountains is being released with a commemorative copper-colored band.
To celebrate its twentieth anniversary, When I Was Young in the Mountains is being released with a commemorative copper-colored band.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published March 30, 1982
29 people are currently reading
2799 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Rylant
506 books866 followersAn 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 is the creator of contemporary novels and historical fiction for young adults, middle-grade fiction and fantasy, lyrical prose poems, beginning readers, collections of short stories, volumes of poetry and verse, books of prayers and blessings, two autobiographies, and a biography of three well-known children's writers; several volumes of the author's fiction and picture books are published in series, including the popular "Henry and Mudge" easy readers about a small boy and his very large dog.
Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.
from bookrags.com
Rylant is perhaps most well known as a novelist. Characteristically, she portrays introspective, compassionate young people who live in rural settings or in small towns and who tend to be set apart from their peers.
from bookrags.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 477 reviews
September 17, 2018
An evocative look into the sweet and simple times of days gone by that supports the maxim that home is not a place, it’s a feeling.
May 31, 2019
This seems like a memoir of a girls time growing up in the coal mining mountains and all the good times she had there. It is nice to see what a loving environment she had to grow up in. She had a dark water hole that snakes would be in and they would jump in anyway - I can’t imagine. Their grandma killed a long black snake and they took a picture with it draped over the shoulders of 4 kids to show how big it was. Unusual.
The artwork didn’t do much for me. I didn’t think it was especially Caldecott worthy, but it did tell the story just fine. This very much reminded me of my time growing up with family reunions and all the hugs and people piling in together. I spent 50 weeks a year looking forward to these 2 weeks of the year. It was my favorite time. Now, I love my own space more and I can’t imagine being so packed together. How I’ve changed. I still love getting together with family.
The nephew would jump in the water with the snake, he said. Go figure. His momma would have a heart attack if he did that. He thought the story was ok and he gave this 3 stars. The niece thought it looked like a nice summer, but there were too many snakes in the story. She would not like that. She gave this 2 stars.
The artwork didn’t do much for me. I didn’t think it was especially Caldecott worthy, but it did tell the story just fine. This very much reminded me of my time growing up with family reunions and all the hugs and people piling in together. I spent 50 weeks a year looking forward to these 2 weeks of the year. It was my favorite time. Now, I love my own space more and I can’t imagine being so packed together. How I’ve changed. I still love getting together with family.
The nephew would jump in the water with the snake, he said. Go figure. His momma would have a heart attack if he did that. He thought the story was ok and he gave this 3 stars. The niece thought it looked like a nice summer, but there were too many snakes in the story. She would not like that. She gave this 2 stars.
February 20, 2020
In this nostalgic book, the author shares her memories of growing up in the Appalachian Mountains with her grandparents. Tender, funny, and dreamy. ♥
{Olathe Public Schools Core Literature List, Grade 2}
{Olathe Public Schools Core Literature List, Grade 2}
October 12, 2018
A small girl describes her simple life in the mountains, from the title we know that she is looking back to a life a long time ago. Daily routines are described through the eyes of a child. The illustrations are mostly nice enough, I found the people were too stylised from my taste and too smiley in every scene. A snake is killed, which I appreciate might be a necessity if you have a venemous snake near your children, but I didn't like to see it draped across the smiling children's necks for a photograph, that felt unnecessary. This was a nice story about life long ago.
January 14, 2009
This book is like remembering where I've never been; it is a warm, gentle and dreamy book that calls my name in ways I can't explain. Maybe because just a few generations ago, my ancestors were young in the mountains? The coal-oil lamp, the enamel coffee pot, the fried okra and hot corn bread, the johnny-house, bathing in the wash tub in front of the old black stove, were all part of my own real childhood. Thank goodness the snake-y swimming hole was not. But my grandma killed snakes with her hoe, and my grandpa sharpened my pencil with his pocket knife, and I helped shell the black-eyed peas. I admire the girl's conclusion that she never wanted to go anywhere else, for where she was, was enough. I didn't feel quite that content when I was young, but think I do feel that way now.
The subtle illustrations are just-right to support the dream-quality of the story.
The subtle illustrations are just-right to support the dream-quality of the story.
June 8, 2017
Sweetly poetic, engaging, with even some humour thrown in for good measure (that for example eating too much okra can lead to digestion issues and long nighttime visits to the "johnny-house"), When I was Young in the Mountains shows the delights (but also hints at some of the struggles) Cynthia Rylant and her grandparents experience in the Appalachian Mountains of her childhood. The joys of simple country style living, of community, of visits to the enticing, albeit muddy swimming hole are rhapsodically and nostalgically presented, but juxtaposed to the fact that Cynthia's grandfather has a dangerous occupation (a coal miner), that snakes could be a threat, and that taking a bath is a long, tedious process (but for Cynthia and her younger brother, obviously an enjoyable experience all the same). The presented text itself might at times feel a bit too simple and repetitive for adult readers, but for the intended audience (for younger children), it works exceedingly well, with its very repetitiveness and simplicity actually both soothing and educationally an asset (rendering the lyrical words easier to retain, and the fact that the font, the actual printed words on the page are presented as relatively large, also makes When I was Young in the Mountains perfect for beginning level independent reading). And while I do tend to think that a bit of an author's note with information on Appalachia would increase teaching and learning potentials, it really is not a true necessity, just a very much personal wish.
As to Diane Goode's accompanying illustrations, they generally present a glowing compliment to Cynthia Rylan's narrative (mirroring the gentleness and tenderness of the text, with a composition and colour scheme that for all intents and purposes is and represents Appalachia to me, with regard to both nature/environment and farming/community life). However, I do find the facial expressions of the human figures depicted a bit overly stylised and rigid, with especially smiles appearing as almost unnaturally cheerful and exaggereated (hence a four star and not a five star rating). Still highly recommended (as my issues with facial expressions are but a minor quibble).
As to Diane Goode's accompanying illustrations, they generally present a glowing compliment to Cynthia Rylan's narrative (mirroring the gentleness and tenderness of the text, with a composition and colour scheme that for all intents and purposes is and represents Appalachia to me, with regard to both nature/environment and farming/community life). However, I do find the facial expressions of the human figures depicted a bit overly stylised and rigid, with especially smiles appearing as almost unnaturally cheerful and exaggereated (hence a four star and not a five star rating). Still highly recommended (as my issues with facial expressions are but a minor quibble).
April 19, 2009
This book is for everybody, but especially for women who remember being little girls waiting on their grandpas to come home from the coal mines, dirty as all get out, “covered with the black dust.” Rylant takes us back with her to her grandparents’ house in Appalachia, where we can smell her grandmother’s corn bread, taste the fried okra, feel the muddy water of the swimming hole. We meet the old couple who looked alike and ran the general store. Diane Goode’s illustration of the store adds so much visual text to the story with the wares stocked on the shelf—homemade breads, dry goods, butter, eggs, tallow, soap by the pound. We see big tin canisters of tea, bags of corn meal, eggs by the basket, 1 gallon blue glass mason jars. We go with Rylant to church in the schoolhouse, baptisms in muddy waters, to get a photograph taken by a gypsy photographer. Best of all, she takes us with her to the back porch, where they sat in the evenings under a star-filled sky. And by the end of the story, even the most dandified city-folk could have a glimpse of why she never wanted to leave the mountains.
This book is one of those books that tells a specific little story, but signifies so much more. It tells a million stories if it tells one. It tells the story of being happy with what you have and where you are. It tells the story of what home is. It tells the story of people who know and love you—and those you know and love in return. It tells of home made meals, and longing, and remembering, and of how there’s no place in the world like West Virginia for stargazing. Through the pictures and the words, and those small shadows and spaces in between, Rylant’s first book is a treasure every time I read it.
This book is one of those books that tells a specific little story, but signifies so much more. It tells a million stories if it tells one. It tells the story of being happy with what you have and where you are. It tells the story of what home is. It tells the story of people who know and love you—and those you know and love in return. It tells of home made meals, and longing, and remembering, and of how there’s no place in the world like West Virginia for stargazing. Through the pictures and the words, and those small shadows and spaces in between, Rylant’s first book is a treasure every time I read it.
July 9, 2019
We don't have coal mines anywhere in the neighborhood, nor do any of the local churches do baptism by dunking (not to my knowledge anyway), but we do have a small cabin in the mountains where we live a 'simple' life. We have oil lamps, but we use the electric lights. We too have an outhouse, but we also have indoor plumbing. At some point, we each have found that we prefer the outhouse; we enjoy the solitary walk under the stars while listening for the sounds of the wildlife.
We splash in a cold lake (not a muddy pond) and we shop in a small local market where there's a butcher behind the meat counter. We no longer pump our water, nor do we have to heat it on the stove, but the hot water tank is pretty small so we're aware of our water use. Most of the time the wash tubs and the tubs for heating water are used for other purposes.
Our stove isn't black cast iron. It's a cream and green enamel cast iron that originally belonged to Dad's grandma. (The youngest kids say that it belonged to their great-great-great grandma.) Our mountains have plenty of mosquitos but not many snakes. And we never did sit outside shelling beans, but we often shuck the corn out on the steps. As dusk settles in, we listen to the hermit thrushes saying their goodnights.
So, this story triggers memories, and when we read it with the kids, we talk about our own mountain experiences of not-so-long ago.
We splash in a cold lake (not a muddy pond) and we shop in a small local market where there's a butcher behind the meat counter. We no longer pump our water, nor do we have to heat it on the stove, but the hot water tank is pretty small so we're aware of our water use. Most of the time the wash tubs and the tubs for heating water are used for other purposes.
Our stove isn't black cast iron. It's a cream and green enamel cast iron that originally belonged to Dad's grandma. (The youngest kids say that it belonged to their great-great-great grandma.) Our mountains have plenty of mosquitos but not many snakes. And we never did sit outside shelling beans, but we often shuck the corn out on the steps. As dusk settles in, we listen to the hermit thrushes saying their goodnights.
So, this story triggers memories, and when we read it with the kids, we talk about our own mountain experiences of not-so-long ago.
February 10, 2026
Not sure exactly when I read this for the first time with my daughters, but I remembered that I LOVED it!
9 February 2026: I thought I needed to check this out from the library to reread it, but I just ran across our copy. As I read it, I remembered why I loved it so much. I am terrified of snakes and would hate going to an outhouse at night, but the gentle love of the grandparents, the whole community actually is palpable and I revel in it. The little girl said she never wanted to go to the seaside, the desert or anywhere else in the world because the mountains were enough. I have always wanted to live in the mountains and never been able to, but it wasn't the geographical setting so much that drew me to this book, although the watercolor pictures were lovely. It was the people and the descriptions of their simple lives together. And probably being young and cared for ... in the mountains certainly didn't hurt.
Lovely dream book.
9 February 2026: I thought I needed to check this out from the library to reread it, but I just ran across our copy. As I read it, I remembered why I loved it so much. I am terrified of snakes and would hate going to an outhouse at night, but the gentle love of the grandparents, the whole community actually is palpable and I revel in it. The little girl said she never wanted to go to the seaside, the desert or anywhere else in the world because the mountains were enough. I have always wanted to live in the mountains and never been able to, but it wasn't the geographical setting so much that drew me to this book, although the watercolor pictures were lovely. It was the people and the descriptions of their simple lives together. And probably being young and cared for ... in the mountains certainly didn't hurt.
Lovely dream book.
February 24, 2009
I've always labored under the impression that little kids will only appreciate a book if has bold colors, a catchy rhyme, and perhaps a furry animal or two. Which is why I'm surprised each time my daughter pulls this one off the bookshelf and hands it to me to read to her. The story, illustrations, everything about this book is lullaby-gentle, and yet it mesmerizes her in a way unlike many of the other "busy" picture books I've read to her. Proof, I guess, that Cynthia Rylant is a true storyteller and that even peaceful little books have their place.
January 31, 2015
Write what you know is what I've always heard. And this first book is apparently that - the memories of the author growing up in the rural Appalachians. Definitely it is a life that looks quite alien to my eyes. The writing has a certain simple beauty to it. The art is good but not fantastic. It does capture a place and a time and yet isn't something I'd want to read over and over.
January 15, 2018
Such a beautiful journey to the past. We all enjoyed this one.
February 26, 2020
The narrator of this beautiful picture-book relates the many things she did and experienced as a young girl in the mountains. Cared for by her loving grandparents - Grandfather a coal miner, Grandmother a homemaker - the girl and her brothers have an idyllic youth, surrounded by the beauties of their mountain home, and the warmth of their small community. Rites of passage, such as baptism in the local stream, and small social interactions, such as buying butter at the local store, are lovingly recalled. In the end, the girl concludes that there is nowhere else she'd rather be...
Originally published in 1982, When I Was Young in the Mountains was based upon author Cynthia Rylant's own childhood growing up in the Appalachian Mountains. It was the first of her many books, which include the Newbery Medal-winning novel Missing May . The story is pitch-perfect, capturing the loving web of relations surrounding the young narrator, while the artwork, which netted illustrated Diane Goode a Caldecott Honor, is just lovely. The style here feels quite different from Goode's more recent, lighthearted watercolor illustrations, and I think I prefer it to that later work. I can certainly see why it won awards! This is one of those rare five-star picture-books for me, one where text and image work seamlessly together, and the reader finishes with a feeling of deep satisfaction. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books set in the Appalachians, about family life, or just featuring beautiful artwork.
Originally published in 1982, When I Was Young in the Mountains was based upon author Cynthia Rylant's own childhood growing up in the Appalachian Mountains. It was the first of her many books, which include the Newbery Medal-winning novel Missing May . The story is pitch-perfect, capturing the loving web of relations surrounding the young narrator, while the artwork, which netted illustrated Diane Goode a Caldecott Honor, is just lovely. The style here feels quite different from Goode's more recent, lighthearted watercolor illustrations, and I think I prefer it to that later work. I can certainly see why it won awards! This is one of those rare five-star picture-books for me, one where text and image work seamlessly together, and the reader finishes with a feeling of deep satisfaction. Recommended to anyone looking for picture-books set in the Appalachians, about family life, or just featuring beautiful artwork.
October 7, 2010
I would recommend this book for grades 1st thru 5th. It was named one of the 1984 Caldecott Honor books, and was the first book written by Cynthia Rylant.
The story portrays what appears to be an eight year old girl and her younger brother, living with their grandparents in the mountains. Most every page of text begins with the words,'When I was young in the mountains...', and adds an almost lyrical quality to the book. The young girl describes her day-to-day experiences living a somewhat primitive life with her grandparents.
Even though the conditions the people depicted in the story appear to be living in, paints quite a barren and bleak existence, we are made aware by the characters words and expresions, how content they are and above all,left wanting for nothing. The young girl makes it seem like life in this little patch of the world, Appalachia, is as close to paradise as one could reach in this world.
Throughout the text and illustrations the reader gets a very true-to-life feel for what life was like in Appalachia. From the depictioin of the 'johnny house', to the description of how bathing took place, we see through the eyes of the main character, how wonderful her life truly was.
The artwork captures the people and surrounding areas beautifully. The facial expressions of the characters also do much to enrich the story. We see the love and the closeness shared by the family portrayed.
The book was wonderful and truly set the stage for Cynthia Rylant's other book, "When the Relatives Came". The story lends itself to many comparing and contrasting activities as well as a jumping-off point for a descriptive writing lesson.
The story portrays what appears to be an eight year old girl and her younger brother, living with their grandparents in the mountains. Most every page of text begins with the words,'When I was young in the mountains...', and adds an almost lyrical quality to the book. The young girl describes her day-to-day experiences living a somewhat primitive life with her grandparents.
Even though the conditions the people depicted in the story appear to be living in, paints quite a barren and bleak existence, we are made aware by the characters words and expresions, how content they are and above all,left wanting for nothing. The young girl makes it seem like life in this little patch of the world, Appalachia, is as close to paradise as one could reach in this world.
Throughout the text and illustrations the reader gets a very true-to-life feel for what life was like in Appalachia. From the depictioin of the 'johnny house', to the description of how bathing took place, we see through the eyes of the main character, how wonderful her life truly was.
The artwork captures the people and surrounding areas beautifully. The facial expressions of the characters also do much to enrich the story. We see the love and the closeness shared by the family portrayed.
The book was wonderful and truly set the stage for Cynthia Rylant's other book, "When the Relatives Came". The story lends itself to many comparing and contrasting activities as well as a jumping-off point for a descriptive writing lesson.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2018
This classic is a beautiful, evocative book that brings to life a bygone time in the Appalachians. I remember this book from the old "Reading Rainbow" series.
Humane parents note: There are a couple of pages that describe Grandma killing blacksnakes with a hoe, and three children posing with an especially large dead blacksnake. (As a child, I was rather disturbed by these passages.) Today, we know that killing harmless snakes is senseless...rat snakes are nonvenomous and they provide an important service eating rodents that threaten crops and food stores on the farm.
This content could provide a decent discussion topic...that in the past, we didn't know all the things we do now, and often behaved irresponsibly. How has our behavior changed today and how might it change in the future as we learn more about the world around us?
Humane parents note: There are a couple of pages that describe Grandma killing blacksnakes with a hoe, and three children posing with an especially large dead blacksnake. (As a child, I was rather disturbed by these passages.) Today, we know that killing harmless snakes is senseless...rat snakes are nonvenomous and they provide an important service eating rodents that threaten crops and food stores on the farm.
This content could provide a decent discussion topic...that in the past, we didn't know all the things we do now, and often behaved irresponsibly. How has our behavior changed today and how might it change in the future as we learn more about the world around us?
April 4, 2017
Wow, what a phenomenal story. This picture book actually makes me fall for romanticizing the Appalachians! Crazy! I wanna be a mountain-folk.
All seriousness, this book has heart and oozes with charm. It's so totally 80s it brings a tear to my eye.
All seriousness, this book has heart and oozes with charm. It's so totally 80s it brings a tear to my eye.
September 15, 2017
Rylant's childhood memoir stretches to reach all readers, young and old, to ponder their own up-brings and experiences with grandparents. Paired with poignant illustrations, Rylant's memories come to life in this pleasant picture book.
September 9, 2011
This is a very sweet children's book that caught my eye today while shelving books, so I sat down and read it instead.
July 18, 2016
We've read so many of Cynthia Rylant's books; we've finished her various series and now we are on the hunt for individual books that we haven't yet read.
This is a sweet tale about her youth in the Appalachian Mountains. The narrative is poetic, simple and speaks to an idyllic time.
It reminds me of the wonderful memories of my own childhood and I am sure that time has likely softened the harsh edges of reality and that she has chosen to highlight the warmest of her memories.
Some of the anecdotes are subtly funny and easy for a child to relate to. And the illustrations are old fashioned, with almost all of the people depicted with a contented countenance.
Overall, we really enjoyed reading this story together and look forward to reading more of Ms. Rylant's many books.
This book was selected as one of the books for the May 2016- Caldecott Honors discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
This is a sweet tale about her youth in the Appalachian Mountains. The narrative is poetic, simple and speaks to an idyllic time.
It reminds me of the wonderful memories of my own childhood and I am sure that time has likely softened the harsh edges of reality and that she has chosen to highlight the warmest of her memories.
Some of the anecdotes are subtly funny and easy for a child to relate to. And the illustrations are old fashioned, with almost all of the people depicted with a contented countenance.
Overall, we really enjoyed reading this story together and look forward to reading more of Ms. Rylant's many books.
This book was selected as one of the books for the May 2016- Caldecott Honors discussion at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
September 8, 2016
This book, rather than telling a narrative, depicts warm, reminiscent scenes of the author's childhood in the mountains. Some of the scenes include: sharing her grandmother's southern cooking around the dinner table, hugging her grandfather when he comes home dirty from the mines, and witnessing her brother's baptism in the creek. The illustrations and sensory language created vivid imagery of the author's childhood. This book is very family oriented and has a strong sense of place at her grandparents' home.
I loved this book, and I thought it was so beautifully written and illustrated. It reminded me of sweet memories from my own childhood growing up in country life. I had many connections with this book, such as the southern cooking and attending a small church.
I would use this book both in the classroom and with my own family. It would be great for building community within a classroom; we could read the book, then talk about what images they would use if they were writing a similar book about their home. It produces warm feelings of our own families, memories, and what makes home feel like home to us.
I loved this book, and I thought it was so beautifully written and illustrated. It reminded me of sweet memories from my own childhood growing up in country life. I had many connections with this book, such as the southern cooking and attending a small church.
I would use this book both in the classroom and with my own family. It would be great for building community within a classroom; we could read the book, then talk about what images they would use if they were writing a similar book about their home. It produces warm feelings of our own families, memories, and what makes home feel like home to us.
April 24, 2016
This 1983 Caldecott Honor book tells a simple story of a time when seemingly small things made a large impact on a child's life.
As a young woman, Rylant lived in the Appalachian mountains. This story is a tribute to those special years.
Grandfather arrived home with a blackened face from the coal dust of the mines.
Grandmother made hot corn bread.
At night, grandmother took the little child to the bathroom outside in the woods.
The days were spent swimming in the swimming hole, visiting the country store and, pumping pails of water from the well.
Baths were taken in a large medal tub in front of the fire place.
Evenings were spent sitting on the porch swings watching the moon and the stars.
There is a rhythm to this book that is gentle and evocative.
As a young woman, Rylant lived in the Appalachian mountains. This story is a tribute to those special years.
Grandfather arrived home with a blackened face from the coal dust of the mines.
Grandmother made hot corn bread.
At night, grandmother took the little child to the bathroom outside in the woods.
The days were spent swimming in the swimming hole, visiting the country store and, pumping pails of water from the well.
Baths were taken in a large medal tub in front of the fire place.
Evenings were spent sitting on the porch swings watching the moon and the stars.
There is a rhythm to this book that is gentle and evocative.
April 17, 2024
When I Was Young in the Mountains, by Cynthia Rylant, c. 1982
What a wonderful lyrical memory of a child growing up in the mountains! Interesting that the parents are never mentioned; the girl and her (brother? or perhaps cousin?) grow up with their grandparents. Grandpa is a coal miner. It may be a small and rather crude dwelling, but it is filled with love and beauty and happy memories.
What a wonderful lyrical memory of a child growing up in the mountains! Interesting that the parents are never mentioned; the girl and her (brother? or perhaps cousin?) grow up with their grandparents. Grandpa is a coal miner. It may be a small and rather crude dwelling, but it is filled with love and beauty and happy memories.
May 27, 2021
When she was young in the mountains, not a whole lot happened. She went to school, went to church, went to the store, pretty much did a whole lot of normal stuff anyone would do. Except she did it in the mountains.
December 28, 2021
One of those books that bring calm feelings and take you to the places in the book with minimal words. Beautiful illustrations and a soft way of capturing history.
March 12, 2024
One of my favorite books for children
February 29, 2024
I wish I was living in the mountains.
September 22, 2023
Based on her childhood, Rylant’s memories of her grandparents is told with very touching emotions and Goode’s wonderfully charming illustrations. A- (91%/Excellent)
November 16, 2025
The narrator waxes nostalgic over their rural childhood in the mountains.
There's no real story, just a string of vignettes that left me feeling sleepy and artwork that is stiff and occasionally creepy.
There's no real story, just a string of vignettes that left me feeling sleepy and artwork that is stiff and occasionally creepy.
April 20, 2018
First sentence: When I was young in the mountains, Grandfather came home in the evening covered with the black dust of a coal mine. Only his lips were clean, and he used them to kiss the top of my head. When I was young in the mountains, Grandmother spread the table with hot corn bread, pinto beans, and friend okra. Later, in the middle of the night, she walked through the grass with me to the johnny-house and held my hand in the dark. I promised never to eat more than one serving of okra again.
Premise/plot: When I Was Young in the Mountains was Cynthia Rylant's first book. It would not be her last. It was only the beginning of a LONG career. Perhaps it is fitting--RIGHT--that her career began where she began--in the mountains of West Virginia. The book--beautifully, almost poetically--recounts her childhood memories. She was raised by her grandparents. Each page begins, "When I was young in the mountains..."
My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. I love it for the text. I should mention that it earned a Caldecott Honor in 1983. And the illustrations are nice enough. But it is the text itself that practically sings: a tribute to all things beautiful, simple, and true.
Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
Premise/plot: When I Was Young in the Mountains was Cynthia Rylant's first book. It would not be her last. It was only the beginning of a LONG career. Perhaps it is fitting--RIGHT--that her career began where she began--in the mountains of West Virginia. The book--beautifully, almost poetically--recounts her childhood memories. She was raised by her grandparents. Each page begins, "When I was young in the mountains..."
My thoughts: I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. I love it for the text. I should mention that it earned a Caldecott Honor in 1983. And the illustrations are nice enough. But it is the text itself that practically sings: a tribute to all things beautiful, simple, and true.
When I was young in the mountains, we went to church in the schoolhouse on Sundays, and sometimes walked with the congregation through the cow pasture to the dark swimming hole, for baptisms. My cousin Peter was laid back into the water, and his white shirt stuck to him, and my Grandmother cried.
When I was young in the mountains, I never wanted to go to the ocean, and I never wanted to go to the desert. I never wanted to go anywhere else in the world, for I was in the mountains. And that was always enough.
Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
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October 10, 2017Summary: This is a fiction picture book. The story is about a little girl who lives in the mountains. It is about her life and how she loves living in the mountains. She lived with her grandparents. They would eat dinner together, go to the store, pumped pails of water, go to church, and sit on the front porch. She never wanted to go anywhere else. She wanted to stay in the mountains because she loved it there.
Evaluation: This is a sweet book. This is a great kids book because children can see a new way of living (in the mountains) or if children are like me, they can relate to this story because I am from the mountains. I really enjoyed this book and I enjoyed the pictures.
Teaching Idea: This book could be used for a vocabulary lesson. This book has words such as coal/coal miner, cow pasture, outhouse, okra, hoe, and baptism. The teacher could make little booklets and the students could use context clues to figure out the definition. They could write down what they think it means based on context clues and then once everyone is done they can have a whole group discussion about the vocabulary words.
Evaluation: This is a sweet book. This is a great kids book because children can see a new way of living (in the mountains) or if children are like me, they can relate to this story because I am from the mountains. I really enjoyed this book and I enjoyed the pictures.
Teaching Idea: This book could be used for a vocabulary lesson. This book has words such as coal/coal miner, cow pasture, outhouse, okra, hoe, and baptism. The teacher could make little booklets and the students could use context clues to figure out the definition. They could write down what they think it means based on context clues and then once everyone is done they can have a whole group discussion about the vocabulary words.
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