Tulip Sees America

by Cynthia Rylant, Lisa Desimini (Illustrator)

A young man and his dog Tulip, drive west from Ohio and marvel at the farms of Iowa, the skies of Nebraska, the wind in Wyoming, the mountains of Colorado, the desert in Nevada, and the ocean in Oregon

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Nature, Travel

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Cynthia Rylant is an American author, poet, and librarian whose deeply felt books for children and young adults have made her one of the most beloved voices in contemporary literature. Writing across picture books, novels, short stories, nonfiction, and poetry, she has published more than one hundred works, many of them rooted in memory, family, solitude, and the emotional landscapes of ordinary life. Her fiction often draws from her upbringing in West Virginia and reflects the textures of Appalachian life with unusual tenderness and clarity.
Raised in modest circumstances, Rylant spent much of her childhood with her grandparents in a rural setting that later became central to her imagination as a writer. Those early years, marked by hardship as well as warmth, shaped the emotional honesty and quiet resilience that define her work. She later studied English and library science, and after working as a waitress, librarian, and teacher, she began publishing books inspired by the world she had known so intimately.
Among her most acclaimed works are Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book. She also earned Caldecott Honors for When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. For younger readers, she became especially well known through the enduring Henry and Mudge series, as well as other popular books and series that combine gentleness, humor, and emotional depth.
Rylant's writing is distinguished by its compassion for lonely, searching, or overlooked characters, and by its reverence for animals, nature, and small human connections. Whether writing about grief, wonder, childhood, or belonging, she brings a lyrical simplicity that resonates across generations. Her books continue to offer comfort, recognition, and beauty to readers of all ages. She remains a singular literary presence in children's literature and beyond today.

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

So here's this guy brought up in a family who didn't like to travel. So when he grows up he decides to travel across the United States and describes beautiful attributes about Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa and Colorado. Then he arrives in the desert in Nevada and takes off all his clothes. WHAT!?*&% It was so out of left field that I stared in shock at the page for a minute trying to figure out what happened. I honestly don't know what the author was thinking. I had no idea what to say to my 4 year old who was staring at the page as well with a puzzled look on her face. I just quickly turned the page and hoped she wouldn't ask. Very strange!!

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never read this Rylant book before because I do not care for Desimini's artistic style. Just a personal preference. But I pulled it off the shelf this week because PreK is learning to answer the question, "Where Can I Go in the World?"

The narrator and his dog, Tulip, travel across America in a little green beetle, admiring Iowa's farms, Nebraska's skies, Colorado's mountains, Oregon's forests and oceans, and more. And although I do not like the artwork, as I said, the text celebrates the different types of land across our nation in a lovely sort of way. However....

When our narrator has been in Nevada's desert a while, he suddenly decides to take off all his clothes and walk around, since there's nobody else there. Um...no. That's...well, that's just kind of bizarre. I don't understand Rylant's decision to include this scene. What is the point? She lost me there.

But trust me, if I showed this book to the right kid, pretty soon it would be the most-often-checked-out book in my library, just so everybody could take turns giggling at the page with the naked behind. {sigh}

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This beautifully written story is tremendously enhanced by Lisa Desimini's breathtaking artwork. These are some of the finest illustrations I have seen in kid lit.

Cynthia Rylant writes evocatively of the uniqueness and beauty that makes up America, stimulating a yearning in those of us who have not visited all of the gorgeous places in these pages.

Ultimately, what caught my attention most about this book is the artwork. Tulip Sees America is dynamic and exceptional.

[Jinnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My grandson and I loved this book! As someone who's driven across the country with my dog a few times, this book was a way for me to share part of my life before my grandson with my grandson. The artwork is gorgeous and brought back so many memories for me.

About the "nude" scene: I can't believe how many people have taken offense to this. The artwork is tasteful and done well. It only shows the person's butt, which, I hate to break it to the prudes, everyone has and children find hysterical. And have you ever driven through the desert in an un-air conditioned car, like a 1960s-era VW Beetle? It's like an oven and you want to take your clothes off!

[Jenny Hartfelder · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate the value of this book for exposing children to some of the varied and beautiful habitats of our country. However, Tulip does not see "America" ... He sees about 6 states in a trek from Ohio to Oregon. On top of that, he decides to take all his clothes off in the desert of Nevada! 😳🤦‍♀️🙄

[Smita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives us a bucket list of states to visit. We had just gotten back from Nevada when we read the book so my 5-YO was so excited when we got to that section. A bit more info. about the states would be great and I could do without the weird nude scene behind the cactus.

[Ramona · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been a five star if it weren't for the partial nudity scene in the desert. Why is that included in a child's picture book? Not needed. This isn't a "How to use the potty" teaching picture book. Very disappointed.

[The Transmuted Tree · Rating 2 out of 5]

Red 1st

The writing was very weird; choppy & nonsensical. At least it was short.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story about striking out on an adventure. The illustrations are beautiful with brilliant colors.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous read. Overflowing with figurative language and vivid imagery. Ignited the traveler in me to see the world! Classroom must have!

[Rosie Gearhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man and his dog go exploring America. (There is a part where you see his naked behind. It didn't seem inappropriate to me.) Ages 4+

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book presents some geography of the northern and western USA. It has a limited viewpoint, as if parts of the US are the best in the world.

[Juso · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story "Tulip Sees America" is about a young boy who has grown up in Ohio, but has never been able to see any other place besides Ohio. When he grows older, he buys himself a new car and takes his dog, Tulip, along on a road trip to see all of America including: Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, and finally, Oregon. In Oregon is where the young man and Tulip make their new home. This story has great illustrations that bring the road trip to life.
As a teacher, I would use this book to inspire students that they can do whatever they want to do when they get older. They can travel wherever they please and can enjoy what the world has to offer.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I suspect this book may be autobiographical, because the narrator starts in Ohio and ends up in Oregon, where Rylant lives now. Lisa Desimini, the illustrator, drew the narrator so that I couldn't tell whether it was supposed to be a boy or a girl. The narrator and his/her dog, Tulip, travel by car across the U.S., describing what they like best about each state they pass through. It made me want to visit those places too! I wish there had been an added biographical note about the author at the end of the book or on the back of the cover. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and recommend it.

[Lorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very visual book that tells the story of a young man and this dog who travel to Oregon in a green Beetle car. They discover the wonders of America and the author depicts the beauty through vivid words that help the reader visualize their journey. This book is a great way to teach word choice during an ecology unit. Discussion throughout a second reading while keeping a list of vivid word choices and phrasings will provide students with a visual memory device when writing their own story to describe the habitat of an organism.

[Vanessa Peavy · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this book, as my activating strategy I would start my lesson off saying this: If you have not been across America, you will by the time you are done reading this book. This book can be used a language arts study by having your students work on the elements of a story and focus on setting. I would also use this book to integrate social studies by having students color each state that the boy and his dog visited. I would possibly divide the states per group and have them research their state.

Grades:K-2

Social Studies lesson would best suit higher level grades.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tulip the dog sees America from Iowa to Oregon on a road trip with his master. It's enough to realize the vastness and beauty of the country. Beautifully written, almost poetic, the book is a great addition to a study of the USA. I love how she chooses one feature that is unique to the state--like the vastness of the sky in Wyoming and the solitude of the Nevada desert. My only regret is that it doesn't include a few more states. Attractive illustrations and font choices enhance the book.

[Kelly]

When I was younger, I was a big Cynthia Rylant fan. I haven't read her books in quite awhile now. At first while reading this book I didn't quite get it or get into it, but after a bit and a pattern I liked it more and liked that it tells about what different locations/climates are like. I know Tulip the dog is seeing America, but I thought it was supposed to be about the boy who never traveled as a kid so really wanted to when he grew up. That was confusing.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

>b> 2.5 Stars I had great hopes for this book! It started out nicely but it skipped over lots of great States and as it skipped over Utah, and went Straight to Nevada I was a little put out. It also overlooked Idaho and California and went straight to Oregon. To each his own. I loved the scenery pictures but the person (a boy..could have fooled me) and the dog look weird. Also that Elk for Colorado doesn't look like any Elk I have seen in the Rocky Mountains. It was the dreaded "okay"

[Blakeley Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good Social Studies book because it has teaches about America. The story is about a boy and his dog as they travel around America. This book has great illustrations that show many different places in America. It give a good visual representation for children to see the different places that make up our country.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tulip Sees America (Paperback)
by Cynthia Rylant
One of the best artistically linked children's books authors. this book shows an appreciation of America as someone travels across america, stating some of the exceptional ideals of the cultural, and natural events and affects of each of the states he passes through to his new place. Read to a first grade class.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This should be called Tulip sees part of America. A guy grows up in a family that doesn't travel, so when he's old enough he sets off across the country with his dog. The part where he takes his clothes off in the Nevada dessert was unexpected. Of course, my 4 year old class got a big laugh out of seeing his backside behind a cactus. The book wasn't exactly what I wanted to convey about America.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book appealed to my now dead sense of wanderlust (thanks children). narrator explains that parents were homebodies and they never traveled--but as soon as he was old enough, it was all about the road. states are described in a palpable way through simple yet descriptive text.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was read to me in a read aloud. A young boy and his dog, Tulip, travel through the beautiful American landscape from coast to coast. Was surprised to see the boy running around naked on one page of the book.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though this book is called Tulip Sees America, it's not really about Tulip at all. It's about Tulip's owner, who just happened to take Tulip along. Tulip seemed like an afterthought. Not to mention it felt disjointed and I didn't really see the "so what?" of the story.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy and his dog, traveling cross-country, with only each other for companionship...that's what Tulip Sees America is all about. Determined to see the country and what is has to offer, a young man sets out with his dog, Tulip, to explore and find a new home.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great book to teach America (at least Ohio west). Talks about a few states and their varied landscapes.
Enjoyable illustrations also.

[Michelle White]

This book would be good for teaching younger student's about the different cultures and regions in America. I got it from the IUS Library.

[Alisha Williams]

Amazing illustrations. A good book to discuss travel with the class and how exploring new things.

[Debbie Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story about pursuing your dreams and appreciating what's good about all the different places in America.