Cynthia Rylant’s name is hardly the household name of Eric Carle or Judy Blume. Yet this children’s book author has published more than 40 books with growing popularity in the preschool and early elementary set. Author Cynthia Rylant is the brain behind two popular series: Henry and Mudge and Mr. Putter and Tabby.
Henry and Mudge
Henry is a young boy who goes through life with his dog, Mudge, and his father. Mudge often serves as someone off whom Henry can bounce ideas about something he is considering doing or something that tempts him. Like any good canine companion, Mudge follows right along to keep Henry out of trouble.
Henry and Mudge, unlike some other children’s books, also shows a solid, loving relationship between in Henry and his father. In Henry and Mudge and the Snowman Plan, Henry wants to enter a snowman contest. He needs a wonderful idea, and author Cynthia Rylant has Henry and his dad built a “painting” snowman that mimics how Henry’s dad looked when painting some furniture. One of the joys of the Cynthia Rylant books is that the antagonist does not always win. Instead, Henry and his dad come in second and are happy with the experience.
Mr. Putter and Tabby
The other children’s picture book series Rylant authored is Mr. Putter and Tabby. This collection of books is about an older, grandfatherly man, Mr. Putter, and “his fine cat, Tabby.” Mr. Putter is retired and goes about his day in ways that mimic a preschooler’s day. He and Tabby get up, have breakfast, play a bit, have lunch, take a nap, have a snack, relax, eat dinner, and go to bed. In between they have adventures with their neighbors, Mrs. Teaberry and her dog Zeke.
Mr. Putter and Tabby is an excellent introduction to older people for children who may not be close to their grandparents. These Cynthia Rylant books take much of the mystery out of the older people. Mr. Putter frequently draws parallels between his current life and that of his life as a boy. When he gets a cold, for example, in Mr. Putter and Tabby Catch the Cold, Mrs. Teaberry sends him chicken soup, mint tea, and an adventure book, and her gesture makes Mr. Putter feel great because his mom took care of him in that way when he was sick as a boy. Children can relate to Mr. Putter, which makes these books an excellent choice for any preschooler.
A good children’s picture book allows a child to enjoy a good story and learn a little lesson along the way. Author Cynthia Rylant does that without being too obvious about the lessons and while entertaining at the same time.
