Waiting to Waltz: A Childhood

By Cynthia Rylant

Book Overview

Cynthia Rylant is the author of numerous distinguished novels and picture books for young readers. In addition to her beginning-reader series: Henry and Mudge, Poppleton, and Mr. Putter and Tabby, as well as her Cobble Street Cousins early-chapter series, she is also the author of the Newbery Medal-winning "Missing May, " the Newbery Honor Book "A Fine White Dust, " and two Caldecott Honor-winning picture books.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0027780007
• ISBN13: 9780027780000
• Release Date: October 1984
• Publisher: Bradbury Press
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.5" x 7.8"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

A coming of age book for OLDER children

Cynthia Rylant is a talented and versatile writer who has written for a wide audience ranging from kindergarten to high school. I enjoyed this book immensely, but recommend it for older children (grade 6 and above) especially if used in the classroom. The images, subject matter, and humor, can be appreciated by a more mature audience. Younger children might have a difficult time relating to topics of unrequited love, death of a parent, and coming of age topics in general.(The inside bookflap recommends this book for ages 11 and up and I can see why.) This is not to say that younger children cannot appreciate this book, but as a teacher and a parent, I would recommend this book for middle school and up.

Great resource for teaching Cynthia Rylant's books

Several years ago I taught third graders, and we read much of Cynthia Rylant's work together. I stumbled across this book, and it turned out to be the most useful resource for my teaching and the most intriguing book for the children. Through the poems we had a glimpse into childhood in small town Appalachia, and the light that this shed on the other books Cynthia Rylant read was talked abut for many months. The poems are specific in their imagery, often funny, and accessible.