When I Was Young in the Mountains: By Cynthia Rylant

          In this picture book Rylant reflects on the joys of being with her grandparents in the Appalachian Mountains. She tells of visiting the swimming hole during the day, eating pinto beans for dinner, and sitting on the front porch swing in the evenings. A Caldecott Honor book, Rylant's fond memories of the loving relationship she shared with her grandparents are brought to life with Diane Goode's soft and warm images depicting scenes of their everyday mountain living. Many pages begin with the phrase "when I was young in the mountains..." giving the the story an almost lyrical flow. At the book's end we see that she was truly appreciative of her mountain upbringing, not longing to be anywhere else.
         Rylant's writing is fairly autobiographical reflecting on childhood memories of the West Virginia mountains with her younger brother and grandparents. The images and accompanying memories remind me of my my own childhood, growing up in the foothill of the Appalachian Mountains. While of course my childhood included more modern day conveniences than the story describes (indoor plumbing!), the simplistic images of diving into a swimming hole on a hot day and grandma killing an unwelcome blacksnake in the yard compare shockingly well to my own mountain memories. Rylant's story reminds us to enjoy the simple things in life, remembering to be happy with what you have, rather than worrying about what you don't.

Picture Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/920576.When_I_Was_Young_in_the_Mountains