Week 2

Week 2: The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

Book Summary:

The relatives loaded up their car for a summer trip to their relative’s house. When they arrive, they are greeted with hugs, laughter, great food and conversations, and cramped sleeping arrangements. Finally, they load up to return home thinking about what’s ahead and the loved ones left behind.

My Impressions:

The Relatives Came captures the universal theme of the bond between family members. It brought back many fond memories of holidays spent at my Granny’s house. The images of the family crammed in the loaded car and being greeted by family members could have been photographs from my childhood. My favorite image was of the family happily eating as the grandmother continued to prepare food. So much happiness has occurred around family dinners.

Professional Review:

"In down-to-earth language that harbors strong emotion, Rylant recounts the festive celebration of the relatives’ stay and the ensuing sadness when they depart. The relatives in question are a large rural brood, depicted, in Gammell’s joyous color pencil drawings, as running the gamut from porcine to scrawny, old to young and rowdy to silent. In pictures of this group hugging, eating and sleeping, the unspoken closeness of the unnamed relatives can be felt. These softly colored pictures, which capture the spirit of the brief text, are large enough for sharing in groups." School Library Journal

Library Uses:

Create a bulletin board with an image of the book and ask students, teachers, principals, and staff to bring in photographs of their family gatherings. It would be a great way to start the year.

References: 

Rylant, C. (1985.) The relatives came. New York, NY: Bradbury Press.

Top 100 picture books poll results. (2009, April 14). [Review of the book The relatives came, by C. Rylant]. School 
       Library Journal. Retrieved fromhttp://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/   
      2009/04/14/top-100-picture-books-poll-results-45-41/#_.