When I Was Young in the Mountains, The Final Word

Do you know why I love to read so much and why I’m so passionate about reading with kids? Because every once in a while, I will pick up a book that I can connect with and that inspires me to tell stories similar to the stories the book tells. When I Was Young in the Mountains is one of those books. Throughout the entire week, I’ve been driving down the road or taking a walk to the mailbox, and all of a sudden an image from my childhood will pop into my mind. Just last night I was driving home from work and I remembered sitting on the front porch with my Grandma Daisy stringing beans just like Cynthia Rylant did with her grandmother in the book. Then I started thinking about all of the canning Grandma did every year and how much I loved her canned tomato juice, beets, and green beans and how much I didn’t care for her pickles. Then I remembered how she loved her garden and took such meticulous care of it, her lawn, and her house. The memories just kept flooding in, and I found myself smiling with a little tear in my eye as I remembered this very special person in my life who is no longer here.

That’s what I’m talking about when I talk about making connections with books. The more we can connect with characters and stories, the more we want to read more and learn more. I found myself on Amazon last night looking for other picture books about Appalachia because I want to share these memories with my daughter, and I want her to know where I came from.

If you were raised in Appalachia, When I Was Young in the Mountains will be sure to spark memories of people and stories from your childhood that you can share with your children. It’s a short, simple, and heartwarming book that is an excellent jumping off point for making real-world connections and sharing stories you may have forgotten.

When I Was Young in the Mountains, Life Lessons

When I Was Young in the Mountains, as short as it is, reminded me of a number of things.

First, it reminded me of the importance of family. It’s obvious in the book that Cynthia Rylant has fond memories of her childhood and great adoration for her grandparents. As I read it, it brought back many memories of my childhood and of my Grandma Daisy.

Second, it reminded me to be proud of where I came from. Our past helps define who we are in the present and in the future. There was a time when I all I wanted to do was get the heck out of Tazewell and never come back. I did get out, and I’ve been gone for eight years (and yes, I go back at least once a year to visit my family), but I do miss it sometimes and have very fond memories of this little town and the region where I grew up.

But the biggest lesson I gained from this book is to be happy with what you have. In the book, Rylant says she was happy right there in the mountains. That’s where she wanted to be more than anywhere else in the world. As I was thinking about this, it made me take a step back and appreciate what I have right now: A wonderful family, a loving and supportive husband, a beautiful daughter, a great job and co-workers, a house to live in, plenty of food to eat. I suffer from the “never being satisfied with what I have” disease. As soon as I start feeling comfortable with something, I want to learn a new skill or try something new or do something different, which is not necessarily a bad thing. This attitude has helped me be successful in life. But at the same time, it’s nice to sit back, take a deep breath, take a look at what I have right now and realize that life is pretty darn good. It’s so easy to think about all of the things you don’t have and of all the rotten things that have happened, but When I Was Young in the Mountains helped me remember to appreciate what I do have and the people who are sharing this journey with me.

When I Was Young in the Mountains, Learning Activities

For such a short story, there are loads of activities you can do with your child to help him/her make connections with the stories in When I Was Young in the Mountains.

Compare/Contrast
Compare how life was back then to how it is now. Compare items such as bathrooms, taking baths, swimming, etc. For your artsy kids, have them draw a visual representation. For your kids who love to tell stories, have them make up their own stories about kids back them versus kids now.

Writing/Storytelling
Have your child tell a story beginning with “When I Was Young in _____________.” Better yet, tell your own story about your childhood and where you grew up.

Geography
Locate West Virginia on a map and talk about its location. Ask your child to identify which states border West Virginia, which rivers run through the state, the state capital, etc. Do the same for the states that lie among the Appalachian Mountains, including the Carolinas, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Maryland.

Talk about the Appalachian Trail, the more than 2100-mile stretch from Georgia to Maine that many hikers hike each year.

Compare and contrast the ocean, desert, and mountains, all of which are mentioned on the last page of the book.

Religion
In the story, Rylant writes about going to church and witnessing her cousin being baptized in the river. I know I’ve never witnessed this in person, and your child may have questions about what’s going on. Explain what is happening. It could be an excellent jumping off point for talking about different religions and their practices.

Astronomy
One of Rylant’s memories in the book is sitting on the porch with her family at night under a sparkling night sky. Take a moment to point out the stars in the sky and the constellations.

Science/Nature
Find pictures of the animals mentioned in the book, the bobwhite, black snake, frogs, and cows. Discuss facts about each one, including the sound it makes, what it eats, etc. Talk about the different plants and wildlife found in the Appalachians.

Appalachia
This book can be a jumping off point for discussing the Appalachian culture—the people, the food, the traditions, the music, etc. Unfortunately, there is a misconception about Appalachian people being hillbillies and dumb. Use this as an opportunity to describe the richness of the culture. Check out National Geographic’s site about Appalachia. It offers an interactive map with points of interest throughout the Appalachian region. There are so many more out there.

This book has been around for twenty-five years, so let me know what you’ve tried.

When I Was Young in the Mountains, Overview

Fast Facts:
Author: Cynthia Rylant
Illustrator: Diane Goode
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Puffin
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0140548750
ISBN-13: 978-0140548754


When I Was Young in the Mountains depicts Cynthia Rylant’s memories of her childhood spent with her grandparents in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. Rylant begins the book describing her grandfather, a coal miner, coming home covered in coal dust except for his lips which he used to kiss her head. The book continues as Rylant describes moments such as eating too much fried okra for dinner, resulting in a tummy ache that sent her to the outhouse in the middle of the night, swimming in the swimming hole which sometimes had snakes, and pumping water from the well and carrying it back to the house for a bath.

With her concise and poetic descriptions, Rylant takes us back to a time where life was simple and hard, yet full of love and laughter. I grew up in a small Appalachian town in Southwest Virginia, Tazewell, and as I was reading this story, it brought back memories of stories my Grandma Daisy told me of her childhood growing up in Rock, West Virginia. And Rylant’s description of eating cornbread, pinto beans, and fried okra made my tummy growl as I remember my own mother making beans and cornbread, something which I don’t think I’ve eaten since I moved to the city almost eight years ago. Diane Goode’s soft yet detailed illustrations add character and warmth to the book, resulting in the book winning the distinguished Caldecott Honor Medal.

If you grew up in the mountains and want to teach your child about days long gone in a humorous yet thought-provoking way or if you’re a city dweller and want to teach about a more simple way of living, When I Was Young in the Mountains would be an excellent choice.

This book is chock full of learning opportunities from Appalachia to Geography to Astronomy. Check in tomorrow for more information!