Cynthia Rylant was a teacher, librarian, and writer who enjoyed watching wildlife like whales and dolphins. While working as a librarian, she read many children's books and knew she wanted to write her own. It took her only an hour to write her first published book. The illustrator Nikki McClure enjoyed illustrating one of Rylant's books and wanted to capture a child's sense of wonder in everyday life. Rylant loves animals and takes walks with her dogs for inspiration.

1. Cynthia Rylant

2. Meet the Author
She has been a teacher, a librarian, and a
writer. When she isn't writing, Cynthia
Rylant enjoys watching movies, whales,
dolphins, and sea otters.

3. While working in a library, Cynthia Rylant
spent hours at night reading children's
books. It was then that she knew she
wanted to write children's books of her
own.
It took only an hour
for this author to
write her first
published book!

5. Nikki McClure: “Illustrating
All in a Day was memorable.
Making books makes me
happy.
It was an honor to work with
Cynthia Rylant's words as my
first major published
children's book.
I wanted to capture a child's
sense of the infinite in the
smallness of everyday life.
A backyard is vast, collecting
an egg is adventure, wishes
are real, Mother is home.”
Cynthia Rylant and Nikki McClure

6. Cynthia Rylant loves animals, and you will find
many in her books. Taking walks with her dogs,
she has said, helps her writing.

7. Cynthia Rylant loves animals, and you will find
many in her books. Taking walks with her dogs,
she has said, helps her writing.