Cynthia Rylant's language is always lyrical and lovely.

The whole clan gathers for a couple weeks in the summer--and it is a hug fest! This is a great one for showing a loving family that is made up of all sorts of characters. My kids really enjoy all the pictures of different people in this book. And in general I just love Cynthia Rylant's simple, almost poetic style.

Despite a lack of any tension to speak of (which usually lowers my ratings), this book charmed me with its old-fashioned and simple take on life. It brought back memories of a childhood before the advent of smartphones and social media, when time spent with loved ones truly meant time spent together. I was surprised to find that I was sorry to see this book end.

Used for children's time in worship.

Re-reading for a class I'm teaching this summer.

A nostalgic, fun romp of a family vacation.

Not my favorite, but my daughter enjoys pointing out the little details in the pictures, such as who is wearing socks and hats, and which toy truck is broken. She also keeps trying to say Virginia thanks to this book, though I can guarantee she has no idea what Virginia even is.

Good for read-aloud to 2nd grade.

The Relatives Came is a Slice of Life book about the life of a extended farming family. It tells the story of how The Relatives from Virginia to spend some time during their off season. The narrator goes to explain how the relatives from Virginia would come for an extended stay before their grape season. They would drive “up” in their car filled with sack lunches. When they arrived the family would hug and reminisce about their last visit together and the time they’ve spent apart. They entire family would sleep in the house, covering every surface.
Rylant’s own large West Virginian family helped stir the inspiration for the book. They warm loving language would be perfect to use as in introduction to not only large family relations, but to how farming and harvesting work. Though the story doesn’t go into extreme detail, it provides enough to expand and extend the students’ learning.

A lovely book celebrating the wonderful chaos of family getting together.