Cynthia Lord facts for kids
Cynthia Lord is an American author who writes amazing books for young readers. She is known for her stories that often feature characters facing real-life challenges. Her first novel, Rules, was published in 2006. It quickly became very popular and won a special award called the Newbery Honor in 2007. It also won the Schneider Family Book Award, which celebrates books that show the disability experience.
Contents
About Cynthia Lord
Early Life and Inspiration
Cynthia Lord was born in Massachusetts and grew up in New Hampshire. She loved writing from a young age. In college, she even had some of her short stories published and won a writing contest.
Cynthia Lord lives in Brunswick, Maine, with her husband and their two children. One of her children has autism. This personal experience helped inspire her to write Rules, a story about a girl whose brother has autism. Her books often explore themes of family, friendship, and understanding differences.
Awards and Recognition
Cynthia Lord's books have received many important awards. These awards show how much her stories connect with readers and critics.
- 2007 Newbery Honor Book for Rules
- 2007 Schneider Family Book Award for Rules
Cynthia Lord's Books
Cynthia Lord has written many different types of books for young people, including novels, early reader books, and even a picture book.
Novels for Young Readers
Her novels often tell heartwarming stories about characters learning to navigate life's challenges.
- Rules (Scholastic, 2007): This book is about a twelve-year-old girl named Catherine who tries to teach her younger brother, David, who has autism, how to follow rules.
- Touch Blue (Scholastic, 2010): This story is set on a small island in Maine where the community is struggling.
- Half a Chance (Scholastic, 2014): This book follows a girl who spends the summer with her grandmother and enters a photography contest.
- A Handful of Stars (Scholastic, 2015): This novel tells the story of an unlikely friendship between a local girl and a migrant worker's daughter.
- Because of the Rabbit (Scholastic, 2019): This book is about a girl who finds a rabbit and learns about friendship and belonging.
Hot Rod Hamster Early Reader Books
These books are perfect for younger readers who are just starting to read on their own. They feature a fun character named Hot Rod Hamster!
- Hot Rod Hamster (Scholastic, 2010)
- Happy Birthday Hamster (Scholastic, 2011)
- Monster Truck Mania (Scholastic, 2014)
- Hot Rod Hamster and the Wacky Whatever Race (Scholastic, 2014)
- Hod Rod Hamster and the Halloween Party (Scholastic, 2015)
Shelter Pet Squad Series
This series focuses on stories about pets in animal shelters, showing the special bonds between animals and people.
- Jelly Bean (Scholastic, 2014)
- Merlin (Scholastic, 2015)
- Paloma (Scholastic, 2016)
Picture Book
Cynthia Lord has also written a charming picture book based on a true story.
- Borrowing Bunnies: A Surprising True Tale of Fostering Rabbits (Farrar, Straus and Giroux Young Readers, 2019): This book shares a real-life story about fostering rabbits.
