
In down-to-earth language that harbors strong emotion, Rylant recounts the festive celebration of the relatives' stayand the ensuing sadness when they depart. The relatives are depicted as a support system to help a fatherless family with all the things that need to be done in and around their house. Their anticipation at seeing kin during their long, long drive and finally hugging them "against their wrinkled Virginia clothes" set the tone for this welcome family reunion, a visit that never wears thin. Kindergarten-Grade 3 The title of Rylant's exuberant tale is an understatement, for when "those relatives" came, they came en masse and they came for an extended stay.
