About Me

I spent much of my childhood in a canoe or sailboat, exploring the creek behind my house in Virginia. When the tide was right and a thunderstorm wasn’t brewing, I could follow that creek to the James River and glimpse the Chesapeake Bay.

When I wasn’t on the water, I was often climbing trees, playing piano, or reading and acting out Nancy Drew mysteries with friends.

Today, I am a children’s book author living in Indiana. I love to discover amazing true stories and share them with readers. Often, I write about science, nature, and people involved in those fields. My book for grades 4-8 on cybersecurity was released in August 2019, and NIGHT BECOMES DAY: CHANGES IN NATURE for grades K-3 was published in 2021. I’ve got two more books under contract, and I look forward to sharing more about them soon! I have written many articles for national children’s magazines, too. They cover bionic limbs, cell phone addiction, the physics of snowflakes. and much more.

Between my childhood in Virginia and current life in the Midwest, I had many exciting experiences. I worked on an archaeological dig in France, earned a degree in English and environmental science, and moved to the mountains of Vermont. I studied environmental law at Vermont Law School and wrote a book about the state’s controversial land-use law (Act 250). When I graduated, I worked as an environmental consultant, helping companies comply with laws that protect the land and water around us.

Eventually, my husband and I moved to a historic town in Indiana. We began raising three children–who are now young adults! I spent hours reading with them, delighting in the adventures of Henry and Mudge, Frog and Toad, Hank the Cowdog, the Cobblestone Cousins, and characters from classics like Rabbit Hill, Soup, and The Saturdays. I rediscovered the joy of children’s literature and decided to write for children.

I’m curious about lots of things, from music and art to botany and history. I like to explore the abstract and the analytical, to link the poetic and the precise. When those things overlap, I find magical moments of wonder.

 

When I’m not writing, I give piano lessons, take walks with friends, and volunteer at church and school. I still love to paddle a canoe when I get the chance.

Media Bio

Short version—

Cynthia Argentine writes creative nonfiction for children and teens. Her book Night Becomes Day: Changes in Nature (2021, Millbrook Press) was named a “Best Children’s Book of the Year” by Bank Street College of Education. This story uses vibrant language and photos to highlight the dynamic nature of our world. Her book STEAM Jobs in Cybersecurity (2019, Rourke Educational Media) covers the importance of cybersecurity, with “Fast Facts” about famous computer hacks. Cynthia has also written STEM articles for national magazines. Prior to writing, she earned degrees in English, environmental science, and environmental law and worked as an environmental consultant. She loves how writing nonfiction means always learning something new.

Long version—

Cynthia Argentine writes creative nonfiction for children and teens. Her book Night Becomes Day: Changes in Nature (2021, Millbrook Press) was named a “Best Children’s Book of the Year” by Bank Street College of Education in the STEM category. It was also a finalist for the SCBWI Golden Kite Award for nonfiction. With vibrant language and full-page photos, Night Becomes Day brings the dynamic nature of our world to life for readers ages 3-8. From beaches to woods and from canyons to caves, readers discover contrasting types of change–and the fascinating science behind these transformations.

In 2019, Cynthia published STEAM Jobs in Cybersecurity (Rourke Educational Media). This middle-grade book explains an array of jobs related to cybersecurity and includes “Fast Facts” about famous computer hacks and hackers. Cynthia has two other nonfiction picture books under contract for publication in 2023.

Cynthia began her children’s writing career working for magazines. She has published articles with STEM connections for kids ages 4 to 18. Covering topics from snowflakes to cell phone addiction, these articles have been published by Cricket Media, the American Chemical Society, and others.

Cynthia earned a degree in English and environmental science from the College of William & Mary in Virginia and a master’s degree in environmental law from Vermont Law School. Prior to writing, she worked professionally in the environmental field, first for the Chesapeake Research Consortium and later for consulting firms, helping companies comply with laws that protect our land and water. She shifted careers when her three children were born and followed her creative instincts toward writing.

As a member of SCBWI and a fan of workshops at the Highlights Foundation and Writing Barn, Cynthia has learned from and been inspired by outstanding mentors in the field of children’s literature. She loves how writing nonfiction combines researching fascinating stories with finding fun ways to present them. Naturally curious, Cynthia believes there is something interesting about nearly everything.

 

Occasionally Asked Questions

What were your favorite books as a child?

  • Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
  • From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg
  • Nancy Drew mysteries by Carolyn Keene
  • The Snowstorm by Beryl Netherclift

My grandmother lived across the country on a rural ranch, and she used to send me books with her letters. The Snowstorm was a book she sent about a magical snow globe that allowed children on an old English estate to travel into the past.

  • A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
  • Mythic fantasies by Lloyd Alexander and Susan Cooper

I can distinctly remember finishing these books and wishing I could speak with the authors. I wanted to ask them what other plans they had for their characters and what had led them to write their books. I was fascinated by their ability to create something vivid that only existed in our imaginations.

What are some of your best childhood memories?

  • Being on the water—canoeing, sailing, waterskiing, fishing
  • Going to the beach in North Carolina for vacations
  • Camping with my family in the mountains of Virginia—sleeping in a tent, cooking by a campfire, and crossing a swirling stream on stepping stones
  • Playing board games like Monopoly, Risk, and Stratego
  • Playing piano and singing in choirs

Do you have any pets?

Yes!

  • My family has a dog named Apollo. When my daughter was in third grade, she made a little book about why we should get a dog. My husband and I decided she made a lot of good points, so we got her a puppy for her next birthday. Now, we can’t imagine not having him.
  • Before Apollo, we had fish. When my son won a few goldfish at the town carnival, we put them into the little pond in our front yard. A few of them lived there for years—surviving harsh winters and growing much larger than the ones inside in the fishbowl!
  • When I was a child, my family had cats. Fluffy (a calico), then Benjamin (tiger-striped), and then Ashley (who had long, gray fur).

Apollo