Cynthia Rylant was born in 1954, which means that the events in this book are recalled from the 1960s. Yet the outhouse, the water pump, the oil lamps, the old black stove, and the old-fashioned clothing will make this story seem to children like it takes place much longer ago (more like the 1800s). 
 This is a lovely, gentle story that reminisces about a happy childhood. However, most young readers/listeners will be unfamiliar with Appalachia, so they are not likely to understand, or relate to, the level of poverty or the old-timey ways of the mountain people depicted in this book. So the story would have to be explained by an adult. An author's note in the back/front of the book would help facilitate this discussion; but there is not one, so you're on your own.