Module 2: Miss Rumphius

Book Cover Image

Summary

Miss Rumphius is a tale of a woman who was given a challenge to do three things in her lifetime. Her challenge was to go to faraway places, live by the sea, and most importantly make the world more beautiful. She was challenged by her grandfather. Many years pass by and she eventually does all the things except the last, make the world more beautiful. She loves lupine flowers and plants them before she becomes ill. Once she is well, she sees that her flowers have spread all over her town. In the end, she also challenges her great niece to do the same. 

APA Reference

Cooney, B. (1982). Miss rumphius. New York, NY: The Viking Press.

My Impressions

This was a sweet book that shows how time after time tradition and advice from our elders should be taken.  The wisdom from our elders can often be the best and most rewarding advice. Though this is an older book, the message is still clear and can be related to the present seeing as time still passes and wisdom is often passed on from generation to generation. I could almost smell the flowers as the author described the jasmine and lupine. 

Professional Review

When Miss Rumphius was a small girl, her grandfather told her she could travel and live by the sea as she wanted, but she must also do one more thing—in some way make the world more beautiful. She grows up, works, and travels, but how she can accomplish the charge given her is still a puzzle. After an injury lays her low and gives her time to think, she hits upon an idea. She will plant lupines—blue, purple, and rose-colored flowers—all over the fields and lanes near her house. Now an old lady, she passes this legacy of duty on to her great-niece, the narrator of the story. Cooney is in a tranquil mood here, and both the quiet text and serenity of full-color acrylic paintings portray this feeling. The artwork, almost primitive in style, is masterful, but the story itself has an adult feel and, without adult guidance, not all young children will respond. — Ilene Cooper

Cooper, I. (1982). Booklist.

        http://www.booklistonline.com/Miss-Rumphius-Barbara-Cooney/pid=2653208?    pid=2653208

Library Uses

The library can use this as a lesson on how in the Spring when flowers are blooming and in places they were not growing at another time, can be taken by the wind and the birds.