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Miss Rumphius (平装)
by Barabara Cooney
| Category:
Picture books, Baby-Preschool, Age 4-8 |
| Market price: ¥ 108.00
MSL price:
¥ 98.00
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| Stock:
In Stock |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
A beautifullly told story about a strong woman who followed her dreams, this uplifting book will stay in your heart forever. |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 7 items |
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Jennifer Metcalf (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
Many children ask, in various ways, the meaning of life. And, as adults, we stutter and try to cough out some semblance of a meaningful answer that the child will understand. When my daughter was three, she literally asked, "Why are we here?" I had no idea how to answer.
Almost on cue, we read this book a week later, and it answered the question perfectly. This is the story of a woman named Miss Rumphuis. As a child, she sat on her grandfather's knee and posed the very question as my daughter. His answer was one of the most simple, beautiful, and meaningful that I've ever read. I can't imagine anyone in this world arguing against it, no matter what religion (or non-religion), political persuasion, or culture.
The answer provides the impetus as to how Miss Rumphuis led the rest of her life. It seems as if nearly every reviewer has already given the entire plot, so it's no surprise that her grandfather's answer to why we are here is to simply make the world a more beautiful place. When my daughter heard that, her reply was, "Mommy, you've already made the world a more beautiful place." When I asked how, she replied, "By having me!" I couldn't begin to argue against such wisdom from one of God's small miracles.
This book may appear to be nothing more than a lovely illustrated child's book containing a heartfelt tale. Without a doubt, the illustrations are rich; Ms. Cooney is an extremely talented woman. However, I also believe its message (which is never, ever preachy) is extremely powerful. As such, it is my favorite children's book, and I think every child (and adult) on this earth should read it. |
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Roz Levine (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
When Alice was a little girl she lived in a village by the sea, and in the evenings would sit on her grandfather's knee and listen to his stories of faraway places. It was then that she decided that when she grew up she too would travel the world, and then, when she grew old, come back home and live in a house by the sea. Her wise grandfather listened to her dreams and then made her promise to do one more thing. "You must do something to make the world more beautiful." Little Alice grew up; she was called Miss Rumphius now, and set out on her worldwide adventure. She visited tropical islands and beaches, climbed mountains, walked through jungles, and across deserts, making friends wherever she went. And when she was finished traveling, she went home to her house by the sea. But there was still one more thing Miss Rumphius had to do... fulfill the promise she made to her grandfather, and when she saw lupine flowers blooming outside her window, she knew just what she would do to make the world a more beautiful place... Award winning author and illustrator, Barbara Cooney, has written a sweet and simple story, with a lovely message that reminds us all to take a little extra time and make the world a better place in which to live. Her gentle, eloquent text is enhanced by her beautiful and engaging illustrations that capture the imagination, and send it soaring. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Miss Rumphius is a magical, heartwarming treasure, and a picture book to share with family and friends now, and future generations in the years to come. |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
This is one of those rare picture books that is so beautiful and so wise that you ought to read it even if you don't have children. But if you have a child to share it with, do so immediately, and consider yourself privileged.
In this book, you watch a little girl named Alice grow into an old, old woman, a retired librarian, named Miss Rumphius. Her life is filled with exciting adventures, but as she grows older, none of it feels like enough to her. She keeps recalling some advice her grandfather gave her when she was a child. He told her that in order to live a good life, she had to "do something to make the world more beautiful." But even as an old woman, she can't figure out what to do. Finally, realizing the joy she's always gotten from flowers, especially lupines, she decides to share that joy with others by scattering lupine seeds everywhere she goes. She completely transforms the rocky landscape around her home. In the end, she tells her story to her young niece, who wonders how SHE will make the world more beautiful. And so the cycle continues.
My daughter, who is six, has talked about this book several times, and told me she hasn't yet figured out how she is going to make the world more beautiful. But the fact that she is thinking about it at such a young age makes me proud, and very happy to have found this lovely book to share with her.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
The narrator's great aunt, Alice Rumphius, wanted to travel the world and do the one thing her grandfather told her she must do. He told her she must do something to make the world more beautiful. Miss Rumphius travels the world and comes back to live by the sea where the story began. She discovered her way of making the world more beautiful was scattering flower seeds so everyone could enjoy the beauty of the colorful flowers. The story ends with Miss Rumphius telling her great-neice that she must do something to make the world more beautiful.
Teacher Notes: This book would be excellent to read if you were doing a unit on plants or the earth. Even though this book is fiction, realistic things happen like the wind and birds scattering flower seeds. Kindergarten and first grade would enjoy having this book read aloud to them. Second and third graders could read it on their own.
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
A joy for my daughters and me to read when they were little - and not so little! - Miss Rumphius is now my favorite gift book for kids between 5 and 9 years old. The illustrations alone are rich and delightful. They accompany a profound yet accessible story about what makes a life worthwhile. Barbara Cooney gives us the always-interesting life of Alice Rumphius from her seaport childhood to her grown-up travels and her triumphant old age, when she becomes "the lupine lady" who spreads flowers wherever she goes. The story comes full circle as the lively elderly Alice passes on her wisdom to her young niece and her friends. The illustrations add depth to the story and provide an excellent springboard for discussion. A perfect book for pre-readers and young readers!
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
Themes: This book is about dreams and plans for the future. It is about the importance of not just living IN the world, but also enhancing it.
Summary: As a child, Miss Rumphius lived with her grandfather, who was an artist by the sea. When she told her grandfather that when she grew up she planned to travel the world and then live by the sea, her grandfather advised her that she should do something to make the world more beautiful. Miss Rumphius ended up fulfilling all her personal dreams and, after struggling for an idea, was eventually inspired to make the world more beautiful by helping spread lupine flowers. Now she tells her great-niece Alice (who has some of the same dreams) to be sure to do something to make the world more beautiful too.
Illustrations: The illustrations seem to be in a beautiful "naive" style - very angular, slender, and almost motionless. They are done in acrylics with prismacolor pencil accents, and they establish the settings of the book (the house by the sea, and various exotic places of the world), which is important because, as Miss Rumphius discovers, "The world is already pretty nice.
I highly recommend this book.
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A kid reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-02-08 00:00>
Miss Rumphius is a very good book. It is about a little girl named Alice who lived in a city by the sea. She told her grandfather that when she grew up she would travel around the world and live in a little house by the sea. Her grandfather said that was all very well but she would also have to do something to make the world more beautiful. When Alice got older she traveled all over the world and saw many different things and did many neat things too. Then she bought a little house by the sea, but she still had not done anything to make the world more beautiful. One spring she was ill. When she looked out her bedroom window she could see the lupines she had planted the summer before. They were so pretty, she wished she could have planted more. When she got better, she went outside and found lupines all over the hill. She knew the wind must have done it. Then she had an idea; she would sprinkle lupine seeds everywhere she went. That was what she would do to make the world more beautiful. And she did. |
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1 Total 1 pages 7 items |
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