Miss Rumphius Should Be In Every Child's Library - A Must Read Book

Miss Rumphius, by Barbara Cooney, is one of the best children’s books available. I rate it one of the best because it teaches strong values and entertains at the same time. This is a book I read with my own daughter as she was growing up. A book she loves to this day. If you cannot afford to purchase this book, borrow a copy of it from your local library.

Book Review: Miss Rumphius

Story and Pictures by Barbara Cooney

Miss Rumphius is a winner of the American Book Award. It is one of my favorite picture books for children. This is such a fantastic book from my perspective that I really believe it is suitable not only for children, but for people of all ages. I realize it is a picture book and intended for children under ten years old, but I believe the message is important for people of all ages to hear and remember.

The message of the book is that whatever else we do, we must also do something to make the world more beautiful. Because it is a book intended for young children, the main character, Miss Rumphius, literally makes the world more beautiful by planting flowers everywhere.

Transferring the idea of adding beauty to the world through other means such as creating a park, or an after school program for children, or helping the homeless and hungry, are concepts very young children may not grasp, but they do understand how pretty flowers can make the world more beautiful.

Once the seed is planted, that we all have a responsibility to make the world a better place, children will begin to see over time, that contributing in ways besides planting flowers also makes the world more beautiful. Of course it is helpful to raise this subject in discussion from time to time with children as they are growing up so that they do make that important connection between making the world more beautiful and making it better.

Whenever you share a book with your children it is always a good idea to discuss the book, its characters, and especially the message the book is promoting with your children. This can be a fun and rewarding learning experience for your children whether they are in public or private school, or home schooled.

Reading the book, Miss Rumphius, to children, and sharing its message is an excellent way to start the process of teaching them that we are all stewards of this planet and this world, and that we are all responsible for making it better, not only for ourselves, but for our descendents and everyone in it.

Purchase of borrow a copy of this fantastic book and then share it with a special someone in your life.