Somehow, Miss Rumphius escaped my knowledge as a child. It wasn’t part of my extensive book collection and I just never read it. And forgive me for such an accusation, but I really don’t think my teachers read us picture books in school. So for whatever reason, it wasn’t until recently that I met dear Miss Rumphius.
Miss Rumphius was once a small girl, a long time ago. She had a very close relationship with her grandfather, an artist. He would keep her close to him and tell her stories of all the amazing places in the world. But most importantly, he lovingly charged her with a mission: do all that you want in life, but do something to make the world more beautiful.
After a long and terribly adventurous life, Miss Rumphius makes herself a home by the sea and almost accidentally falls completes her grandfather’s mission. She realizes that the wind has scattered some lupine seeds she’d planted in her garden and now the beautiful flowers are beginning to cover her town. Continuing the work of nature, she begins to strew seeds about, leaving a trail of tall colorful flowers in her wake.
It’s a beautiful story with lovely illustrations and an excellent message, not to mention the strong relationships between family members. It’s no wonder it became a classic. A definite pick for a read aloud to little ones and primary grades students.
Sex, Nudity, Dating – None.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – None.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – None.
This was published YEARS after I was a child, but it makes a great read aloud if you can get through it without tearing up. Which I can’t!