Miss Rumphius

By Barbara Cooney

The story of a woman who sets out to fulfill her childhood dreams and make the world more beautiful.

5.5/7 Bookroo expert·4.5/5 Goodreads · 28,846 ratings

32 pages· 1,245 words· Est. 10 min read-aloud

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Alice Rumphius dreams of adventure and a seaside home, but her grandfather's challenge to make the world more beautiful lingers. As she scatters lupine seeds across Maine, her journey unfolds. What will her legacy be, and how will she fulfill her promise? Discover the enchanting tale of the Lupine Lady and her quest to leave a mark on the world.

"From the porch of her new house Miss Rumphius watched the sun come up; she watched it cross the heavens and sparkle on the water; and she saw it set in clory in the evening. She started a little garden among the rocks that surrounded her house, and she planted a few flower seeds in the stony ground. Miss Rumphius was almost perfectly happy."

— from the book

From the publisher

A beloved classic is lovelier than ever!

Barbara Cooney’s story of Alice Rumphius, who longed to travel the world, live in a house by the sea, and do something to make the world more beautiful, has a timeless quality that resonates with each new generation. The countless lupines that bloom along the coast of Maine are the legacy of the real Miss Rumphius, the Lupine Lady, who scattered lupine seeds everywhere she went. Miss Rumphius received the American Book Award in the year of publication.

To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of two-time Caldecott winner Barbara Cooney’s best-loved book, Viking has reoriginated the illustrations, going back to the original art to ensure state-of-the-art reproduction of Cooney’s exquisite artwork. The art for Miss Rumphius has a permanent home in the Bowdoin College Museum of Art.

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