Miss Rumphius
Book Description
I know I am not alone in saying that Miss Rumphius is one of my all time favorite children’s picture books. It tells the story of Miss Alice Rumphius, who grows up wanting to do the three things her grandfather did in his own life—travel to faraway places, live by the sea, and do something to make the world a more beautiful place.
This book lends itself to discussions of stewardship and what it means to take care of the land, people, and creatures around us. I have yet to meet a child, boy or girl, who did not enjoy this story.
Grab your copy here.
Nonfiction Connecting Texts
From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Gail Gibbons is a master of children’s non-fiction, and who doesn’t love Eric Carle? Both of these nonfiction books will help your child understand how plants grow through engaging pictures and text.
Reading Comprehension and Writing Activities
You can purchase my Miss Rumphius Activities Bundle here. It includes:
an emergent reader
a character map
a story elements graphic organizer
two differentiated writing prompts
These are great resources for parents and teachers alike.
Craft Connection
Painting lupines
I used small paint brushes to make the hills and lupine stems. I used Q-tips to paint my lupines. Painting with Q tips can be very fun for kids, builds concentration, and builds fine motor skills. My daughter got tired after painting three or four with Q tips, so she asked if she could paint the rest of hers with finger painting. Obviously, the answer was…of course you can!
We have lots of discussions in our house when we make these crafts together about how great it is that everyone’s projects turn out differently even when we are creating a similar scene. Art can and should be individual, and craft time is a great way to celebrate our differences together.
Field Trip Connection
Since Miss Rumphius features a conservatory where Miss Rumphius enjoys sweet smelling flowers in winter, we decided to head to the United States Botanic Garden. We also visited River Farm, which is a local favorite of ours, to walk around and observe the incredible variety of flora there.
No matter where you are, you can find some kind of garden or conservatory to explore with your kids after reading this book. I hope you have as much fun reading the book as you do getting out and exploring nature!
Bonus: At Home Reading Tips from a Reading Specialist
You can grab my free reading specialist tips for reading with your children at home here!
