Miss Rumphius

Miss Rumphius (1985), written and illustrated by Barbara Cooney, tells the life story of Alice Rumphius, a woman who dreams of traveling to faraway places, living by the sea, and making the world more beautiful. Encouraged by her grandfather, young Alice grows up with a sense of curiosity and wonder for the world around her. As an adult, she becomes a librarian, learning about distant lands through books before setting off on her own adventures. Her travels take her across tropical islands, mountains, and deserts, where she meets diverse people and experiences the beauty of the world firsthand. After an accident forces her to stop traveling, Alice settles in a small seaside house. There, she begins to plant lupine seeds around her home.