CHILDREN'S LITERATURE EVALUATION SHEET (EDU 206 - Dr.

Baer)
Evaluator: Jessica DAuria
Title of Book: Miss Rumphius
Author: Barbara Cooney
Publishers Recommended Age Level:3-8
Language Development:
The language level of this book would be Preschool to Kindergarten, or ages five to six.
According to the language development chart, Most children use complex sentences
frequently and begin to use correct pronounces and verbs in present and past tense, (pg. 7).
Throughout the book Miss Rumphius, Barbara Cooney uses complex sentences; many of her
sentences involve an independent clause followed by dependent clauses. This is seen in the
sentence: Finally she came to the land of the Lotus-Eaters, and there, getting goff a camel,
she hurt her back, (Cooney, 13). The book also talks about everyday occurances; in one part
of the book, Miss Rumphius watched the sun come up; she watched it cross the heavens
and sparkle on the water; and she saw it set in glory in the evening, (Cooney, 14). The sun
rising and setting is something five to six year olds would be aware of.
Social Development:
The social development level of the book is for Preschool to Kindergarten aged children aged
five to six. At this age, Children are proud of their accomplishments; they take pride in
their possesions, (34). In the story, Miss Rumphius is instructed by her grandfather to do
something to make the world more beautiful, and by the end of the story she has covered the
town with beautiful flowers and was able to appreciate her accomplishment of the most
difficult task given to her by her grandfather (Cooney, 6). This is also an age where Children
enjoy excursions to new places and familiar ones, the whole premise of the story is based on
both of these concepts (35). Miss Rumphius grandfather had traveled the world, gotten older,
and then settled by the see; as a child she told her grandfather she too [would] go to faraway
places, and when [she grew] old, [she] too [would] live beside the sea, seeing foreign
countries appeals to new places and settling by the sea appeals to going back to familiar
places for kids.
Cognitive Development:
The cognitive development level of the book is for Preschool to Kindergarten aged children
aged five to six. Children identify primary colors, the book is not specifically a color
concept book, however it does have many vivid colors on each page (15). Most pages have a
shade or tint of the primary colors somewhere in the illustration; they are easily identified.
Children also, still have a vague concept of time, this book is not time specific but does
show chronological order (15). The book starts with Miss Rumphius as a child and follows
her into adulthood and old age as well. This plot aspect reinforces time sequences.
Personality Development:

The personality development level of the book is for Preschool to Kindergarten aged children
aged five to six. Children of this age are usually outgoing, sociable, and friendly, (26).
When Miss Rumphius travels to a tropical island, she becomes quite friendly with people of
the island. She, met the Bapa Raja, king of a fishing village, she also travled to many other
places and everywhere she made friends she would never forget, (Cooney, 13). This
demonstrates that she is a friendly and outgoing character because she is able to make friends
in foreign places. Miss Rumphius also invites her niece and her friends into her home to tell
them of her travels and life, which also demonstrates her sociable nature.
Brief Plot Summary: Miss Alice Rumphius hears stories from her grandfather of faraway
places and how when he came to grow old he would live by the sea. When she declares that
she will do the same, her grandfather asks one more thing of her: to do something to make
the world more beautiful. Miss Rumphius travels the world, grows old, and returns to live by
the sea. However, she gets sick and worries she will not be able to make the world more
beautiful. When the following spring comes around, the lupines she planted have spread and
she discovers how she will make the world more beautiful.
Evaluators Assessment:
This book is about being able to make your own mark on the world. It combines positive and
negative times to show that things can always look beautiful. This books shows children that
they can make a difference whether it be big or small and is overall a good book.
Evaluators Recommended Age Level: 5-6
Evaluators Overall Rating (1-10, 10 being the highest): 8