Barbara Cooney was a celebrated author and illustrator of over 200 books for children. She was a two time recipient of the Caldecott Medal for The Ox-Cart Man and Chanticleer and the Fox. Cooney was well-known for her folk-style illustrations which were full of details. Among her many works are Miss Rumphius, Roxaboxen, and Hattie and the Wild Waves.
Miss Rumphius
Miss Rumphius [Puffin, 1985, ISBN 0140505393] is the delightful life story of Miss Alice Rumphius who is determined to go to faraway places and live by the sea just like her grandfather. But he also challenges her that she must do a third important thing and that is to do something to make the world a more beautiful place. The story traces how over her lifetime she accomplishes each task she sets out to do, including when she discovers quite by accident how she can make the world a more beautiful place. Both written and illustrated by Cooney, she named it as one of her personal favorite books.
Roxaboxen
Written by Alice McLerran, Cooney illustrated Roxaboxen [HarperCollins, 2004, ISBN 0060526335], an imaginative tale of children who create the make-believe town of Roxaboxen out in the desert where they live. Using white stones, desert glass and old boxes, the children create their own town where they have many adventures, limited only by their imaginations. The children play in their town for many years until they eventually grow older and move away. But even though they move away, they never forget the town of Roxeboxen.
Hattie and the Wild Waves
Cooney is both the author and illustrator of this book that is based on the life of her own mother, Mae Bossert Cooney. In Hattie and the Wild Waves [Puffin, 1993, ISBN 0140541934] Hattie is a young girl who grows up in a privileged Victorian family in Brooklyn. Her life is surrounded by luxury and ease and Cooney writes extensively in the story about the various advantages enjoyed by the family. Although Hattie isn’t terribly successful in many of the skills of young ladies of the time, she has a natural gift and an intense desire to paint beautiful pictures. Hattie bides her time throughout her childhood and young adulthood, waiting for her turn to follow her heart and her passion. While waiting for her opportunity, Hattie is constantly drawn to the sea and finds inspiration there from the wild waves.
Themes in Barbara Cooney’s Books
Cooney often wrote on themes such as making a difference in the world or following passions and gifting. Both Miss Rumphius and Hattie and the Wild Waves explore the idea of impacting the world both through what a person is able to do in everyday life as well as how to make the world a better place through using gifts and talents.
Miss Rumphius, Roxaboxen, and Hattie and the Wild Waves are suitable for elementary aged children. Hattie and the Wild Waves would be more appropriate for older children whereas the other two books would be accessible for younger children as well.
Sallie Schaaf Borrink - Sallie Borrink is a professional writer with extensive experience with business clients, the consumer market, and online destinations.
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