Cooney, Barbara. Miss Rumphius. New York: Puffin Books, 1982.

This story lovingly relates the history of the little old lady who lives by the sea. We follow Miss Rumphius as she fulfills her dream to travel to faraway places, and to live by the sea; and as she finally meets the challenge of making the world more beautiful. Barbara Cooney wonderfully celebrates the circle of life from young Alice sitting on her grandfather's knee to hobbled and gray Alice telling stories of her rich and varied life. The acrylic and pencil illustrations are soft accompaniments to this gentle tale. Many lessons can be derived from this simple life story: the importance of goals and challenges in our lives, appreciation of the elderly, who each have their own interesting history, and the connections and continuity between generations. Submitted by Mary Pat Connors

Crews, Donald. Flying. New York: Greenwillow Books, 1986.

An airplane takes off and flies over highways, rivers, cities, mountains, and countryside. The text is short, simple, and repetitive, introducing simple terminology associated with flying. It would therefore make an excellent book for beginning readers and for introducing the concept of flying. The illustrations are brightly colored, original, and very appealing. Crews's artistic use of perspective and shading give the feeling of depth, distance, and the sensation of actually flying. A must for every children's library collection! Submitted by Jane Pingelski

Crews, Donald. Sail Away. New York: Greenwillow Books, 1995.

A family sets sail for a day of fun on the open waves. They are caught in a storm and must weather through to reach home safely. The varying text size and full page illustrations, using dark and then bright colors, pair to build excitement as the storm approaches, peaks, and subsides. The short easy text, simple plot, and exciting illustrations make this an enjoyable book for very young children. Submitted by Jane Pingelski

Crews, Donald. Shortcut. New York: Greenwillow Books, 1992.

It is getting late and dark so seven children decide to risk taking the shortcut down the railroad tracks in order to get home. A train does come and the horror-filled children are forced to flee off the tracks where other dangers await them. The themes of danger and disobedience are related effectively through the use of bold type and repeated phrases in the text. The dark ominous illustrations evoke a sense of potential danger. The story and illustrations are filled with tension. A great book with a great lesson! Submitted by Jane Pingelski

• Uses for Miss Rumphius: 1. Look at a map to identify places Miss Rumphius traveled, fill in a map handout. 2. Compare and contrast with traditional folktales about Johnny Appleseed. Discuss the differences. (May use, Lindburgh, Reeve. Johnny Appleseed: A Poem. Paintings by Kathy Jakobsen. New York: Little, Brown, 1990. (maps on end pages) Mary Pat Connors
• Dramatic play related to Flying by Donald Crews: Set up an "airplane" in the room with chairs in rows. Flight attendant checks tickets as passengers board the airplane. Pilot and co-pilot wear headphones and sit in the first two chairs. Pilot welcomes passengers and announces destination. Flight attendants ask passengers to buckle seat belts and serve food on trays. Pilot an- nounces large cities or special features as they fly overhead,etc. Jane Pingelski
• Craft - Airplane cloud mobile (Flying: Cut four or five cloud shapes from white construction paper. Glue cotton balls on cloud shapes. Punch hole in cloud and tie with string onto tubular cardboard from hangers used for hanging pants. Use directions from origami or paper plane making book to make airplane from plain white paper. Decorate plane with markers. Punch hole in plane and add to mobile. Jane Pingelski
• Action poems and songs (related literature: Shortcut by Donald Crews and Flying by Donald Crews):

  Choo Choo Train
  This is a choo-choo train (Bend arms at elbows)
  Puffing down the track. (Rotate forearms in rhythm)
  Now it's going forward, (Push arms forward; continue rotating motion)
  Now the whistle blows, (Pull bell chord with closed fist)
  What a lot of noise it makes. (Cover ears with hands)

  A Peanut Sat on a Railroad Track
  (Tune of Polly Wolly Doodle)
  A peanut sat on a railroad track, (Sit)
  His heart was all a-flutter, (Pat hand on chest quickly)
  Round the bend came number ten, (Move bent arms in motion of train wheels)
  Toot! Toot! Peanut Butter! SQUISH!!! (Lay down flat)

  Flying
  The airplane has great big wings (Arms outstretched)
  Its propeller spins and sings, (Make one arm the propeller) "vvvvvv"
  The airplane goes up, (Arms up)
  The airplane goes down, Arms down)
  The airplane flies all over town. (Arms outstretched and fly around the room)

  I'm a Little Airplane
  (Tune of I'm a Little Teapot)
  I'm a little airplane
  Up in the sky.
  These are my wings, (Stick arms out straight)
  They help me fly.
  When I get excited,
  Then I shout,
  Come soar with me, (Move arms in a flying motion)
  But don't fall out!! (Drop to the floor) Jane Pingelski

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