Barbara Cooney

As a child Great-aunt Alice Rumphius resolved that when she grew up she would go to faraway places, live by the sea in her old age, and do something to make the world more beautiful--and she does all those things, the last being the most difficult of all.

Matthais grows from a little boy to a grandfather on a small island off the coast of New England.

Describes the day-to-day life of an early nineteenth-century New England family throughout the changing seasons.

Lyrical text relates the birth of a child in a barn among the animals, with illustrations which depict the barn and people of a twentieth-century farm.

A hill covered with rocks and wooden boxes becomes an imaginary town for Marian, her sisters, and their friends.

A brother and sister run away from their cruel and wicked stepmother to a forest, but cannot escape her powers.

A bear, befriended by two sisters during the winter, returns one day to reward them royally for their kindness.

Ruthie and her mother wonder how they will fulfill their obligation of getting the perfect Christmas tree to the town for the holiday celebration, since Papa has left the Appalachian area to go to war.

As a child Great-aunt Alice Rumphius resolved that when she grew up she would go to faraway places, live by the sea in her old age, and do something to make the world more beautiful--and she does all those things, the last being the most difficult of all.