Miss Rumphius and Mrs. Grybko

You may or may not know the library's long-time Assistant Director Ann Grybko is retiring after 30 years serving the Richmond Memorial Library and its patrons. Ann has requested very little fanfare or to-do made of her retirement and we wish to respect that, however, I thought perhaps I'd highlight a few books over the next few days in her honor.

First up, "Miss Rumphius", written and illustrated by Barbara Cooney. Miss Rumphius decides very early in life that she must do three things: see the world, live by the sea, and make the world a more beautiful place. On the way, she works in a library. Mrs. Grybko also loves to travel and has been to many unique and far-flung places, (although I don't think she has fallen off a camel as Miss Rumphius does!) and Ann certainly makes the world a more beautiful place just by her presence. Miss Rumphius does too, but then she goes one further. You'll have to read the book to see what she does, but it certainly fits in with Mrs. Grybko's passion for the environment.

The book has won multiple awards and has such a powerful spirit that there is even a Miss Rumphius Award given to a teacher annually. It's a beautiful book that will likely lead to many good conversations with your children. How will each of us make the world a more beautiful place?