Ruby's School Walk

by Kathryn White, Miriam Latimer (Illustrator)

On the way to school, Ruby experiences a world her mum cannot see. In an old house, she spies bats with red eyes peering out and scary witches that flit about. And these aren't the only dangers on her tigers, crocodiles and mighty beasts abound! I must be brave, I must be strong,A" chants Ruby as she musters the nerve to scare them off; but will it work? Young readers will love joining this imaginative girl as she faces her fears and learns how to keep them in check. Attractive, accessible storyline about the return to school Alliterative, rhyming text Endpapers show a map of Ruby's walk

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Jessica]

when a little girl walks to school, she thinks there are crocodiles in the river. She also thinks there is a haunted house. She sees lots of things that aren't really there, and her mother tells herself, but she ignores her and pretends she needs to be "brave." I like the art, but not the story or the rhyming.

[JA🌝]

I got the bilingual version of this book and loved being able to read this to my baby in English while my other family members read it to him in Bengali. I loved the themes of courage and acceptance, as well as the little twist at the end!

[Lee Ann]

This was fun and imaginative, and greatly captures a child's mind. 3/5 stars.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez]

Julia says this gets three stars. :-) I'm not sure too many kids could be located who wouldn't be into Ruby's imagination. Heck, probably not too many adults either. I was even impressed. But then, I have no imagination to speak of. Julia has to give me directions and actual lines to say in our Barbie, dinosaur, and other games.
Anyway, I liked it very much that Ruby was with her mom and not say, another friend. The difference between what Ruby "sees" and what he mother sees is distinct, enough so that a five year old (like Julia) can pick up on the meaning.
The illustrator did a pretty great job because even an adult with not much of an imagination could take a glance and quite possibly see a little of what Ruby sees.
I added a star - I think I like this more now than when we read it. No, I can't add a star - what Julia says goes. I'll compromise. 3.5 :-)

We read this again last week, in late March and I like it even better the second time around. Julia felt the same. We actually borrowed it from the library forgetting that we'd ever read it. :)

[Tricia]

Ruby, nervous about going to school, is brave and strong as she imagines scary things on her walk with her mother to the school. Addresses well the nervousness that children have as a shy or new student. Children will appreciate the reassurance and humor that wraps up this book in a positive tone.

[Amanda]

I'm not sure this is a great one for a visual, literal kid who's getting ready to go to kindergarten for the first time. Ruby has an active imagination and describes crocodiles, ghosts and wicked trees on her walk to school.

[Shelli]

I love Ruby's imagination! What an adventurous walk to school she has to face each day.

[Danie P.]

Ruby talks about all the crazy things she encounters on the way to school. Great for preschoolers. A little too long for toddlers.

[Shannon]

Ruby has all these crazy delusions about situations she encounters on her way to school. Crocodiles in the river and such. Neat art, but nothing all that impressive.

[Christine Turner]

On her way to school Ruby sees a world her mother cannot experience.In an old house, she spies bats with red eyes peering out and scary witches that flit about. And these aren't the only dangers on her path: tigers, crocodiles and mighty beasts abound! "I must be brave, I must be strong," chants Ruby as she musters the nerve to scare them off; but will it work? Young readers will love joining this imaginative girl as she faces her fears and learns how to keep them in check.

Subject: Imagination -- Juvenile fiction
Mothers and daughters -- Juvenile fiction