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Ruby Finds a Worry
A sensitive and reassuring story about what to do when a worry won't leave you alone.
Meet Ruby—a happy, curious, imaginative girl. But one day, she finds something unexpected: a Worry.
It's not such a big Worry, at first. But every day, it grows a little bigger... And a little bigger... Until eventually, the Worry is ENORMOUS and is all she can think about.
But when Ruby befriends a young boy, she discovers that everyone has worries, and not only that, there's a great way to get rid of them too...
This perceptive and poignant story is the perfect springboard for talking to children about emotional intelligence and sharing hidden anxieties.
Meet Ruby—a happy, curious, imaginative girl. But one day, she finds something unexpected: a Worry.
It's not such a big Worry, at first. But every day, it grows a little bigger... And a little bigger... Until eventually, the Worry is ENORMOUS and is all she can think about.
But when Ruby befriends a young boy, she discovers that everyone has worries, and not only that, there's a great way to get rid of them too...
This perceptive and poignant story is the perfect springboard for talking to children about emotional intelligence and sharing hidden anxieties.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published July 18, 2018
28 people are currently reading
1680 people want to read
About the author
Tom Percival
135 books281 followersTom Percival writes and illustrates picture books (you know, for kids) as well as illustrating books written by other people. The most well known of these is probably the excellent Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy.
He grew up in a remote and beautiful part of South Shropshire. On reflection this seemed rather more remote than beautiful, owing to the fact that he lived in a small caravan without electricity, mains water or any sensible form of heating. He thinks that he’s probably one of the few people in his peer group to have learnt to read by gas lamp.
Surprisingly enough he has never been called ‘hippy’ (to the best of his knowledge)
Tom now lives in an actual house with his girlfriend and their two young sons.
His favourite colour is turquoise and his favourite number is usually seven.
Tom has three picture books available, Tobias and the Super Spooky Ghost Book, A Home for Mr Tipps, Jack's AMAZING Shadow and a fourth, Herman's Letter will be publishing in October 2012 through Bloomsbury
He grew up in a remote and beautiful part of South Shropshire. On reflection this seemed rather more remote than beautiful, owing to the fact that he lived in a small caravan without electricity, mains water or any sensible form of heating. He thinks that he’s probably one of the few people in his peer group to have learnt to read by gas lamp.
Surprisingly enough he has never been called ‘hippy’ (to the best of his knowledge)
Tom now lives in an actual house with his girlfriend and their two young sons.
His favourite colour is turquoise and his favourite number is usually seven.
Tom has three picture books available, Tobias and the Super Spooky Ghost Book, A Home for Mr Tipps, Jack's AMAZING Shadow and a fourth, Herman's Letter will be publishing in October 2012 through Bloomsbury
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 489 reviews
October 21, 2019
Ruby Finds a Worry is an excellent children's book that deals with anxiety. Ruby is a young child who develops a very small worry that slowly gets larger over time. It becomes so huge that it begins to overcrowd her happiness. At a park one day, she finds another child with a problem and feels compelled to speak to him. After talking with each other about their problems, they both begin to feel better.
My daughter and I both loved this book. It's such an important subject and will help children understand that worries can be normal, other people have them too, but they can also get out of hand if you don't deal with them properly.
The illustrations are wonderful. This is a perfect book for classrooms and libraries.
5*****
My daughter and I both loved this book. It's such an important subject and will help children understand that worries can be normal, other people have them too, but they can also get out of hand if you don't deal with them properly.
The illustrations are wonderful. This is a perfect book for classrooms and libraries.
5*****
November 8, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Tom Percival, the author and illustrator of Ruby’s Worry, taps in children’s emotional needs in his latest picture book, Ruby’s Worry. In today’s busy world, young children are presenting with anxiety issues and are often unable to discuss their worries. Tom Percival has recognised this and has composed a children’s picture book that opens up the vital channels of communication around this sensitive subject area.
Ruby’s Worry is about a typical little girl, Ruby. This sweet little girl enjoys the swings and exploring, but Ruby’s world begins to change when she finds a worry following her. At first the worry is just a small fuzz ball, but as the story progresses, the worry grows. As the worry expands, Ruby begins to feel very sad and concerned. To return to her former carefree self, Ruby finds a conversation and the friendship of another child the key to removing her worry ball from her life.
Ruby’s Worry represents the second book I have read by British author and illustrator Tom Percival. What I admired about Ruby’s Worry was Percival’s willingness the tackle a subject that deserves special attention. Working in the education system and having my own child who suffers from anxiety, I can see how important children’s picture books are to easing the worry monster. Ruby’s Worry can easily be used in educational settings, libraries, child care centres and in households. It is the perfect strategy to open up a discussion of worry, throw ideas around about how to ease worries and help young children to see that they are not alone in their feelings. Ruby’s Worry covers themes of friendship, communication, problem solving and emotions.
I like the approach Tom Percival has taken to his illustrations in Ruby’s Worry. Ruby herself and the inviting front cover are a bright yellow and they are very transparent. Meanwhile, the backdrop that Ruby finds herself in during the story is muted to a grey colour. This is a great strategy to draw the reader’s attention to Ruby, the principal character of the story and her vibrant yellow ball of worry. The illustrations are clear and carefully reflect the overall ideas presented in the story.
Tom Percival has cast a sympathetic and appealing character in Ruby, his lead in Ruby’s Worry. Ruby is placed in a range of situations throughout the story that many young readers will be able to directly correlate to their own experiences. Ruby possesses qualities of joy, happiness and energy, in conjunction with her sad moments. This makes Ruby’s story very authentic and I hope that readers will see that their feelings are substantiated through this valuable storybook character.
Ruby’s Worry is a gentle but essential children’s storybook. It carefully places childhood anxiety and everyday worries in the spotlight. The sensitive and insightful portrayal of a worry by Tom Percival ensures that the target audience feels reassured and armed with a set of ideas to tackle a common feeling experienced. Ruby’s Worry is an indispensable early childhood text.
*I wish to thank Bloomsbury Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
Tom Percival, the author and illustrator of Ruby’s Worry, taps in children’s emotional needs in his latest picture book, Ruby’s Worry. In today’s busy world, young children are presenting with anxiety issues and are often unable to discuss their worries. Tom Percival has recognised this and has composed a children’s picture book that opens up the vital channels of communication around this sensitive subject area.
Ruby’s Worry is about a typical little girl, Ruby. This sweet little girl enjoys the swings and exploring, but Ruby’s world begins to change when she finds a worry following her. At first the worry is just a small fuzz ball, but as the story progresses, the worry grows. As the worry expands, Ruby begins to feel very sad and concerned. To return to her former carefree self, Ruby finds a conversation and the friendship of another child the key to removing her worry ball from her life.
Ruby’s Worry represents the second book I have read by British author and illustrator Tom Percival. What I admired about Ruby’s Worry was Percival’s willingness the tackle a subject that deserves special attention. Working in the education system and having my own child who suffers from anxiety, I can see how important children’s picture books are to easing the worry monster. Ruby’s Worry can easily be used in educational settings, libraries, child care centres and in households. It is the perfect strategy to open up a discussion of worry, throw ideas around about how to ease worries and help young children to see that they are not alone in their feelings. Ruby’s Worry covers themes of friendship, communication, problem solving and emotions.
I like the approach Tom Percival has taken to his illustrations in Ruby’s Worry. Ruby herself and the inviting front cover are a bright yellow and they are very transparent. Meanwhile, the backdrop that Ruby finds herself in during the story is muted to a grey colour. This is a great strategy to draw the reader’s attention to Ruby, the principal character of the story and her vibrant yellow ball of worry. The illustrations are clear and carefully reflect the overall ideas presented in the story.
Tom Percival has cast a sympathetic and appealing character in Ruby, his lead in Ruby’s Worry. Ruby is placed in a range of situations throughout the story that many young readers will be able to directly correlate to their own experiences. Ruby possesses qualities of joy, happiness and energy, in conjunction with her sad moments. This makes Ruby’s story very authentic and I hope that readers will see that their feelings are substantiated through this valuable storybook character.
Ruby’s Worry is a gentle but essential children’s storybook. It carefully places childhood anxiety and everyday worries in the spotlight. The sensitive and insightful portrayal of a worry by Tom Percival ensures that the target audience feels reassured and armed with a set of ideas to tackle a common feeling experienced. Ruby’s Worry is an indispensable early childhood text.
*I wish to thank Bloomsbury Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
November 14, 2020
Okay, my normal shelf for books like this is entitled "Bibliotherapy is a crock."
So why does this get 4 stars?
Because, for once, (and probably only once), here is good, REALLY good bibliotherapy!
Ruby's "worry" is seen initially as a small yellow creature--like a dust ball. But the "worry" grows and grows and GROWS until it takes up half the school bus, and many rows in a movie theater, and it's a fun story, just as a story!.
The resolution could have been awful and Berenstain-like. But a parent doesn't solve this. A teacher doesn't solve this. Instead, Ruby meets another child, realizes that he has a worry too, and gets him to tell her about it. In turn, she tells him HER worry, and both worries begin to shrink. Kids will get this, and I like Ruby's empathy.
Especially right now, in this time of COVID19 we are ALL worried, and it's affecting our children.
Teaching them that it's okay to worry and that it helps to talk about worries is an important lesson for them--and perhaps for us too.
Good job, Tom Percival!
So why does this get 4 stars?
Because, for once, (and probably only once), here is good, REALLY good bibliotherapy!
Ruby's "worry" is seen initially as a small yellow creature--like a dust ball. But the "worry" grows and grows and GROWS until it takes up half the school bus, and many rows in a movie theater, and it's a fun story, just as a story!.
The resolution could have been awful and Berenstain-like. But a parent doesn't solve this. A teacher doesn't solve this. Instead, Ruby meets another child, realizes that he has a worry too, and gets him to tell her about it. In turn, she tells him HER worry, and both worries begin to shrink. Kids will get this, and I like Ruby's empathy.
Especially right now, in this time of COVID19 we are ALL worried, and it's affecting our children.
Teaching them that it's okay to worry and that it helps to talk about worries is an important lesson for them--and perhaps for us too.
Good job, Tom Percival!
June 29, 2020
This was a perfect book for my anxious five year-old. She loved the idea of worries as manifestations, and that kids have the power to make them disappear. We read it, and she immediately wanted to read it again!
November 6, 2018
I love that there are books popping up to normalize things that we struggle with, especially around the topic of mental health. These books are so important and necessary to help kids process their worries. This is a fantastic book.
January 27, 2021
This reminded me of the book ‘The Worrysaurus’. Ruby is a happy little girl, until one day she discovers that she has a worry. The more she worries about the worry the more the worry (represented by a cartoonish yellow blob with eyes) grows and grows. It progresses throughout the pages and children will notice this and the impact it has upon Ruby as she becomes more and more unhappy and her emotions change as well.
Once Ruby learns to share the worry with someone else who also has a worry, she discovers that everyone gets worries and that if you tell someone else it will go away because you can then do something about it. This will resonate with a class and I’d encourage them to use the language “I have a worry...” and “I’m worrying about...”.
Once Ruby learns to share the worry with someone else who also has a worry, she discovers that everyone gets worries and that if you tell someone else it will go away because you can then do something about it. This will resonate with a class and I’d encourage them to use the language “I have a worry...” and “I’m worrying about...”.
April 3, 2020
This is a nice book, with laudible aims and with its heart in the right place. Unfortunately however, 'Ruby's Worry' is not quite what it aims to be - it's sadly not as insightful, affecting and effective as it aspires to be, a missed opportunity perhaps.
March 5, 2022
Reflections and lessons learned:
“But the the worry started to grow…”
Sweet and understanding! Also very helpful for a time when it’s hard to know how to process the emotion of things just not being quite right. I shall from now on imagine any worry with changing angry and confused eyebrows
“But the the worry started to grow…”
Sweet and understanding! Also very helpful for a time when it’s hard to know how to process the emotion of things just not being quite right. I shall from now on imagine any worry with changing angry and confused eyebrows
August 1, 2023
Este livro é bom para iniciar uma conversa com as crianças sobre o que pode motivar uma preocupação.
O único "defeito" que aponto à história é o facto de não ficarmos a saber quais eram as preocupações das duas personagens que a história nos apresenta. E isso não deixa de ser importante, uma vez que há preocupações momentâneas que tendem a desparecer passado pouco tempo, e outras que não conseguimos simplesmente eliminar... no caso desta história, dá ideia que é uma preocupação grave, já que ela vai crescendo de dia para dia... a forma de resolver estas preocupações está demasiado simplicada no livro... dá-se a ideia que basta não escondê-la e falar sobre ela... mas não creio que seja assim tão simples, até porque falar sobre uma preocupação não significa que se resolva automaticamente o problema que a originou...
Em todo o caso, e tirando esta "simplificação" da resolução de uma preocupação, não posso dizer que este livro não tenha uma boa intenção, assim como bonitas ilustrações, o que muito irá agradar ao público mais infantil (e não só).
O único "defeito" que aponto à história é o facto de não ficarmos a saber quais eram as preocupações das duas personagens que a história nos apresenta. E isso não deixa de ser importante, uma vez que há preocupações momentâneas que tendem a desparecer passado pouco tempo, e outras que não conseguimos simplesmente eliminar... no caso desta história, dá ideia que é uma preocupação grave, já que ela vai crescendo de dia para dia... a forma de resolver estas preocupações está demasiado simplicada no livro... dá-se a ideia que basta não escondê-la e falar sobre ela... mas não creio que seja assim tão simples, até porque falar sobre uma preocupação não significa que se resolva automaticamente o problema que a originou...
Em todo o caso, e tirando esta "simplificação" da resolução de uma preocupação, não posso dizer que este livro não tenha uma boa intenção, assim como bonitas ilustrações, o que muito irá agradar ao público mais infantil (e não só).
February 12, 2025
Beautiful illustrations with a nice story...
June 22, 2020
Adorable art with a well-intended story, but the simplistic solution , ironically, made me worry a bit. All kids have worries. A lot of them think they are alone. The worries can grow if you try to ignore them. Knowing you are not alone can help. This is all true, and this is all the great part of the book. But Ruby finds another child who also has a worry (great!), and they talk about them (wonderful!), and the worries go away (you were so close!).
I have anxiety. More importantly, I parent a child with severe anxiety. If I had read this to her when she was younger, it would have made her so sad. Talking about her worries does not make them go away. We have tried that. In fact, if she starts talking about them, it sometimes magnifies them and she can't think about anything else. This book would have made her worry even more that she was not normal because talking about her worries doesn't fix them.
This is not a bad book. It is just not for kids who really have anxiety. It's for kids who might have something small that they worry about and need to deal with.
I have anxiety. More importantly, I parent a child with severe anxiety. If I had read this to her when she was younger, it would have made her so sad. Talking about her worries does not make them go away. We have tried that. In fact, if she starts talking about them, it sometimes magnifies them and she can't think about anything else. This book would have made her worry even more that she was not normal because talking about her worries doesn't fix them.
This is not a bad book. It is just not for kids who really have anxiety. It's for kids who might have something small that they worry about and need to deal with.
September 5, 2019
I relate to Ruby hardcore. Growing up, I also used to think that I was the only one with these worries that wouldn't go away and I couldn't really talk about it because that just wasn't what you did.
I am loving all of the new children's books that deal with the topics of anxiety, depression, and just mental illness in general. Having books like this available will hopefully let the kids know that they aren't alone and that they can talk about the feelings they are having.
I am loving all of the new children's books that deal with the topics of anxiety, depression, and just mental illness in general. Having books like this available will hopefully let the kids know that they aren't alone and that they can talk about the feelings they are having.
February 6, 2020
Nice art and story, even if the solution to worrying is super simplified, causing much scoffing from my wife who has spent a great portion of her life engaged in worries.
My tags:
My tags:
November 7, 2018
Simply love the book especially the illustrations are so unique and stunning that I can keep looking at them. The colors used are brilliant. Also the story is simple and can be appreciated by all age groups.
November 7, 2019
A book that Little Lisa really would have connected to.
August 9, 2020
For SEL & anxiety. I just wish the "worry" wasn't illustrated with the same scribbles as Ruby's hair.
October 18, 2021
In the vein of Me And My Fear and When Sadness Is at Your Door, Ruby Finds a Worry manifests a feeling into a wordless, omniscient being that essentially stalks the main character. Sometimes that's how big emotions weigh on us: relentless, darkening every part of your life. And the more you think about it, the more noticeable its presence becomes!
It's great that anxiety and grief are being featured in picture books. More and more, our youngest humans are dealing with emotions beyond their ability to regulate. Maybe they can find connection in stories such as this.
It's great that anxiety and grief are being featured in picture books. More and more, our youngest humans are dealing with emotions beyond their ability to regulate. Maybe they can find connection in stories such as this.
August 5, 2024
Wow what a great book!
September 10, 2024
Ruby is adorable! And even her worry is! And I love that she's not white too.
Very similar to Me And My Fear, in that a little girl has a worry/fear which grows until she's not herself anymore. Eventually she find that someone else has one too, and it helps her learn how to cope with her own. So, not as original a plot (I'm sure these two aren't the only ones with this sort of story) but still a really good message. And yes, I'm speaking as someone who was that worrisome little kid myself. Compared to Me and My Fear, this one is a little lighter - the worry/fear isn't quite as defined - but still a very similar message.
A great one for storytimes on worries or emotions, or one to refer to parents or professionals working with emotional younger ones.
Very similar to Me And My Fear, in that a little girl has a worry/fear which grows until she's not herself anymore. Eventually she find that someone else has one too, and it helps her learn how to cope with her own. So, not as original a plot (I'm sure these two aren't the only ones with this sort of story) but still a really good message. And yes, I'm speaking as someone who was that worrisome little kid myself. Compared to Me and My Fear, this one is a little lighter - the worry/fear isn't quite as defined - but still a very similar message.
A great one for storytimes on worries or emotions, or one to refer to parents or professionals working with emotional younger ones.
June 1, 2020
Ruby has a worry. But when she attempts to ignore it, it only grows bigger. No matter what she does, it is always with her in school, on the bus, and even in the movie theater. Obviously, it is dominating her life. Eventually, she learns that everyone has worries and that sometimes the best thing you can do is talk about them. I love the adorable illustrations in this story and am so happy to see this important message available for children who suffer from anxiety (and for those who need empathy for others who suffer). The artwork in this book was created digitally using Kyle T. Webster’s natural media brushes for Photoshop and a selection of hand-painted textures.
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
January 20, 2024
As a therapist, I LOVED this book. You have to be creative to help children understand such complex emotions and books are a great way to normalize and open up new ways to communicate. Everyone worries and sometimes it feel like we are the only one struggling.
Ruby finds a worry and as she continues to worry, her worry gets bigger. The bigger that worry gets, she is more worried that others will see that something is wrong. It’s not until she sees another little boy at the park and beside him….A WORRY! she is not alone! She talks to the boy about her worry, validating that the emotion exists, and lo and behold, her worry gets smaller. It just goes to show that when we avoid/ignore our emotions (problems) they actually get bigger. It’s not until we validate them and talk openly can we overpower them.
Ruby finds a worry and as she continues to worry, her worry gets bigger. The bigger that worry gets, she is more worried that others will see that something is wrong. It’s not until she sees another little boy at the park and beside him….A WORRY! she is not alone! She talks to the boy about her worry, validating that the emotion exists, and lo and behold, her worry gets smaller. It just goes to show that when we avoid/ignore our emotions (problems) they actually get bigger. It’s not until we validate them and talk openly can we overpower them.
February 3, 2021
Kudos to Tom and his illustrations. They really make the story come alive. However, I just was not that impressed with the book. Was it a little too long? Maybe. Would kids get the message? Probably. It just was not for me.
Ruby Finds a Worry
just does not have the flow and rhythm that I enjoy in most kids book.
Please...decide for yourself. You may give it 5 stars. I just can't.
Please...decide for yourself. You may give it 5 stars. I just can't.
September 30, 2019
I love this. It's gentle, well-drawn, and I'd use it with a variety of ages. The worst thing to do with a worry...is worry about it and I love that Ruby finds her resolution in helping someone else. My anxious 5-year-old loved it.
December 11, 2019
I like the message overall, but if someone came and sat next to me on a bench and started telling me all of their problems I'm pretty sure that would just add to my worries.
October 2, 2020
Truly great book for children to feel comfortable with sharing their feelings. Ruby’s worry is based around a little girl who was a small worry which then begins to grow. She seeks for a way to to get rid of the worry.
Due to covid 19, children may have a few worries so this book would work well with a PSHE lesson.
Due to covid 19, children may have a few worries so this book would work well with a PSHE lesson.
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April 9, 2024read this to anemoon on Het bibliotheek floor super nice time
March 23, 2021
Ruby is a young girl who one day stumbles upon a worry. Though other people can't see her worry, it is very real to her and thinking about it only makes the worry bigger. This picture book is a great springboard for talking with kids about worries and anxiety. Ruby learns some important lessons along the way. She discovers that everyone has worries and that talking about worries can help them get smaller. I loved that Ruby recognized when another child was sad and found out that talking to him was helpful for both of them. I greatly enjoyed reading this with my four year old, but think my elementary and middle school kids would benefit from this story as well.
August 19, 2020
In these challenging times for children's mental health and wellbeing, this is a wonderful picture book to reassure children at KS1 that feelings of anxiety are things we all naturally experience, and things we can successfully overcome if we share and talk them over. Ruby loves playing on her swing, in her garden, on her piano and in the park... until a worry appears in her life. Humorously depicted as an apparently fuzzy apparition, the worry accompanies Ruby everywhere, through every picture at school, at bedtime, even on her birthday, and frustratingly for Ruby, no-one, not even her teacher, seems able to see it. As she hides it deep inside, it grows enormous and conquers her life, until she discovers another child with a worry of his own - and learns that talking things over with him can help us all put all our fears and worries in proportion. Missed school, fears of ill health or even experiences of loss, whether financial, physical or emotional, will have affected many children during the pandemic of 2020: this story is just one way of helping them realise that talking through their worries and problems is one of the most effective and cathartic ways to manage them effectively and prevent them overtaking your life.
There is some fascinating use of colour and monochrome in this book: Ruby and her Worry are colourful throughout, but most of her surroundings pale into black and white in insignificance in comparison. Other people's worries are carefully colour-coded differently, whilst a rainbow of happiness emerges as Ruby finds a way to avoid her worries stifling her existence. It's fantastic to see the protagonist representing both female and BAME readers in a way so many stories do not, and Tom Percival's personal message to the reader inside the front cover adds a further level of depth which could be discussed with children. Percival dedicates the book to a lucky class at Gastrells Community Primary School, which can be found online in Stroud, Gloucestershire.
Readers are left with a few question marks - Ruby's family, whilst featuring occasionally, are not the ones she chooses to divulge her worries to, and the reasons for this are left unclear. The book Ruby is pictured reading is War and Peace, which whilst amusing for the adult reader through its inappropriateness, is probably not a joke children would readily appreciate. Although no-one is able to see Ruby's worry, somehow she is able to see theirs: and indeed it is this that provides the solution for her problems. Nevertheless, this book provides a wonderfully warm and accessible way to reassure children that they should have the confidence to speak out about their feelings, safe in the knowledge that through doing so, they can achieve so much more. I shall be sharing this book with children this September and hope they successfully take that message away into their own lives.
There is some fascinating use of colour and monochrome in this book: Ruby and her Worry are colourful throughout, but most of her surroundings pale into black and white in insignificance in comparison. Other people's worries are carefully colour-coded differently, whilst a rainbow of happiness emerges as Ruby finds a way to avoid her worries stifling her existence. It's fantastic to see the protagonist representing both female and BAME readers in a way so many stories do not, and Tom Percival's personal message to the reader inside the front cover adds a further level of depth which could be discussed with children. Percival dedicates the book to a lucky class at Gastrells Community Primary School, which can be found online in Stroud, Gloucestershire.
Readers are left with a few question marks - Ruby's family, whilst featuring occasionally, are not the ones she chooses to divulge her worries to, and the reasons for this are left unclear. The book Ruby is pictured reading is War and Peace, which whilst amusing for the adult reader through its inappropriateness, is probably not a joke children would readily appreciate. Although no-one is able to see Ruby's worry, somehow she is able to see theirs: and indeed it is this that provides the solution for her problems. Nevertheless, this book provides a wonderfully warm and accessible way to reassure children that they should have the confidence to speak out about their feelings, safe in the knowledge that through doing so, they can achieve so much more. I shall be sharing this book with children this September and hope they successfully take that message away into their own lives.
January 17, 2022
Text-T0-Teaching Connection
Reading "Ruby Finds a Worry" gave me so many exciting feelings. I wish books like this were around when I was a little girl. To me it means so much to see a dark brown little girl with curly, bushy afro puffs and braids as the main character of a book. As an educator, I would like to read this book with my class during of one our morning meetings. I think this will help me to get a sense of what my students are feeling and to observe their expressions. To begin, I will start a conversation by letting them know that I, their teacher, has worried, (still worries), and then ask them questions like: "What are feelings?, "What are emotions", and, "Has anyone ever felt worried?" "What was it like? What did you notice or observe about your self?" Can you describe your feeling(s)? "What did it/they look like (color, size, shape, etc)?"
While in our morning meeting circle, we can change our physical faces to show how different emotions may look (i.e. emojis). Then, I will introduce Ruby and this awesome book. After reading, I will ask my students questions about the book, and find out what they observed. "How did Ruby work through her feelings?" What did she do to get rid of her worry? Also, did you notice that Ruby discovered that there was someone else, (completely unlike her), who had worry too? Finally, as an art or drawing activity, we will give faces to our feelings on paper. I will create a chart with everyone's name on it so that we can all display our feelings each morning by placing our drawings near our names. Later in our day, maybe after lunch, I will check in with my students to see if their feelings have changed, and if so, they can switch their faces (drawings) on the chart, and possibly share how, or what changed their feelings.
Reading "Ruby Finds a Worry" gave me so many exciting feelings. I wish books like this were around when I was a little girl. To me it means so much to see a dark brown little girl with curly, bushy afro puffs and braids as the main character of a book. As an educator, I would like to read this book with my class during of one our morning meetings. I think this will help me to get a sense of what my students are feeling and to observe their expressions. To begin, I will start a conversation by letting them know that I, their teacher, has worried, (still worries), and then ask them questions like: "What are feelings?, "What are emotions", and, "Has anyone ever felt worried?" "What was it like? What did you notice or observe about your self?" Can you describe your feeling(s)? "What did it/they look like (color, size, shape, etc)?"
While in our morning meeting circle, we can change our physical faces to show how different emotions may look (i.e. emojis). Then, I will introduce Ruby and this awesome book. After reading, I will ask my students questions about the book, and find out what they observed. "How did Ruby work through her feelings?" What did she do to get rid of her worry? Also, did you notice that Ruby discovered that there was someone else, (completely unlike her), who had worry too? Finally, as an art or drawing activity, we will give faces to our feelings on paper. I will create a chart with everyone's name on it so that we can all display our feelings each morning by placing our drawings near our names. Later in our day, maybe after lunch, I will check in with my students to see if their feelings have changed, and if so, they can switch their faces (drawings) on the chart, and possibly share how, or what changed their feelings.
October 7, 2019
Ruby Finds a Worry is about a young girl named Ruby who loves her life. She loves to play, explore, and do a lot more things. One day though Ruby finds a worry. Although she tries to ignore it, the worry grows bigger and bigger until it's all she can think about, and she begins to think that it will be there forever, which makes her sad. One day Ruby meets a boy who also has a worry, and together they learn all about worries.
The overall theme of this book is talking about your hidden concerns. It is very important for children to be able to express things that are bothering them, and know that they are not the only one that worries about things.
I found Ruby very relatable as I read the book. It does a great job of illustrating how a worry can take over all of a person's thoughts and the effects that it can have on a person. I related to the book a lot, even as a 20 year-old, with the idea of something that worries me completely enveloping my thoughts.
I would definitely recommend this book. Children need to know that it is important to express their worries and that everyone worries sometimes, they're not alone. Ruby Finds a Worry does an incredible job of showing what a worry can do when it is not dealt with, and puts it in a way that is very easy for young children to understand. The strategic use of color is also very eye-catching and will keep a child's attention.
The overall theme of this book is talking about your hidden concerns. It is very important for children to be able to express things that are bothering them, and know that they are not the only one that worries about things.
I found Ruby very relatable as I read the book. It does a great job of illustrating how a worry can take over all of a person's thoughts and the effects that it can have on a person. I related to the book a lot, even as a 20 year-old, with the idea of something that worries me completely enveloping my thoughts.
I would definitely recommend this book. Children need to know that it is important to express their worries and that everyone worries sometimes, they're not alone. Ruby Finds a Worry does an incredible job of showing what a worry can do when it is not dealt with, and puts it in a way that is very easy for young children to understand. The strategic use of color is also very eye-catching and will keep a child's attention.
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