Review - Ruby's Sword

Ruby's Sword
by Jacqueline Véissid
illustrated by Paola Zakimi
Date: 2019
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

Ruby is always racing after her big brothers. But no matter how hard she tries, she can never catch up. Then one day, she discovers some sticks in the grass. Not just any sticks—swords! And suddenly the world is her kingdom. Readers will cheer on Ruby's perseverance and creativity as they delight in the antics of the adorable animals that join her along the way. Anyone who has ever imagined themselves the star of their own swashbuckling adventure will find this sweet book irresistible.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Rumbling clouds grumbled.

And that's why I can't recommend this book. Aside from there not being much character development beyond "left-out little sister", this book promotes dangerous behaviour. Not only are the kids running around with pointy sticks, but they then use them as lightning rods.

See, Ruby wants to play with her brothers, but they're bigger and faster and run away from her (with a misplaced modifier in the very first sentence that did not bode well for the rest of the book). When she realizes she's on her own, she does her own thing... and finds three sword-like sticks lying in the grass. She shares them with her brothers, hoping they'll play with her, but the sexist little jerks just play with each other. So Ruby goes off on her own and finds stuff to do with her own "sword". Eventually, a storm blows up (complete with thunder and--presumably--lightning) so Ruby uses her sword and a sheet that blew off the laundry line to make a tent. When her brothers see what she's doing, they want to help. So they use their sticks, and they build a "shelter" which is basically three lightning rods supporting a saggy sheet.

Nope. Can't recommend this one. The safety implications are too grave. Had it just been a rainstorm, I could've gotten on board with it. But the mention of thunder just makes the kids' actions too dangerous. (For a better book about dealing with thunderstorms, try Franklin and the Thunderstorm by Paulette Bourgeois.)

The illustrations in Ruby's Sword are cute, though. At times they reminded me a little of Gyo Fujikawa's work. Have a look at this one for the pictures... but if you give it to a child, you may need to have a talk about outdoor safety.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.33 out of 5