Ruby and Lonely

by Patrice Karst, Kayla Harren (Illustrator)

Overview

From the bestselling author of The Invisible String comes a timely and powerful story that teaches the secret to finding your own inner best friend forever!

Ruby’s got a problem. At school and at home, everyone is so busy all the time, and no one seems to notice her at all. Ruby finds herself feeling kind of…lonely. But one day, while walking home alone after school, she decides to look at her problem from a new angle. She even gives it a name—Lonely—a seemingly small but significant decision that transforms her entire life in the most surprising and extraordinary way. Join Ruby as she discovers her inner best friend in this relatable and heartwarming story. A note from the author and discussion questions are included.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781662508042
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	09/12/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.75(w) x 11.25(h) x 0.38(d)
Lexile:	630L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

About the Author

Patrice Karst is the bestselling author of The Invisible String, which has sold more than a million copies and been translated into fifteen languages, and its companion titles, The Invisible Leash, The Invisible Web, You Are Never Alone: An Invisible String Lullaby, and most recently, The Invisible String Backpack. She is also the coauthor of The Invisible String Workbook with Dr. Dana Wyss. She also wrote The Smile that Went Around the World, illustrated by Jana Christy. Born in London, England, she now lives in Southern California. Learn more at www.patricekarst.com.

About the Illustrator

Kayla Harren is an award-winning illustrator of children’s books, including A Boy Like You, written by Frank Murphy, and The Boy Who Grew a Forest, written by Sophia Gholz, among other titles. She recently illustrated Thursday, by Ann Bonwill, which Midwest Book Review called “an impressively presented picture book of healing and hope for young children.” Her work has been featured in the Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, Communication Arts, and 3x3 Magazine, and she won the Highlights for Children Pewter Plate Award. She lives in Minnesota. Learn more at www.kaylaharren.com.

Editorial Reviews

A child learns to embrace her inner strength and transform loneliness into something new…A warm, genuine journey that promotes self-reliance.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Accompanied by colorful, richly detailed, and expressive illustrations, this supportive portrayal of feeling lonely encourages kids to find ways to be more connected, not only with others but also with themselves.” —Booklist

“Few will read this book and not have their heart touched, which makes it a great book for talking about loneliness, confidence, and kindness. A tender winner of a book all the way around.” —Geo Librarian

“As many kids start new schools or new classes, there might be some who feel very lonely. This book gives some very powerful tools for them to help adjust to the changes. I highly recommend this one for all children and classrooms.” —Our World of Words

“Ruby and Lonely speaks to the resilience of kids. A beautiful exploration of a child’s thought process.” —Cracking the Cover

“Karst’s tender narrative brought on tears of both sadness and joy. Ruby and Lonely is a great read aloud to support children’s self-sufficiency in problem solving.” —Beagles and Books

“I love how Ruby sorted out her feelings, faced a challenge & creativity figured out a solution.” —Storymamas

“Karst’s latest offering deftly and expertly explores the topic of loneliness, a subject seldom discussed in picture books. Children will not only easily identify with Ruby’s feelings, but also incorporate her strategies of naming the problem, looking at it from a different perspective, and discovering her inner best friend into their daily lives. Harren’s soft, gentle spreads are beyond beautiful, capturing Ruby’s transformation from solitude to growing confidence.” —Olivia the Librarian

“A gentle story about loneliness and learning that confidence comes first from spending time with oneself. A good book to have on hand for social-emotional collections.” —Mom Read It

“This was the book my daughter chose for our nightly session. This was a sweet story about a girl who felt so lonely in a world full of people. She found her inner person and started to love on her. It was beautiful to see that transformation, and when the world saw it, she blossomed. Abby enjoyed this book and it was also beautifully illustrated.” —Bookshelf Momma

“This picture book is a substantial tool in teaching emotional intelligence. Giving feelings (problems) names is the first step in understanding and settling them. Recommended for Kindergarten to grade three children, who sometimes need to feel a little less lonely.” —Opened Books

“Why The Curly’s love it: Ruby becoming happier when she played with Lonely; answering the discussion questions in the back of the book. Why Mommy likes it: stunning illustrations; the message to get to know and love yourself because you will always be there for you; when we love ourselves, we become happier; discussion questions.” —Curls Up with a Good Book

“This sweet story is a MUST HAVE!!!” —Dreamreaderkids

“Today, I am sharing one of the most powerful children's books that I have read this year. Thoughtfully written and beautifully illustrated, this story aims to encourage young readers to make a connection with themselves. Before anyone can connect with others, they must first make a connection with themselves.” —Fun Reads for Kids

“Ruby and Lonely is a heartwarming story about the power of friendship and the importance of accepting our emotions” —Mama Likes This

“For all the kids who have felt alone or ignored, this book is for them. Discussion questions at the end of the book help kids explore feelings of loneliness and what helped Ruby feel less lonely.” —Sincerely Stacie

“A beautiful story and representation for those kids who have a hard time being lonely, yet struggle with finding their self-confidence. A great book to add to your SEL collection!” —bookishburnsss

“This book has a great message about loving yourself and discovering the confidence within. The author has included discussion questions to guide you through the story.” —StoriesbyStorie

From the Publisher

2023-06-21
A child learns to embrace her inner strength and transform loneliness into something new.

Ruby, a youngster with long red locks and pale skin, feels very much alone—both at school and at home. Everyone around her is so busy; no one really notices Ruby at all. Tan-skinned Mr. Garcia, her teacher, tells Ruby’s diverse class that sometimes it is helpful to give a name to your problems, to help solve them. Ruby decides to name her problem “Lonely.” Lonely first begins as a reflection of Ruby in a storefront window and, later, a mirror, reflecting Ruby’s frown and slumped posture. However, as Ruby shares things that she enjoys with her new friend, Lonely comes to sit beside her, gradually absorbing color and strength. Lonely is Ruby’s own inner self, gaining confidence and joy—which others start to notice. As Ruby makes friends at school, Lonely doesn’t need to be present as much but is always there in the mirror, just in case. Harren’s soft palette adds a nostalgic twinge to this sensitively told narrative, letting Ruby tiptoe through sorrow and then also shine brightly. An author’s note explains that the story was inspired by Karst’s own loneliness as a child; the author also discusses the importance of having an “inner friend” and ends with discussion questions. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A warm, genuine journey that promotes self-reliance. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews