Reviewed by Magdalena Ball
Ruby Roo is a cute little kangaroo with a large head, a long pointy tail, and an orange and green spotted shirt. She is about the same age as a toddler and they will relate to her adventurousness. They will also learn along with Ruby as she discovers the world and her place in it. In Ruby Roo Jumps Too High, Ruby is proud of her great jumping skills, and ignoring her parents’ warnings to be careful, she jumps up over the rose bush, the fence, the house, the bridge, the school, the tower, and then she jumps so high she reaches the moon. Once on the moon she is too scared to come down, but in the end, a little help from some pointy roo tails saves the day. Ruby learns a good lesson about taking care which children will also learn. Children won’t mind suspending their judgement about the logistics of a kangaroo jumping up to the moon, and will love the sliding back part. The progression from small jumps to larger jumps will help children learn early maths and provide an opportunity for further expansion of the story.
Ruby Roo’s Teddy is a very simple lift the flap book with the familiar topic of trying to find a missing teddy. If you have any lift the flap books already (Spot, Miffy, or Caillou for example) they will probably have a similar theme, but young children do love to lift those flaps, and the familiarity of the story will appeal to children and make the book instantly accessible.
Both books are illustrated in rich deep colours, with simple, naïve pictures that children will like. On the back of each book are tips for extending the reading experience. For more information visit www.ibispublishing.com.
Ruby Roo Jumps Too High
ISBN 1920923029, rrp $15.95
Ruby Roo’s Teddy
ISBN 1920923098, rrp $12.95
By Lucy Nichols
Illustrated by Christina Miesen
Ibis for Kids, paperback, 2004
This review first appeared at Preschoolentertainment.com. It appears here with permission.