Ruby's Tools for Making Friends

May 1, 2024
Tools can fix; tools can build. It's Ruby the fox's first day at a new school. Nervous, Ruby brings a backpack full of tools for reassurance (a tape measure is a reminder to count breaths; pliers are a reminder to be flexible). Today, the students will work in groups to design an egg holder that, when dropped, must prevent an egg from breaking. Ruby has an idea but is too shy to speak up. The next day, however, the young fox feels a bit bolder and shares the idea with Alex, who promises to get the others on board. The group is enthusiastic and uses Ruby's model. Other groups' projects fail. When it's Ruby's group's turn, parts of their device break. Ruby's tools do a quick fix, but the egg is intact! They've won! At lunch, the principal takes the winning devices from each classroom to the top of the slide to determine who will be the schoolwide winner. Ruby's group's device goes SPLAT. They accept their loss stoically, and Ruby's satisfied at having "constructed" new friendships. Narrated by Ruby, this thin but pleasant story imparts a good takeaway about the importance of welcoming newcomers--and being brave enough to forge new connections. The graceful, cozy illustrations depict Ruby's classmates as a blended community of animals and racially diverse humans; the teacher's a bear, while Alex is a brown-skinned boy. A sweet tale that will equip youngsters with the tools they need to try new things. (Picture book. 5-8)

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May 15, 2024
Preschool-Grade 3 Anxious about making friends at her new school, a fox named Ruby takes her tools along with her. When she's feeling overwhelmed, her tape measure reminds her to count deep breaths to calm herself. Her pliers suggest that she "bend a little," and her safety goggles imply that she should try looking at things in new ways. As she and three classmates work on a joint project, she finds the reminders from her tools to be invaluable in helping her calm down, accept different ways of thinking, and make friends. Even when she misplaces her tools, simply remembering each one lifts Ruby out of a quandary and into a positive mentality. Presenting a fresh take on the first day of school, Ruby's first-person narrative suggests that children who prepare themselves stand a good chance of making friends and achieving other goals. In the crisp, digital-ink drawings with watercolor washes, the human and animal characters are illustrated with emotional clarity and individuality. A heartening picture book for ""new kids"" seeking friends at school.

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May 13, 2024
A trio of tools help a young fox handle social anxiety in this picture book focused on emotional regulation. At her new school, Ruby’s classmates, a mix of animal and human children, greet the teacher’s plan for an egg-drop project with fast, loud chatter. “How can I help my group if I can’t speak up?” Ruby wonders. But the measuring tape she carries helps Ruby count her breathing, and safety goggles help her to see things in a new way. After she enlists a quiet classmate’s support, the group adopts Ruby’s plan, which involves use of a third tool, pliers, to remind her of her flexibility. Elaborately worked, digitally finished watercolor spreads by Stott appoint the classroom with cubbies and science mobiles, and show its pupils with close attention to personal details and readable emotions. And as the little fox learns to visualize her instruments to remember “I’m okay,” the project’s outcome helps readers appreciate taking on new experiences with a toolbox of actions. Human characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8.

July 26, 2024

PreS-Gr 2-A wonderful lesson in adaptability, patience, and taking time to cultivate friendships. Ruby the fox is apprehensive about her first day at a new school, but she finds solace in bringing her tools along with her. These tools become coping mechanisms when Ruby is anxious; her tape measure, for example, reminds her to "count my breaths if I feel overwhelmed." The class is excited when their teacher announces a science project to build the best egg holder for a dropping competition. As she gets together with her group to formulate a plan, Ruby becomes increasingly frustrated as her ideas are not being heard. Then, she uses her safety goggles to "try to see things in a new way." She will show the group her idea. Building the project does not come easily to Ruby, but with the help of shy pal Alex, communication with the rest of the group becomes possible, and their teamwork shines. Little lovers of science who may also struggle to communicate will find Ruby relatable. Everyone has different ways of coping with stress and anxiety, and Stott illustrates this beautifully through words and pictures. VERDICT A great addition to picture book collections.-Kerra Mazzariello

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