Ruthie and the (Not So) Very Busy Day

PreS-K—The little fox introduced in Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie (Bloomsbury, 2007) returns with heart as her family realizes that a rocky morning does not need to ruin the entire day and that a batch of chocolate-chip cookies can ease the pain caused by a change of plans. Ruthie's goal for her not-so-structured Saturday is to bake cookies with Momma, plant flowers with Papa, and watch her favorite cartoon. Unfortunately, family emergencies and forgotten birthday parties impact her schedule. While Ruthie's perspective briefly wavers when she addresses her strong emotions ("Stomping down the driveway, she remembered she couldn't cross the street by herself"), overall, her behaviors remain realistic as her perfect day falls by the wayside. Her response when feeling frustration, whether it is kicking the car seat in front of her or hiding her face in her clothes, will resonate with children. Pen and acrylic paints on watercolor paper capture the youngster's animated expressions and provide cheery details to her comfy home.—Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC