Ruby Sings the Blues

I loved this book and so did my 2, 3 & 5 year olds when I read it to them. It was fun and encouraging.

I first heard this wonderful book in church: the minister read it to the children. Both the children and adults loved it; it's the type of book you'll enjoy reading to your child over again. This is a fun book that lightly carries a message. Rudy is a captivating, yet different, main character.

Ruby is an apealing girl with a very loud voice. It's so loud, in fact, that her neighbors call her names like "Loud-mouth" and "Boom-box." When she talks, people cover their ears, animals run away, and a palm tree bends under the force of her decibels. It all sounds like trouble for Ruby. However, when a jazz saxophonist and a vocalist hear her, they have just one name for her: "Awesome!" It's a promising beginning, even though it may seem obvious that Ruby's voice will eventually swing with the musicians. Niki Daly's computer-enhanced pencil and ballpoint pen illustrations are whimsically stylish: People wear 1950's sci-fi style clothes that remind one of rayon bowling shirts and Ruby's parents collect that era's futurist objects d'art. (These latter include an elephant shaped planter, huge scrawled paintings, and Calder-like mobiles.) Other illustrations color ordinary objects with unusual computer-generated hues, shown against a minimalist ackground. Visually, it's a treat. Unfortunately, Daly the author never adequately explains why Ruby is so loud. Her parents successfully ask her to quiet down, although her father wonders how long Ruby can stay at that level. Sure enough, she disturbs everyone in class the next day, and the teacher tells her to pretend that her clothes buttons are volume knobs. This works until she goes outside, turns up the volume, and alienates all her friends. We know that Ruby can be quieter, and we know she's unhappy that people shun her-so why is Ruby so loud? Perhaps it's just simpler and safer to ignore the issue, but it's also gives the book a somewhat contrived feeling Fortunately, prize-winning illustrator Daly rescues her story with a happy ending and more superb pictures. As expected, the saxophonist and the singer come to Ruby's rescue. Zelda--all 1930-s chic with a 1950's beatnik sensibility--teaches Ruby to modulate her tone and her volume, and to sing with feeling. In a joyous two=page spread, Daly shows the whole neighborhood grooving to Ruby's blues. Notes waft through the air, happy people and animals dance on the street, and even distant buildings get animated, peering through an alley to get a better look at this good, loud party. The now acceptable Ruby blows them away at a school concert and she regains the goodwill of friends and neighbors, Still, we're told that Ruby still talks very loud sometimes, "just to check that her volume control is still working." Did she really believe the teacher's volume button ploy? Because of these narrative problems, "Ruby" is probably more suitable for younger rather than older elementary school-age kids, but Daly's illustrations and sense of style are impeccable.

Ruby loves to sing (which is good). Ruby can't control the loudness of her voice (which is bad for friends, neighbors, teachers, and passers by). Her parents have tried to gently tone her down; her teacher has also attempted to lower the decibels emanating from this small mouth. Regrettably, her classmates aren't as subtle - they call her "Loud Mouth," and just tell her to stay away. Of course, this is upsetting to Rudy; she grows sadder and sadder. Fortunately, there's a solution for Ruby's problem, which is found when two jazz musicians come calling. Author Daly uses a bit of humor and bold illustrations to show young readers that adjustments can be made that will make you and others happy.