Reckless Ruby Pb [Paperback]

Tony Ross (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 13, 1993

Ruby does any thing she can--including crossing canyons on tightropes and dangling from skyscrapers by her shoelaces--to defy her mother's expectations and forge her own identity.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Swaddled in red, Ruby is so beautiful that her family expects her to "grow up and marry a prince who'll wrap her in cotton and only bring her out for glittering banquets." Dismayed by these "dreadful predictions," the girl decides to reshape her future by becoming "very, very reckless"--a certain antidote to her precious charm. She spends her days dancing on her bicycle's handlebars, diving into fishbowls, eating "fire, and swords, and porcupines" and running away to sea until she is so covered in bumps, bruises and bandages that no self-respecting prince would give her a second look. This extravagantly droll story embraces the unlikeliest of scenarios and wildest flights of the imagination with a sly and cool glee--a sophisticated slyness that may, in fact, be over the heads of some youngsters. While the slight plot seems to serve primarily as a vehicle for Ross's typically zany, unrestrained artwork, its very silliness should prove appealing. Children will applaud this doggedly determined heroine and her dramatic transformation. Ages 3-7.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Kirkus Reviews

Ruby glows like a jewel; her mother calls her ``precious'' and hopes ``she'll grow up and marry a prince who'll wrap her in cotton and only bring her out for glittering banquets.'' On the advice of friend Harvey, Ruby spends the book in progressively more reckless acts calculated to win her a new image; she gets injured a lot, but finally gets her wish--plus Harvey's admiration. But Ruby's not interested in his proposal: she's planning to be a firefighter when she grows up. The stereotype- bashing is heavy-handed, but the perky text and wickedly zany illustrations are witty enough to retrieve the story. (Picture book. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Picture Lions (May 13, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0006640648
• ISBN-13: 978-0006640646
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.2 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,562,782 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent fun for girls., April 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: RECKLESS RUBY (Hardcover)

My daughter loves hearing about the girl who fears being so precious that she will someday marry a prince, be wrapped in cotton wool and come out only for glittering balls and to tell the servants what to do. It has a wonderful message to girls, especially the tomboy type.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great characters!, March 15, 2009

By 

Kaysey (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reckless Ruby Pb (Paperback)

I bought this book for my son when he was was a pre-schooler and we delighted in reading it outloud again and again. The characters are well developed and memorably illustrated and the triumphant feminist/individualist moral is realistically achieved--even in the midst of abundantly raucous and fantastic misadventures.

Reckless Ruby remains, even as my son is well into his teens, still affectionatly secure on the shelf among long favored books which he hopes to share with his own children someday.