Customer Reviews

Ruby the Copycat - Audio

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am 13 years old and I remember that Ruby the Copycat was the first real book I have ever read on my own. This is not counting "Jane ran..." books, so I was about six or seven when I read this book. My mom told me I used to read it over and over and over and over to her. It was such a great book, and still is, and untill this day I still have it!!! I recommend this book to any beginning reader. Ruby is so cute and I LOVE her hair!

I can't believe any reviewer would criticize the illustrations in this book! As in every Rathman book, the quirky and humorous pictures are half the fun. We love all of Rathman's books, but this is my favorite one to read to my children. In fact, it's one of my favorite books in our entire collection. Highly recommended.

Even now in Middle School, I get this book out and read it! I bought it when I was in the 2nd grade and I still have the copy.. as a matter of fact I was reading it not too long ago,and I suggest you read it as a family. It has a good storyline :-)

We read Ruby the Copycat in my second-grade classroom, and the kids really gravitated toward it. The illustrations are appropriately stylized to clearly deliver character emotions, and there are subtle details in the pictures that breathe more life into the characters. Ruby reminds me of the nervous child in all of us that seeks to fit in. I highly, highly recommend this book for in-class reading. Buy a class set!

Wow, I think Hornbook is a great publication, but their reviewer was way off on this one: "Ruby the Copycat" is a funny, endearing book and the illustrations add immeasurably to its quirky charm! Some reviewers seem to think that kids need the complexity of Dickens in their story plots, but what seems "forced" and "pat" to one reader seems neat and effective to this one. Highest recommendation for this story (and be sure to check out Rathmann's other great titles, "Officer Buckle and Gloria" and "Ten Minutes to Bedtime").

I like this book! It gets five stars because whenever my teacher reads the book to us at school, I want to take it home with me!!!! I want to read it to my mom so she can listen to me. I think she would like the story too! I like it when Ruby and Angela copy each other, especially when they like each other's bows. I like it when they are friends at the end of the story, and they hop home for lunch!

Ruby is a new girl in a new class. She is afraid to be herself. She finds a girl and little by little starts dressing like her and supposedly doing the same things as she does. This other girl is Angela, who gets very upset with Ruby and tells Mrs. Hart the teacher.

Ruby is a little girl who is nervous and insecure about herself. She is afraid she will not be accepted or liked if she is who she really is.

In response to the Kirkus review, I don't understand why it's "a shame" that a teacher has to point out the effects of Ruby's behavior to her. In case the Kirkus reviewer has forgotten, children do need to be taught values and DON'T always understand how their actions impact others. Any parent can tell you that. Ruby's need for adult guidance seems realistic to me.

I have mixed feelings regarding this book. On the one hand the book is funny and deals with a real life problem of kindergarden and primary school children ("he is a copycat" is a regular accusation at my house). However, reading this story after reading Peggy Rathmann's three other books: "Gorilla", "Officer Buckle and Gloria" and "Ten minutes till bedtime" is a little disappointing. The three books mentioned are totally hilarious and I feel they are all unique and special works of art. This book however, although very good, does not come to their masterpiece level.
"Ruby the Copycat" is written with a neutral voice without "taking sides" - just telling the story as it is. Reader can understand both Ruby, the copycat, and in a way even understand why she is copying (Ruby is the new kid and Angela's ribbon is so very charming) but also see the point of view of those being copied - as Angela, whose every act (red ribbon in hair, rainbow painted shirt) is copied by Ruby. At first this is nice and Angela whispers back at Ruby "I like your ribbon" - but after a while Angela does not whisper any more... Ruby is stripping her of all individuality. These are an adult words but the book is written in a language every child can understand and the pictures are there to strengthen the words. Ruby wins the readers heart in the end when following the teacher's advice (don't we all wish for such teachers) finds her own unique "thing" and now the children copy Ruby's "hopping".

When I was 9 years old, I read this book at a daycare where I stayed. I read it every single day. One day, I remembered it, after forgetting for years, and came here to amazon.com. I was overjoyed to learn that yes, they had this book. Its a great story your kids or even you will love for years to come. I recommend this book for ages 1-100. You'l love it!