Tom Percival, Ruby’s Worry, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2018, 32 pp., $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781408892152
Ruby is a fun loving girl, who enjoys all the wonders that come with childhood; however she quietly yet quickly stumbles upon a worry, that only seems to get bigger, no matter what she does, and worst of all, it gets in the way of her enjoying her life as she used to. How will she stop the ever increasing and ever present worry?
The story is presented in such a relatable way, that children will quickly identify with Ruby and gain so much from sharing her inner world experience of such a common feeling. To add to the empowerment provided by this story, children are gifted to discover what Ruby does that can help.
Tom Percival injects his talent into these illustrations, and makes great use of colour representation to match Ruby’s feelings in a world of bleakness with a stand out worry that cannot be ignored. He equally creates such visual wonders in portraying the contrast in Ruby’s feelings when we experience a burst of joyful colour.
A beautifully crafted book that provides the perfect segue for parents, carers and educators to start a conversation about hidden worries with their children.
Reviewed by Sonia Bestulic
