RUBY AND LONELY, by Patrice Karst and Kayla Harren, Two Lions, Sept. 12, 2023, Hardcover, $17.99 (ages 5-8)
A little girl deals with loneliness by creating an imaginary friend in Ruby and Lonely, a new picture book by Patrice Karst and Kayla Harren.
Ruby’s got a problem. At school and at home, everyone is so busy all the time, and no one seems to notice her at all. Ruby finds herself feeling kind of…lonely. It’s a big problem! But one day, while walking home alone after school, she decides to look at her problem from a new angle. She even gives it a name ― Lonely ― a seemingly small but significant decision that transforms her problem, and entire life, in the most surprising and extraordinary way. Join Ruby as she discovers her inner best friend in this relatable and heartwarming story. A note from the author and discussion questions are included. —Synopsis provided by Two Lions
Ruby and Lonely speaks to the resilience of kids and how they often compensate for things that are missing though imagination. Ruby knows she has a problem, but it isn’t until her teacher talks about how to work through them, that Ruby is able to give her problem a name. Once she gives it a name, she wants to help Lonely, and by helping Lonely, Ruby helps herself.
Ruby and Lonely is a beautiful exploration of a child’s thought process.
Author Patrice Karst pulled from her own experiences with intense loneliness to create a tender narrative that will help young readers put a name to some of the emotions they are feeling. Illustrator Kayla Harren’s gentle illustrations are full of emotion and literally bring Lonely to life.
Ruby and the Lonely is a great option for expanding your emotional intelligence library.
About the Creators:
Patrice Karst is the bestselling author of The Invisible String, which has sold more than a million copies and been translated into fifteen languages, and its companion titles, The Invisible Leash, The Invisible Web, You Are Never Alone: An Invisible String Lullaby, and most recently, The Invisible String Backpack. She is also the coauthor of The Invisible String Workbook with Dr. Dana Wyss. She also wrote The Smile that Went Around the World. Patrice is passionate about spreading her message of love across the planet. Born in London, England, she now lives in Southern California. Learn more at www.patricekarst.com, on Instagram: @theinvisiblestringinsta, and Facebook: @TheInvisibleString.
Kayla Harren is an award-winning illustrator of children’s books, including A Boy Like You, written by Frank Murphy, and The Boy Who Grew a Forest, written by Sophia Gholz, among other titles. She recently illustrated Thursday, by Ann Bonwill, which Midwest Book Review called “an impressively presented picture book of healing and hope for young children.” Her work has been featured in the Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, Communication Arts, and 3×3 Magazine, and she won the Highlights for Children Pewter Plate Award. She lives in Minnesota. Learn more at www.kaylaharren.com, on Instagram: @kaylaharren and Facebook: Kayla Harren Illustrator.
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