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purplepenning's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
Chockful of simple elephant wisdom that even kids without trunks can grasp. The One and Only Ruby is a beautiful little book about belonging, overcoming, finding family, growing up, telling riddles, getting giggles, stealing hats, giving pats, doing the floppy run, and playing in the mud. It covers tragedy and sadness and insecurity, but with such a sweet touch that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to kids as young as 8 or adults as old as 108. I've liked each of the books in this series more than the previous one and look forward to the final book coming in May 2024 — The One and Only Family.
Some favorite elephant wisdom:
Some favorite elephant wisdom:
A first friend is a true gift, because forever after, your heart knows what's possible.
I suppose that's one of the hardest parts of growing up … Realizing that grown-ups don't have all the answers. Realizing that the answers may have to come from you.
"The ones we love" says Aunt Akello, "live forever in our hearts."
We are not our best selves without kindness … We are not our best selves without wonder … We are not our best selves without courage … We are not our best selves without gratitude.
To be born elephant is a great gift. To be part of a herd is to be part of this beautiful world. But make no mistake: that does not mean you should blindly follow your herd. It does mean we must strive for connection despite our differences.
I am a ship that's built to ride the greatest waves … I'm not built with hammers. I'm built with hearts. What kind of ship am I? Friendship!
"Every day" says Aunt Akello, "pick a quiet time and ask yourself these two questions. 'What gifts did the world give you today? What gifts did you give the world?" … All at once I'm hearing Aunt Stella's voice, as if she's standing right there next to me, asking me, with different words, the same two questions: What amazed you today, little Ruby? What made you proud? I never lost her. She was here with me all along.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Confinement, Animal death, Death of parent, Grief, and Animal cruelty
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