Getting to Know Ruben Plotnick

by Roz Rosenbluth

What do you get when you put together the coolest kid in class, an unpredictable live-in grandmother, and a caring but anxious grandson? Disaster?

No. You get to know Ruben Plotnick.

David is worried about how zany Ruben Plotnick will react when he meets Grandma Rosie, who often says and does unexpected things. Will Ruben make fun of her to their classmates? Will he imitate her whispery voice? What will he do if Grandma Rosie suddenly wants to dance?

This heartwarming story of senility and school-age embarrassment reveals the importance of looking beneath the surface to really get to know someone.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

Audible Audio

First published September 28, 2005

Reviews

[Mrs.MakesReadingFun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, well now I’m crying! This book tugged at my heartstrings I tell you, and wow did it leave me filled with emotion!

What a beautiful, heartwarming story. We can only assume from the details in the story that David’s grandma Rosie is suffering from dementia. He describes her in the loveliest ways, and also shares her outbursts and forgetfulness. When the “cool kid” at school comes to visit, David worries so much about what he’ll think about his grandma. But… the “cool kid” Plotnick was so understanding of Grandma Rosie, and when she asked him to waltz, he kindly obliged. He never made fun of her or gossiped with kids at school the next day, and David learned a lot about how this “cool kid” was also wonderfully kind as well.

Wow. So much to this story. So many teachable opportunities in the themes throughout, and one of the biggest for me was of love & acceptance.

The illustrations really shine, and bring life to the characters. I definitely want to congratulate illustrator Maurie J. Manning on the stunning art that truly elevates this already amazing story.

This story is great for all young readers. For children who are experiencing family members with dementia, they may especially relate and be inspired by this story.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting to Know Ruben Plotnick (Hardcover)
by Roz Rosenbluth
Ruben Plotnick is the most popular kid in class. This book shows how our perceptions make us fear personal connections. But the character learns that acceptance is just a choice away.

[Ryan Golden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great picture book that shows the challenges of dementia. A must read for families that have young children.

[Rick Christiansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet! Loved it.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving this trend in children’s literature of positive and loving relationships between young people and older generations.

[Hyeonjeong Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Reaction - I like this book very much because of this heart-warming story. The boy, Ruben Plotnick, is the coolest kin in the class. When he wanted to go to David's house, David was worried about her grandmother because she behaved abnormally. However, on contrary to his concerns, Ruben Plotnick spent good time with his grandmother. He did not make fun of her, instead, he danced with her. Even, after he went back to his house, the grandmother missed him. This book reminds me that it's really important not to judge other people by their covers.

Purposes-
Read aloud to first graders of elementary school for several potential purposes:
- Children would learn that it's important to look beneath the surface to really get to know someone. It would help them make good relationships with other people.
- The colors are mostly bright related to the story. It would enhance children's positive feelings while reading it.
- There are some white spaces in the book when talking about the grandmother. It would help children to think that the grandmother has something different things compared to normal people. Also, they could leave possibilities that the grandmother would behave and talk unusually.
- This book expresses David's feelings very well. It shows how his feelings have changed depending on Ruben's behaviors. Words and phrases are very detailed in explaining his feelings and the illustrations also show facial expressions very well. It would help children to follow changes of his mood.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite picture books that we've ever checked out from the library. David, the narrator, is thrilled when Ruben Plotnick wants to come over to his house after school, but he's worried that his elderly grandma (who clearly has dementia) will embarrass him. At first you think The Plotnick will use the embarrassing grandma as fodder to make fun of David at school, but instead he is totally endearing and accepts Grandma Rosie for who she is. What a great story that teaches that it's a) silly to be embarrassed by an unpredictable elderly relative and b) that it's possible to be popular and well-liked without making fun of or picking on people.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruben Plotnik is the coolest kid in school, so, at first, our narrator is excited when he wants to be friends with him. When Ruben wants to come home with him, though, it's a whole other story. Because Grandma is unpredictable (she shows signs of dementia or Alzheimer's), and he knows that Ruben will use her is fodder for his comedy at school. A great story about how people surprise us for the better some times. I like that Grandma's condition is handled matter-of-factly, yet tenderly. It was just right for my eight-year old.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved that this story called attention to such a serious cognitive-intellectual impairment. I think kids who have loved ones who present like this will relate readily. As a reader, it was easy to grasp what the author was trying to convey on that front, however, the sink sitting to the eye contact waltz to the fading out just seemed to need more flushing out. I felt like there was more that was never said. If that was the point, then okay. It just ended rather abruptly and I was unsettled by it.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

One day David brings home the "coolest kid" in school, Ruben Plotnich, all the while worring about what his elderly grandma might say and do. Ruben Plotnick ends up showing David why he deserves the title of "coolest kid." Very touching, silly story.

[Mary Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruben is the coolest boy in school. He invites himself over but our narrator is afraid of what Ruben might think of Grandma Rosie who sometimes forgets things and likes to dance. Grandma Rosie likes Ruben and Ruben turns out to be the best kind of new friend.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that this book was a good book