Ruby & Rufus Love the Water

Gossie and Friends

by Olivier Dunrea

In this preschool tale from the world of Gossie & Friends, water-loving goslings Ruby and Rufus play on the pond come rain, sleet, snow, or shine!

Ruby and Rufus play at the pond every day. They swim in the rain. They swim when it's windy. Nothing can stop this inseparable pair from doing what they love -- until one day, the pond turns to ICE! Could it be that a frozen pond is twice as nice?

Ruby & Rufus features the perfectly-pitched storytelling and adorable illustrations so beloved by fans of Olivier Dunrea's Gossie & Friends series.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Juvenile, Storytime, Birds

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 19, 2019

About the author

Since his debut in 1983, author and illustrator Olivier Dunrea has created a steady stream of picture books, including concept books, stories of family life—modern and ancient—and stories about artists. Many of Dunrea's picture books testify to his love of animals and his interest in archaeology and folklore of the British Isles, and several—including Ravena, The Trow-Wife's Treasure, and Bear Noel—take place in a similar land of Dunrea's own creation: the mythic island of Moel Eyris. "I don't write books or make pictures for children," Dunrea once told Something About the Author (SATA). "I make them for myself. It just so happens that children like what I do as much as I do!"

Olivier (Jean-Paul Dominique) Dunrea (1953-) Biography - Personal, Career, Member, Writings, Sidelights

Reviews

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read tonight by our “Lamby” age 10. We love these books!

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby and Rufus love the water. They like to swim and dive. They like to play with the fish. One day they go to the pond to find it is frozen. What will they do now?

This was adorable! I loved the illustrations. They were bright and colorful. I liked Ruby and Rufus. They may have liked the same things, but they put their spin on each thing they liked. I also liked that they discovered what they could do on a frozen pond. It was fun!

I look forward to reading other books in this series.

[Melissa Swistek · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is no bad weather. The pond is to be enjoyed all year long.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruby and Rufus are small yellow goslings who play in the pond.

Ruby and Rufus play in the pond everyday in all weather and all seasons, reflecting the idea that there is no such thing as bad weather. They are initially surprised when their pond freezes during the winter, but their surprise quickly changes to delight when they discover how much fun playing on ice can be.

This is a simple story that allows children to reflect upon their everyday experiences, which, in this case, is playing outside in different seasons and different types of weather.

[Lara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+

I always love Dunrea's illustrations. His Gossie series is just the cutest!

Also as always, these books are a little small physically for one of my storytime audiences. I would use this one, though (should I find a bigger copy), in a storytime on seasons, change, or swimming/skating/sports. As it is, it would be a good book for little ones facing changes (maybe a move?). The pond is still fun, even if it's different, after all.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Gossie & Friends” move over and make room for “Ruby & Rufus”! If you enjoy the water every day, what do you do when it freezes over? You discover the joys of playing on the ice!

Dundee’s signature small format with yellow & red illustrations extend the short sentences, which are perfect for beginning readers.

Great for teaching preschoolers how to make the best of unexpected circumstances and possible disappointment. This book and message are just too cute not to have in your collection!

[Jennifer Wise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruby and Rufus are two small ducklings who are always playing in the pond. They seem to think the weather is perfect hour it is and does not anticipate anything changing, until it does. The pond freezes and the ducklings react and adapt to the weather change. The realize although the swimming around in the pond is fun, sliding on top of the pond is just as much fun!

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend story that shows their love for the pond throughout the year. Ruby and Rufus like to play on the pond and Olivier Dunrea uses one sentence per page paired with color illustrations of joyful play when the pond is ice and when it is water.

If you have a space for tiny picture books, this one will be loved!

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruby and Rufus both love the water; they swim in it almost everyday. In winter, excited to continue their swimming, they head to the pond only to find out that it's frozen! They don't mind at all, and play on the ice instead.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eARC courtesy of Clarian via Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.

Good early introduction to Gossie's world.

For Libraries: If Gossie and Friends books are popular in your library, this will be a good investment for your board book collection-regardless it is super cute.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby and Rufus love to go to the pond every day in their bathing caps, rain or shine. But one day the pond freezes! Ruby and Rufus play with their inner tube and side on the ice. They really love the pond, no matter what the weather is.

[Squirrel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful drawings, fun characters. Less dramatic story than some of the others in this series. Would have enjoyed seeing more 'play' - maybe one dives down into the marsh grasses, then pops up with a fish on its back?

[Christine D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series is just too darn cute :)

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Simple, quick, fun illustrations, and some repetition.

[Syntha Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute and fun

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two gosslings, Ruby & Rufus, love the pond. They swim every day until it becomes ice.

2019 storytime theme: Gossie & Gertie

Reviewed from a library copy.

[MaryLibrarianOH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two ducks like to play on the pond in both warm and cold weather.

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super sweet and simple. Very early readers can probably make their way through without too much trouble, and it's just...cute.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two little ducks spend their days exploring the water and noticing its changes. Preschool and up

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weather they are swimming and diving in the pond, or gliding across the ice, Ruby and Rufus love the water.

Adorable.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Lara Bate · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of two ducks playing in the water. The water then turns to ice and the ducks have fun playing on the ice.

[Beth Bauman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, no plot to speak of, but quite cute anyway.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

text; three stars (translated edition)
illustrations: three stars

Enjoying the waters in every season of life. 💙

[Cassablanca · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit Meh...

[Melenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cute read

[Jonathan Ahmadi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute read

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

[Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2023

[E & E’s Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elliot loves the Gossie and Friends series, so we’ve been reading as many as we can find at the library. This one is about two water-loving goslings who learn to have fun on the ice when their beloved pond freezes over.

*library book. Read at 21 and 24 months