Ruby in Her Own Time

Ruby

by Jonathan Emmett, Rebecca Harry

Ruby is a duck who does everything in her own time. She takes her time hatching, eating, swimming, flying, and starting her own family.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Family, Fiction, School, Storytime

32 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 2004

About the author

Jonathan Emmett was born in Leicestershire in 1965, the son of a factory fitter and a primary school teacher.

Jonathan loved books from an early age and some of his earliest memories are of visiting his local library. The picture books that he borrowed then, including Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss and Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson have had a great influence on the picture books that he now writes.

It was while Jonathan was at college, studying architecture, that he first started developing his own illustrated texts, illustrating poems and lyrics that he’d written. Pleased with the results, he found himself spending more and more time on writing and illustration. Although he qualified as an architect, he found the job unsatisfying and began pursuing a career in children's books in his spare time, eventually going full-time in 1995, a few months before his thirtieth birthday.

As well as writing picture books such as Bringing Down the Moon, Someone Bigger, Pigs Might Fly and Ruby Flew Too, Jonathan also writes and paper-engineers pop-up books. His books have won several awards including the Red House Children’s Book Award “Book for Younger Children” for Pigs Might Fly and the Kiekeboekprijs for Bringing Down the Moon.

He now lives in Nottingham with his wife, Rachel, and children, Max and Laura.

You can visit Jonathan’s website atjonathanemmett.com

Reviews

[Ruby Gibson]

my favorite children's book of all time. I recently had the great privilege of using it in a lesson plan for kindergarteners in theatre camp and it HOLDS UP! adorable as ever. should I get a ruby the duck tattoo?

but here's the real question: do I log every single picture book that I read for CCT this summer? I would instantly hit my goodreads reading goal in one fell swoop... is that cheating??!?!! please comment your thoughts below

[Paul]

Noah seemed disinterested in the most part but love the references to the mummy and daddy ducks. He was very attuned to the sadness of Ruby’s departure though.

[Eva]

i can’t do this

[ShaeDuke | Upstate NY]

Picking out some re-sale books at a used booksale for some little kiddos (who are not my own)

Such a great story about a little duck growing up, finding her way and leaving home. Beautiful picture in contrasting colors to draw your eye. Enjoyable and lovely.

I picked this one up, not for any educational piece, but when I was a child I greatly was drawn by artwork/illustrations when I picked out my own books and these are beautiful. So hoping the future little owner will love the pictures too!

[Michelle Turnure]

Love this series of books and reading them over and over to my daughter. The illustrations are colorful and adorable - the soft crayon feel of the illustrations are engaging and the layouts provide a lovely rhythm to the story. This story provides a nice message that one may not fit in with the crowd and how a family can support and celebrate the differences among one another.

[Nitali Tadkalkar]

A lovely children's book with beautiful illustrations and a sweet story about being different and being okay, and about taking things at your own pace. Along with children, it also has a great message for parents to believe in our children and their potential; and to support them through their weakness and encourage them to find themselves.

[Shannon P]

I like the message in this story. My daughter has anxiety about many things and needs to know that going at her a own pace is ok. Hearing me say it doesn't seem to be enough.this book and the takeaway message were perfect for a child like her who needs to know that they'll get to do something, in their own time.

[Kaylee Klaassen]

Genre: Modern Fantasy
Grade Range: PreK - 1st

This book was really precious. I loved that the mother duck had complete faith in her duckling that she would excel at her own timing. This can be applied to our own lives, because we all do things in our own timing. I thought the illustrations were very cute and well done.

[Emily Jones]

So...is it normal to be jealous of a fictional duck’s romantic relationship? Because Father Duck and Mother Duck make a lovely couple. Anyway...It’s no secret that I love this type of illustrations. So soft and adorable. Cute story about doing things at your own pace.

[Natalia]

Me parece un libro tan maravilloso para niños como para padres, pues a veces nos agobiamos porque nuestre bebé no hace esto o lo otro y hay que tener muy en mente que cada persona tiene su ritmo.

Reseña: https://www.arte-literario.com/2023/0...

[Beth]

About doing things at your own pace.

[Oona]

I think Wesley must have recognized Ruby, a classmate's name. This is a nice book for parents to remember that children have their own time frame in accomplishing their goals.

[Jessica Velasquez]

Very cute story. Will definitely have it in my classroom.

[Nichole]

Everyone does things in their own time.

[Kaylynn Johnsen]

This is a lovely story about patience and a mother's love.

[Lyn Rose]

This is such a lovely, well-written book for smaller children. It flows nicely with lovely illustrations. I'm glad I read it.

[Sarah]

A perfectly formed picture book. I’d give it six stars if I could.

[TCNS]

A baby duckling grows at her own pace, even if it is slower than her siblings

[Kelly Chester]

Super cute book

[Claire]

The illustrations are so so cute! And such a cute story. Kids will do things in their own time.

[Ashley M.]

Summary for ECE2203

A mother and father duck have five eggs in a nest. The mother sits all day to hatch them and out pop four baby ducks. The last egg would not hatch however, the mother sat and waited but nothing. After time passed out popped the fifth duck. They decided to call this tiny duck Ruby. The ducks all played, ate and did duck things together. Ruby however did nothing. Rubys mother and father were concerned if she would ever be like the other ducks. Eventually more time passed and Ruby grew and did things just like her brother and sisters. She Learns to fly later than the rest however she flys long and her mother and father will she ever come back. Ruby is doing things her own way and in her own time. Her family soon realizes that she is just like them she is just doing things in her own time. This story is a lesson in tolerance for others for many to learn from in a fun way

REVIW FOR LANG/LIT

This story touches on many topics that are teachable opportunities for young children. The lesson of tolerance and acceptance for each ones own ability is covered by using a family of friendly ducks and ducklings. The children will learn a small part in how a duck is born as well as work on they're counting skills as each duck is hatched.

Children in the class can take part is accepting each others ability to accomplish task at different times. At the start of the year use this book and create a chart with the class on things they want to learn to do this year. Tie shoes, button jacket and things along those lines can be used for this chart. Each time a child has achieved a task they can add a picture to the chart of their face or name. This is a way of celebrating others achievements together and seeing that we all move at different paces.

[Christy]

To coincide with our HC publication of THIS WAY, RUBY!, here's the sweet little duckling's picture book debut--now in paperback.

Mother Duck and Father Duck are worried about Ruby. As the littlest duckling of the family, she learns to eat and swim long after her four sisters and brothers. Father Duck frets that Ruby will never catch up, but Mother Duck calmly reassures him that Ruby will flourish -- "in her own time."
Readers of all ages who have ever felt like the biggest or the littlest, the slowest or the fastest, or somewhere in between, will root for Ruby as she takes wing toward independence, at last. Once you've met Ruby, you'll never forget her!

[Sarah]

This book is about a family of ducks, the youngest of whom, Ruby, does things a little bit slower than her siblings. Despite her pace, Ruby eventually catches up, and does all of the things her siblings do. This book could be useful in talking about peers with disabilities who may be progressing at differing rates, and provide a frame work for scaffolding conversations about diversity. It could also be used to teach children to be aware of accommodation some children may need to be successful (e.g., just like Ruby needs more time, this child needs X). Given the repetitive structure of the book, instructors could easily incorporate opportunities for active responding (i.e., clozes).

[Destiny Thompson]

Ruby is a 'late bloomer," her for other siblings hatched, swam, and ate all before her. When her father shows concern her mother says, " Ruby will in her own time." Eventually, Ruby learns how to fly, and when she leaves her mother asks, "will she ever come back," and her father replied, "she will, all in good time." This book was a very easy read, it's simple short story. This book encourages children to understand that they will eventually learn all in good time. This book would be excellent for a child struggling in school. The moral of the story can be used to give the child confidence.

[Taylor Brady]

What a terrifically adorable book about a little duck (animals) who takes some extra time to catch up to her siblings (family) but then exceeds them all. Throughout the book Ruby's dad is concerned that she's not like her siblings but Ruby's mom reassures her dad by saying, "she will, in her own time." I enjoyed the message behind this book that is ok that not everyone develops at the same pace (development).

[Sara]

This is a cute story about a duckling who hatches, eats, and swims a bit slower than her siblings. Her dad is worried but her mom reassures with "she will, in her own time." By the end of the story, Ruby is able to fly with her siblings. She soars and goes on to have her own family of ducklings. Very good read-aloud to a K-3 class, with a message that many students need to hear.

[Drew Paige]

Great book for parents and children to relate to. Especially parents with multiple children. Children can grow and mature at different ages and they should not be judged differently because of this. They will develop "in their own time" just like Ruby the little duckling did. It is always important to be positive and supportive.

[Maria]

Picture Book

Ruby hatches later than the rest of her siblings, so she does things later than all of them. Her father keeps asking if she'll ever do things, and her mother says, "She will, in her own time," and she does.

[Gennie Hendrick]

I really like this book a lot. This book gives a great example of how different "children" develop different skills at different times. The little duck named Ruby does everything a little later than others.

[Kelley Moore]

Loved this book to read to students when they think that they should be doing everything everyone else is doing. It isn't all about doing what everyone else is doing you have to do what's right for yourself.