Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie

PreS-Gr 2Emotions ring true in this simple tale of learning right from wrong. A young fox loves teeny tiny toys and is delighted when she finds a miniature camera on the school playground. When confronted by the classmate who dropped it, she lets her desires get the better of her and tells the teacher that the camera was a birthday present. Ruthie's growing guilt is heartrendingly displayed in her expression and posture as she forgets the answer to 2+2 and rejects her dinner of macaroni and cheese. When she tells the truth and apologizes, her relief is palpable. Emotionally authentic in text and art, this story gets its message across without preaching. The didactic-sounding title is the book's weakest point, but that's a minor flaw. An excellent choice for bibliotherapy as well as for entertaining reading."Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL" Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Like a lot of girls (and girl foxes) in her peer set, Ruthie loves tiny thingsthe tinier the better.... She had dinky dinosaurs, itty-bitty trains, ponies no bigger than your pinky, and teddy bears that were barely there. So when Ruthie finds a tiny camera on the playground, she immediately claims it for her own. Her classmate Martin identifies it as his birthday present, but that doesnt deter Ruthie: she lies to her teacherI got it for "my" birthday! Rankin ("Rabbit Ears") unfolds this highly effective version of a psychological drama with skill and sympathy, using crisp, reportorial pencil-and-acrylic pictures to underscore the emotional and moral stakes. She allows readers to make their own connections to Ruthies true-to-life feelings of guilt (The bus ride home took forever.... Dinner was macaroni and cheese, Ruthies favorite, but she couldnt eat.) and even subtly instructs parents in how to handle a situation like this one. Ages 3-8. "(July)" Copyright 2007 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

"Rankin addresses a common playground issue through the thoroughly believable behavior of her little fox's full range of emotional responses, from exhilarating happiness to denial, lying, guilt, embarrassment and finally remorse. ....Direct poignancy will spark musing and discussion in every early childhood classroom." —Kirkus Reviews

"Emotions ring true in this simple tale of learning right from wrong. ...An excellent choice for bibliotherapy as well as for entertaining reading." —School Library Journal