June 24, 2025 by Kokila
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central
In Ruby René Had So Much to Say, Ruby finds out that it is all too easy to get in trouble, even when you're just trying to do the right thing. She's finally harnessed her energetic questions and love of trivia and is the voice of the school announcements, where it is great to share her fun fact of the day. When she gets sick and has to miss a couple of days of school, she is flabbergasted to find that another student has been announcing in her absence. Yanin has done a good job, and keeps showing up for announcements even though Ruby is back. The two girls warm to each other and are soon finishing each other's sentences. They get along well, until Ruby referes to Yanin as her sidekick, and doesn't give her a chance to do anything but listen to Ruby's great ideas. Yanin avoids Ruby, and then ignores her entirely. Hurt, Ruby is sad when the principal tells her that Yanin wants the girls to take turns doing the announcements rather than doing them together. Neither girl is as good alone, and eventually Ruby realizes that she hasn't really taken an interest in Yanin or asked her any questions. The two are able to reconcile and continue to work on the morning announcements together.
It's not just elementary students who need to learn to listen to others and work collaboratively; there are adults who only want to talk about themselves and their own ideas! It's easy to get caught up in wanting to share what's in our own heads, and hard to cede the floor to the ideas of other's. Ruby doesn't do anything malicious; she just doesn't always THINK. This is definitely something that need help navigating.
There are a lot of words on each page, but this makes it perfect for third graders (as well as younger children), who seem to be the hot spot for troublesome relationships. The illustrations will appeal to this demographic, and the text is helpful without talking down to young readers.
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