Ruthie's Rude Friends

by Jean Marzollo, Claudio Marzollo

Ruthie and her parents are the only Earthlings on Planet X-10 and she is very homesick until she meets two creatures named Pig and Fish who help her escape from a three-headed beast.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Jean Marzollo was an American children's author and illustrator best known for the I Spy series, a best-selling and award-winning collection written entirely in rhythm and rhyme and illustrated by Walter Wick. Over her career, she wrote more than 100 books for children, parents, and educators, including Help Me Learn Numbers 0-20, The Little Plant Doctor, and Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King. Born and raised in Connecticut, she graduated from the University of Connecticut and earned a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She taught high school English and later worked in educational publishing, serving for 20 years as editor of Scholastic’s Let’s Find Out Magazine. Later in life, she began illustrating her own books.

Reviews

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sci-fi easy reader! Ruthie lives on the planet X10 with her scientist parents. While there she meets the children from other planets. Fun take on the "don't judge a book by its cover" message. Shows how the things that make us different can allow us to help each other.

[Sandee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Turns a sour note into a sweet one.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ruthie's Rude Friends is a little tough to rate. I really liked the idea of a sci-fi easy reader, because frankly, those are kind of tough to find (at least I think so). This was my niece's first introduction to a lengthier sci-fi book, and she really enjoyed that. Maybe she's a sci-fi kinda girl.

The book does have some exchanges between Ruthie and her "frenemies" that are kind of tough to read. The kids are nasty and hurtful to each other, and they are rude and inconsiderate of each other's feelings and differences. And frankly, Ruthie is kind of a brat. It's not a terribly P.C. book, but kids are often this way to one another.

Despite the discomfort I experienced when reading this to my niece and nephew, I have to say, the message at the end is good, and in the end all the children do take responsibility for their own poor behavior (and this is key) on their own, and without prompting from an adult! In other words, the kids learn their own lessons and make their own discoveries in this story. There's a lot to like here, and a lot to dislike--adults may want to read this one first, and decide if it's appropriate for their children.

[Keenan]

This was my first favorite book. Enough said.