Ruby the Copycat

by Peggy Rathmann

A distinctive story about individuality, from award-winning author and illustrator Peggy Rathmann. It's the first day of school, and Ruby is new. When her classmate Angela wears a red bow in her hair, Ruby comes back from lunch wearing a red bow, too. When Angel teacher knows a better way to help Ruby fit in, by showing how much fun it is to be herself.

Genres: Picture Books, School, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Friendship, Fiction, Self Esteem

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Caldecott-medalist Margaret Crosby "Peggy" Rathmann was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and grew up in the suburbs with two brothers and two sisters. Ms. Rathmann studied commercial art at the American Academy in Chicago, fine art at the Atelier Lack in Minneapolis, and children's-book writing and illustration at the Otis Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles. She currently lives and works in Nicasio, CA on a ranch she shares with her husband, John Wick, and a very funny bunch of birds.

Reviews

[Whitney Strickland · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was read to me when I was in fifth grade. My mother shared this with me because I would come home from school every day complaining about a girl that was copying me. This really bothered me and I did not want to be her friend. I heard that imitation should be flattering but I did not understand that. This book tells the story of a young girl named Ruby that copied everything another girl did. From hair bows to hand writing Ruby imitated her friend. This made Ruby become a pest to the other girl. I will definitely share this book with my students to show them ways that they can deal with this type of situation so that both students have a way to identify their problems. The book helped me!

[Emily D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with a student, and enjoyed the theme. It will be a good one to read with my kids later.

[RLL22018 Danielle Razo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it tells the story of learning to fit in. Ruby, the new kid, had trouble adjusting to her new class, so as a coping mechanism, he copied everything her classmate did. All was well until her classmate got tired of the copying and snapped. Later, Ruby learns it is perfectly okay to be herself and she would fit in just fine. I loved the illustrations in this book! The illustrations are bright, colorful, and imaginative.

I think kids would enjoy this book as well because the illustrations are adorable and the story line is simple to understand. I would emphasize to the kids that they do not have to be anyone else but themselves to be accepted.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby, a new girl, copies Angela. The teacher encourages Ruby to be herself.

Rounded up because of how the teacher handles the situation and the encouragement for children to be themselves. (A little dated though as I don't believe students are allowed to go home for lunch anymore.)

[Michelle Bellotti · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Ruby the Copycat" was about a girl named Ruby who copied everything Angela, who sat in front of her, did. Everyone started catching on the what Ruby was doing which would help children reading this book make predictions. Eventually the teacher had a talk with Ruby and she stopped copying Angela; however, she started copying the teacher. By the end everyone was doing the "Ruby hop." This is a good book to teach children not to copy other or to bring up cheating. It can spark conversations about being original and what could Ruby have done instead of being a copycat. The illustrations tell the story very well. You can get a good idea what is going on without reading the text.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

No need to copy, just be yourself and hop around!

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Description: It's the first day of school, and Ruby is new. When her classmate Angela wears a red bow in her hair, Ruby comes back from lunch wearing a red bow, too. When Angela wears a flowered dress, suddenly Ruby's wearing one, too. Fortunately, Ruby's teacher knows a better way to help Ruby fit in--by showing how much fun it is to be herself!:

This book is another that focuses on a topic that doesn't seem to get enough attention... copycats.
I felt that the story began to move along really well, and the imagery is adorable. Unfortunately, I felt like the story could've dug deeper into why a copycat copies and how to resolve those issues. The ending disappointed me. How can the class, copying Ruby jumping and using it as a fun classroom activity, lead Ruby into understanding why copying is frowned upon? The story fell short towards the end.

[Lauren Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this story when i was in school. I thought about how sometimes i wanted to come to school and dress and act like everyone else however i had to learn the hard way that acting the way others acted wasnt good. This would be good to read to studnets who are having an identity crisis. This would be a reminder that you must always remain yourself and people will love it or hate it. You can't please everybody.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book of my childhood that I stumbled across at the library only recently. I would imagine someone who buried a time capsule as a young child with all their most treasured possessions and then unearthed it 30 years later would be overcome by nostalgia as I was when rummaging through the children's section.

[Ashley Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book as a child and am insanely excited to re-read it. I just ordered it from Amazon.

[Ebono1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

helps children know they can be themselves and don't always have to "copy" someone.

[Lea Triantafillou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby the Copycat is a picture book that reaches the audience of children ages 4-8. I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars because I believe that the story is something that a lot of children experience in real life. This book is about a girl named Ruby who is new to the classroom. Instead of finding her place in the classroom, she decides to copy Angela, the beautiful girl with the big read bow. Angela comes to realize that Ruby is not being her own person and pushes away from her friendship with Ruby. This book is about friendship and learning how to love and embrace being yourself. The author’s decisions about Ruby’s character were not only important but they were one of the reasons why I love this book. Ruby’s character is extremely realistic. We all have either been or seen a new student come into the classroom. It is hard to feel out the classroom environment and find somewhere to fit in. Ruby’s difficulty adapting quickly to the classroom is a realistic account of what new students feel like coming into the classroom. The majority of the story takes place in the classroom which is a place where young readers can relate to. The supporting character of the teacher acts as the messenger of the theme of the story; be yourself. When the conflict resolved, we are left with the understanding that being yourself is the best way to make friends. This is a lesson that many young children learn on their own time when first going into school. Many websites suggested the target age for this book to be 5-8, however I believe that this theme is something that if taught and read about earlier in life may stick with the young child when entering the classroom for the first time. I highly recommend this book not only to anyone who has a child entering school for the first time, but to anyone that works with young children.

7/13/18

[Alesha M]

Genre: Childrens Picture Book

Bibliography: Rathmann, P. (n.d.). Ruby, the copycat. Scholastic.

Response: I read this book in audiobook form on the website https://www.getepic.com/app/read/14526

Ruby, a new student in Ms. Heart's class, has taken a liking to Angela. She starts to copy Angela, from her clothes to her hair, and her stories during show and tell. The other students slowly catch onto her antics and start to tease her. Eventually, the teacher has to have a conversation with Ruby about staying true to herself and not having to be like others to fit in. With a quirky turn of events, Ruby even tries to copy the teacher, but at the end of the story, Ruby tells the class about her "Ruby hop", which was exclusively unique to her. This book is a great book to talk to children about not having to copy others, self-confidence, and identity issues. Because even adults struggle with these conflicts sometimes, the more we talk to children about these topics earlier, the easier it'll be to provide help and find solutions now and later. This book would do well reading in a classroom group setting due to its predictive nature and overall lesson. This book young a California Young Reader Medal which is voted and nominated by children within the California state.

[Whittney Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Ruby the Copycat,” tells the story about a little girl named Ruby and how she copies everything another little girl does in her class. Ruby is a new student at school and is sat behind Angela who Ruby immediately likes because of the red bow in her hair. Throughout the book Ruby continuously copies everything Angela does, from the clothes Angela is wearing to the poem Angela recites in class. Ruby’s teacher, Miss Hart, tries to encourage Ruby to become her own person, and through a few more struggles Ruby begins to discover things about herself that makes her special and unique. The major themes in this book are self-discovery, acceptance of oneself, and friendships. This was one of my favorite books as a child. I read it more than I can count, and I think I really enjoyed the bright colored pictures and how the ending is a good one with Ruby and the class. I would recommend this book for teaching students about how being themselves is so important and to not be a “copy” of another. Angela and Ruby’s friendship goes through a hardship because Ruby wants to copy everything Angela does. This book can teach students that their own unique personalities are special, valuable, and are what contribute to their friendships.

[Abby Molina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book follows Ruby and her journey at her new school. Ruby begins to copy one of her classmates in everything she does. Ruby continues to do this to impress her new classmates and fit in at her new school. People begin to notice that Ruby is starting to dress and act just like her classmate Angela and she is constantly imitating her and is not acting like herself. At the end of the book, Ruby's teacher approaches her about the situation and lets her know that it is important for her to be original and be herself. Ruby begins to change her ways and be herself and begins to understand the importance of being original and being unique.

A major theme in the book is the importance of being original and being yourself.

I think that this is a great book and has great lessons for kids. I think it has a super sweet lesson on the importance of being unique. It is important for kids to understand the importance of developing your own personal character and having a unique personality. This is a very relatable book for kids because they tend to give in to peer pressure and this book helps them understand the importance of being unique.

I would recommend this book because I feel like it has a great lesson and is a subject that all kids can relate to in some way.

[Lauren Holmquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my absolute favorite when I was a young girl! This children's book story plot line centers around a young girl named Ruby. Ruby's family had just moved to the area and it was Ruby's first day of school. When asked what the class did over the weekend, a fellow classmate Angela replied that she was a flower girl in her sisters wedding. Ruby answered the teacher as well stating the same thing. Angela noticed it was a bit odd but thought nothing of it. Later that day Ruby headed home for lunch and came back to school wearing a red bow in her hair just like the one Angela was wearing. Angela complimented Ruby on her bow, and Ruby smiled. Ruby copied Angela everyday that week at school wearing one thing then coming back to school in an outfit similar to Angela's. At first Angela took it as a compliment and then she began to get upset so one day she changed into a black dress so Ruby would not copy her. The she wrote Ruby a mean note that same day. Realizing that she hurt someones feelings, Angela felt bad. This book is a great book at teaching how your actions can have an influence on others, as well as the importance of one's own individuality.

[Dina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Ruby is a certified copycat as she enters school as a new kid. Soon as Ruby sets her eyes on something she likes or someone she wants to be like, she is not shy to plagiarize their ideas and make them her own. Once the school teacher notices the conflict the situation creates among friends, she offers advice to Ruby that could apply to any reader regardless of age. It is fair to say that sometimes people lose identity because something else seems more appealing. With that in mind, I rated this book a five because it addresses self-worth and value, which is a valuable message that maybe some readers can relate to. There is also something adorable about how the illustrations depict Ruby, innocent and petite, with the cutest short hair and tiny bow defines her character so well. The teacher's image forced me to identify her as a loving mother figure who always gives the best advice. Because the story was already well developed, the artwork truly elevated the elements within the story.

[Alisha N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby the Copycat is another charming and delightful school children's classic by author Peggy Rathman, who wrote another great children's literature beloved classic, "Officer Buckle and Gloria".
In this book, the main character Ruby copies everything that her classmate Angela says and does in order to gain others' approval and acceptance. Instead, horrifically, she offends and annoys everyone in her class with this obnoxious behavior.
Miss Hart, Ruby's teacher consoles her and encourages her to take pride in finding what is special about her first and celebrating those things that make her special. This book has great illustrations that are very animated and lively. The expressions on the character's faces and their physical movements defy gravity. There are many themes featured in this book such as the power of influence, self-actualization, self-esteem, are a few. This would be a great book to teach story elements and characterization too.

[Elizabeth Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a girl who is new to school, Ruby, who decides to copy one of the other little girls. She wears the same cloths, says the same things, and even copies her poem! Ruby has to learn how to not copy other people and to be happy with herself.
I liked this book because it reaches out to every age. Very young children are entertained by the movement of the story and bright colored pictures. Older children, who understand "copycatting" learn lessons of individualism as well as respect for others. The book has quirks that make reading more interesting and fun for even adults.
The author uses color to grab the readers attention. The story itself is very simple, however the author uses different patterns to engage the reader. Besides the patterns of color, the author also uses a receptive pattern every time Ruby copies the girl in her class named Angela.

[Khearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: Ruby sits behind Angela and copies everything she does. If Angela is wearing a red bow then do was Ruby. Then, Mrs. Heart, the teacher held Ruby after class. She told Ruby that she does not have to copy everything Angela does. The next day Ruby was copying Mrs. Heart. Finally, Ruby began to remove everything that was not her. She started to show her personality and everyone loved it.

Rating: I love this book. This book addresses an issue that is constantly showing up in classrooms. Copying another child is a way for children to discover who they are.

Use in Classroom: This would be a great book to use if copying was a problem in you’re classroom. An activity I would is Simon says. We would play the game for a while and see if the students wanted to be the leader or the follower more.

[Lauren Windey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby the Copycat is the story of Ruby, a new student in Miss Hart’s class. As a new student, Ruby seems afraid to start a new class. As a result, she begins to copy fellow student, Angela. What starts out as simple lies soon turns into bigger lies. This continues for numerous days until Angela threatens to tattle.
Fitting in is a problem that new students often face. It can be difficult to be yourself when you don’t even know if they will accept you. This book does a great job of capturing Ruby’s nerves and desire to fit in. The book also provides a great message for kids: that it is okay to be yourself. I will definitely be using this book in my future class to teach my students about the importance of individuality. Overall, a great read!

[Angel Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic story of monkey see monkey do. Ruby is new in Ms. Harts class. She immediately noticed the red bow on Angela. Ruby eventually starts copying everything Angela does and speaks. Ruby wears the same red bow as Angela and copies her paper. Angela gets mad and writes Ruby a mean note. Her teacher pulls her aside after class and reminds her that she is perfect just the way she is, and she doesn't need to be anyone else. I liked Peggy's great illustrations of the things Ruby admired about Angela. This book teaches kids that they should love who they are because after all, no one can be you but you. As a future school counselor, I would use this book to teach students the importance of being unique and original.

[Joecel Franco · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first time reading this book. At first, I was like "why is she copying everything Angela is doing or wearing?" but I realized that Ruby is new to her school that's why she is trying to fit in. All of us had this phase where we were so trying hard to look cool, especially in school. That's what Ruby is trying to do because she didn't know anyone and technically, Angela was her first friend.

For me, this book is a little boring because you can kind of predict what is going to happen next. But, the moral of the story is something you have to come up yourself because it requires a little effort to think about what the author is trying to say.

[Hang · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, “Ruby the Copycat” shares a good message. The message shared in this share is about how important it is to be yourself. It shares the theme of confidence and even insecurity. In this picture book, Ruby copies Angela in the way she dresses and talks. Then Ruby realizes that being herself is so much better and that she can make better friends that way. This is a nice, short story, however I felt like the message could have been talked about more at the end of the story. The illustrations did not really intrigue me, but I thought that it was overall a cute book about learning how to really embrace yourself and your uniqueness.

[StoryTimeReadAloud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an adorable read! Ruby begins to sit behind Angela and begins copying the things Angela does--in an homage kind of way. At first Angela is okay with it but it starts to really frustrate her. The teacher talks to Ruby about being her own self first. And...Ruby starts copying the teacher. With a prompt, Ruby begins to show her true self and is laughed at, and then embraced and celebrated.

The art in the story was cute and enhanced the story so well. I, in particular, liked the sweater that Ruby safety pins flowers to as she tries to copy Angela; and the pulling off the fake nails as Ruby decides to be herself. So cute!

[Kiara Selena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm really torn with this book, on one hand, it's not a common topic - copycats - so it adds some variety and new knowledge to a children's bookshelves but on the other hand, there were not many (if any) consequences to Ruby lying and making Angela upset, additionally, the hopping isn't that interesting or transformative - it would have been more effective to make Ruby an artist and on the weekend she painted or draw something, seeing as Ruby painted her clothes and pinned on paper flowers to her sweater to copy Angela.

[Stephanie Littig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby is the new girl at school and quickly finds a new friend who she decides to copy from then on. Clothes copied, hair copied, poem copied. Angela got tired of it and no longer wanted to be her friend and Ruby was sad. Until the teacher had a nice talk with her and guess who Ruby copied next? This was a cute ending, that I was not expecting. I knew it would end happily, but not like this. Super cute book.

[Scot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great welcome back to school reading. The students were so involved and felt empathy for the little girl being copied by Ruby-they understood she may be feeling frustrated or even angry for being copied every single day. The students also noticed that Ruby had her own talent which was hopping, and then responded that "everyone has something special they can do". Great underlying theme of being your own person.

[Marlee Granger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a cute book. Ruby truly was just trying to fit in to the rest of the crowd as much as she could, and it did make me sad. Especially when her peers were starting to get upset with her copying everything. I really enjoyed the part where the teacher said, "Be Ruby first, I like Ruby", as well as the ending was sweet, when the class all joined together to hop like Ruby. I also really enjoyed the illustrations too, it made the story even better.

[Luis Fe Domínguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una historia que comienza y se desarrolla muy bien. Tiene contexto, tiene trama, tiene debate y un pintoresco personaje central para explotarlo. Una dinámica chica que emula su entorno. Quizás por casualidad, quizás para adaptarse, quizás por qué quiere. Un final, apresurado y casi sin sentido para acortar las ideas y no dar embrollos al tema.

Buena idea inicial pero no llega a explotarse con carisma.