Ruby’s Worry: A Big Bright Feelings Book

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I think this is a lovely book which introduces worries very smoothly. It shows children that it's okay to worry about somethings and to overcome them all you need to do is talk to an adult about the worry and it will begin to get smaller and smaller.

Ruby’s Worry is about a typical little girl, Ruby. This sweet little girl enjoys the swings and exploring, but Ruby’s world begins to change when she finds a worry following her. At first the worry is just a small fuzz ball, but as the story progresses, the worry grows. As the worry expands, Ruby begins to feel very sad and concerned. To return to her former carefree self, Ruby finds a conversation and the friendship of another child the key to removing her worry ball from her life.I am planning to read this with my class and use it to spark a discussion about how worries won't go away if we just avoid them and ignore them, as well as talking about ways that worries can be resolved such as talking to a friend or trusted adult. In our school we are really trying hard to make sure that every child has the opportunity to share things that are worrying them, so each classroom has a communication box so children can write a note to their teacher, even if they don't feel comfortable or don't have the opportunity to talk about their worry in person straightaway. This book is really perfect to support this, as well as reinforce the message that we cannot do anything to help unless we know that it is a problem. Kudos to Tom and his illustrations. They really make the story come alive. However, I just was not that impressed with the book. Was it a little too long? Maybe. Would kids get the message? Probably. It just was not for me. Ruby Finds a Worry just does not have the flow and rhythm that I enjoy in most kids book. In the vein of Me And My Fear and When Sadness Is at Your Door, Ruby Finds a Worry manifests a feeling into a wordless, omniscient being that essentially stalks the main character. Sometimes that's how big emotions weigh on us: relentless, darkening every part of your life. And the more you think about it, the more noticeable its presence becomes! I have anxiety. More importantly, I parent a child with severe anxiety. If I had read this to her when she was younger, it would have made her so sad. Talking about her worries does not make them go away. We have tried that. In fact, if she starts talking about them, it sometimes magnifies them and she can't think about anything else. This book would have made her worry even more that she was not normal because talking about her worries doesn't fix them.

Ruby has a worry. But when she attempts to ignore it, it only grows bigger. No matter what she does, it is always with her in school, on the bus, and even in the movie theater. Obviously, it is dominating her life. Eventually, she learns that everyone has worries and that sometimes the best thing you can do is talk about them. I love the adorable illustrations in this story and am so happy to see this important message available for children who suffer from anxiety (and for those who need empathy for others who suffer). The artwork in this book was created digitally using Kyle T. Webster’s natural media brushes for Photoshop and a selection of hand-painted textures. I was just taking a train journey on a sunny afternoon when I felt a sudden and overwhelming sense of dread. For some reason, my heart was pounding as though I was about to jump out of a plane with only a plastic bag for a parachute. The feeling intensified when I realised I couldn't understand any of the train announcements, or anything that anyone around me was saying. All I could hear was an indecipherable gobble-de-gook. The whole thing lasted for about five minutes, during which I used up a lifetime's supply of adrenaline and was completely terrified. One day Ruby gets a worry, and as time goes on the worry grows and grows until she can't focus on anything but the worry. Ruby thinks she's the only one with a worry until she meets she sees a boy at the park who also has a worry. And talking to him she discovers how to make her worry smaller. I have created literacy graphic organizers for Ruby Finds a Worry. You can find them at my Teachers Pay Teachers store. There are many activities for each literacy area to differentiate depending on your student’s ability/age. They include activities for: I have a freebie that is part of a larger resource so that you can try it out in your classroom today!

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Resources to support the delivery of early years sessions in an outside space. These activities are aimed at children aged two to five but can be adapted for other ages. Teaching them that it's okay to worry and that it helps to talk about worries is an important lesson for them--and perhaps for us too.