‘A Friend for Ruby’ has a gentle easy storyline that is brought to vividly coloured life by the fantastical artwork created by Marc McBride.
Ruby, after a bad day at school, finds a lost creature on the beach—a magical looking creature part dragon, part unicorn, part anything a pure imagination can create. Ruby believes it is lost and feeling devoid of friends she seizes the opportunity to take a ‘friend’ home, hiding the creature in her cubby away from Grandma, who may not let it stay.
Ruby comforts the creature whom she senses is frightened and lonely. She dreams of swimming underwater with the creature with her dream revealing a luminous double-page spread, a rich kaleidoscope of colour and intricate detail.
Feeding though becomes a chore and Ruby enlists the help of the baker’s daughter Sonya, and she too is drawn into the story after meeting the creature. This creates an interesting discussion point regarding friendship. Ruby’s need for help has meant reaching out to another with a positive response.
It is the destruction of Grandma’s garden that leads to the tale’s climax. With the assistance of Grandma, Sonya and a large supply of cakes they row a long way from shore. Just when it seems the plan has failed there is movement in the water and they are joined by similar creatures singing to each other. The creature has found its family. The story is reminiscent of the movie ‘E.T.’ about a creature lost from its home and family and needing help. Ruby too is lost and needing help, and it is the creature’s presence and needs that leads Ruby to finding a friend.
The artwork uses a variety of media including acrylic paint, oil, 2B pencil and digital art techniques. The ocean scenes are full of light and movement creating a sense of being in and under the sea. The detail of the beaches, especially the endpapers, the cubby and the bakery, deserve close inspection but it is the magnificence of the creature that is the most amazing.
A gentle story about the need and power of friendship whether that be a wondrously strange creature from the sea or a friend to dance with. A story rich in love, kindness and imaginative artwork of the most magical kind.
Picture Books for Older Readers
