Ruby Lu's deaf cousin, Flying Duck, and her parents come from China to live with Ruby Lu. Ruby Lu does not know sign language or Chinese, but she does her best to help Flying Duck adjust to America. Ruby Lu works so hard helping her cousin that she doesn't do her own school work or keep up with her own friends. This summer, Ruby Lu faces several challenges: summer school (could be fun), swimming lessons (extremely dangerous), making up with her friend, Ellen (difficult), and keeping a stray dog (needs a miracle.) This is the sequel to Ruby Lu, Brave and True.

Reviewed by: hap

Date read: 5/19/2009

ISBN-10: 1416950036

ISBN-13: 9781416950035

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When Ruby decides to paint a picture of a tree all her friends beg her to paint them as well. But when Ruby agrees and paints their portraits, each one of her friends: Fiona Fox, Bunny Rabbit, Dan Duck, and Carlos Crow, complains that she has forgotten to include their best feature. However, when Ruby's friends see the finished painting, there is no doubt in their minds, that indeed, Ruby HAS included their best parts! This Level 1 Reader is a wonderful story of the importance of friendships.

Similar authors: Arnold Lobel

Similar books: Ruby's Perfect Day by Susan Hill; Ruby Bakes a Cake by Susan Hill

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/15/2009

ISBN-10: 0060089806

ISBN-13: 9780060089801

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In the story 'Ruby's Wish' by Shirin Yim Bridges, we get a small glimpse into the Chinese culture through the eyes of a little girl who loved the color red. Ruby always dressed in red because in China, red is the color of celebration. She lived in the house that Grandfather built. It was a huge home because he had many wives, who had many sons, who had many children. So at one time, Grandfather's house overflowed with the laughter of over 100 children. He loved and cared for them all. He even noticed little Ruby's thirst for knowledge and was impressed at how hard she worked on her lessons. Ruby was permitted to continue in school while most Chinese girls left the schoolroom to learn how to keep house. But Ruby knew that the day would come when she would have to marry and end her dreams of going to the University. But Grandfather had other plans for Ruby. His plans were all wrapped up in the color red. Read this beautifully illustrated story to see if Ruby finally gets her wish.

Similar authors: Andrea Cheng; Yong Chen

Similar books: Sivu's Six Wishes : a Taoist Tale by Jude Daly; Orange Peel's Pocket by Rose A. Lewis; The Umbrella Queen by Shirin Yim Bridges

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/1/2011

ISBN-10: 0811834905

ISBN-13: 9780811834902

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When ten-year-old Rufus discovers that he has magical powers, like his mother, and grandmother, he learns that being a wizard is not quite what he expected.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 3/27/2009

ISBN-10: 0761451765

ISBN-13: 9780761451761

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Will is a ward of the baron's castle because he is an orphan. At 15, the castle wards are apprenticed to learn a skill and Will desperately wants to be selected for battle master school to become a knight. Unfortunately, he is very small. Horace, his adversary, would probably be selected for battle school and he would just continue to harass Will the entire time they are there. The day of the choosing finally arrives, but Will doesn't get picked for battle school. In the room, there is a very secretive man who tells the baron that he would take Will. Will learns that this man is Halt, a very famous Ranger of the kingdom. Will is to become a Ranger, one who uses stealth and special skills with weapons to keep the kingdom's laws and to be the eyes against the enemy. Will becomes an excellent apprentice and starts his many adventures with Halt. This is book 1 in the Ranger's Apprentice series followed by The Burning Bridge.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/28/2009

ISBN-10: 0142406635

ISBN-13: 9780142406632

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