Ruby Rose: Off to School She Goes

Ruby Rose is excited for school to begin, but her true passion is dancing. She belly dances while brushing her teeth and, at school, arabesques to her art class and pirouettes to her easel, splattering paint everywhere. Ruby’s dancing proves disruptive throughout the day, especially after she gets her classmates to join in some line dances. While readers will learn the names of several dance styles thanks to Sanders (Outer Space Bedtime Race), that’s the only lesson-learning going on: although Ruby’s teacher finally gets her to sit still briefly, Ruby topples the classroom’s ant farm at the end of the day, which gets everyone moving. Ohi’s (Where Are My Books?) thickly outlined cartoons match Ruby’s abundant energy, but her personality is limited to her desire to dance, and the frequent “no dancing” admonishments get to be a bummer. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Rubin Pfeffer, Rubin Pfeffer Content. Illustrator’s agent: Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown. (June)