[Saturday Cybils] Ruby and Wuffles

The CYBILS logo was downloaded from the CYBILS official website.

Myra here.

Ever since I’ve read the raving reviews of fellow kidlit enthusiasts on these two picture books, I wanted to find them in our libraries. I am glad I finally got hold of them for our Saturday Cybils theme. These two books have been nominated for the fiction picture book category but didn’t make it to the top seven. Click here to see the finalists.

Hello, My Name is Ruby

Written and Illustrated by: Philip C. Stead
Published by: A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press, New York, 2013
Borrowed from the library. Book photos taken by me.

To say that Philip C. Stead is a Cybils favorite would be an understatement, seeing that A Home for Bird was last year’s fiction picturebook winner.

This book actually reminded me a little bit of Are you my Mother? by P.D. Eastman. The only difference is that Ruby is simply out there in the world, flying to where the wind takes her, looking for a friend.

The artwork shows the colourful trademark of Stead with big confident strokes and soothing shades of oranges, light blues, and olive greens. Ruby is shown to meet quite a number of characters on her way to .. not-really-very-sure where. What is clear though is that this little bird is courageous in introducing herself to characters whom she happens to meet along the way, despite their being strange, different, and even occasionally standoffish (albeit remaining purplish-polite).

I can imagine this book being shared by teachers during the first day of school, or with shy and introverted young ones who may have a bit of difficulty making friends.

Mr. Wuffles

Written and Illustrated By: David Wiesner
Published by: Clarion Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013
Borrowed from the library. Book photos taken by me.

I have a feeling that this book would prove to be a fabulous gift for our feline-loving friends. Almost wordless, this book shows the ‘story’ of Mr. Wuffles who, like most cats, can be a tad haughty when it comes to playthings. In the first few pages of the book, the reader would be able to see quite a number of discarded toys that have fallen on the wayside, while Mr. Wuffles walks on, oblivious to the joys that they offer. Except for this one toy:

This one, though, appears to be more than it seems. Cats indeed do have ‘sixth sense’ don’t they? I love the play in perspective as could be seen in the image below:

and how movement has been depicted by Wiesner:

While not my favourite Wiesner picturebook, it contains his signature surreal elements, keen eye for detail, and glorious artwork and subtlety in visual narrative as always.

Reading Update: 4 and 5 of 25

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