Ruby Roars

Margaret Wild (text)

Kerry Argent (illus)

Allen & Unwin, Australia: 2007

ISBN: 9781741146134

Genres: animal stories, Australian, picture book,

Issues: growing up

The story of a young Tasmanian Devil who is trying to find her voice.

As a baby, Ruby liked to make baby-type noises. Now that she's a bit older scary noises seem like fun - except that nothing she does seems to scare those she's trying to frighten. Her friends and neighbours still regard her as a baby and respond playfully to her efforts to scare. Ruby decides she needs to practice. After all, any self-respecting Tasmanian Devil must be able to produce a decent roar or no one will take her seriously.

A simple story told well, Ruby Roars is full of sounds that will delight the ears and inflate the lungs of every reader. (Beware: not a soothing bedtime read!) The bright tones of the humorous watercolour illustrations provide a wonderfully imaginative and comical interpretation of the story. Great fun.