Ruby and Lonely

“A child learns to embrace her inner strength and transform loneliness into something new…A warm, genuine journey that promotes self-reliance.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Accompanied by colorful, richly detailed, and expressive illustrations, this supportive portrayal of feeling lonely encourages kids to find ways to be more connected, not only with others but also with themselves.” —Booklist

“Few will read this book and not have their heart touched, which makes it a great book for talking about loneliness, confidence, and kindness. A tender winner of a book all the way around.” —Geo Librarian

“As many kids start new schools or new classes, there might be some who feel very lonely. This book gives some very powerful tools for them to help adjust to the changes. I highly recommend this one for all children and classrooms.” —Our World of Words

“Ruby and Lonely speaks to the resilience of kids. A beautiful exploration of a child’s thought process.” —Cracking the Cover

“Karst’s tender narrative brought on tears of both sadness and joy. Ruby and Lonely is a great read aloud to support children’s self-sufficiency in problem solving.” —Beagles and Books

“I love how Ruby sorted out her feelings, faced a challenge & creativity figured out a solution.” —Storymamas

“Karst’s latest offering deftly and expertly explores the topic of loneliness, a subject seldom discussed in picture books. Children will not only easily identify with Ruby’s feelings, but also incorporate her strategies of naming the problem, looking at it from a different perspective, and discovering her inner best friend into their daily lives. Harren’s soft, gentle spreads are beyond beautiful, capturing Ruby’s transformation from solitude to growing confidence.” —Olivia the Librarian

“A gentle story about loneliness and learning that confidence comes first from spending time with oneself. A good book to have on hand for social-emotional collections.” —Mom Read It

“This was the book my daughter chose for our nightly session. This was a sweet story about a girl who felt so lonely in a world full of people. She found her inner person and started to love on her. It was beautiful to see that transformation, and when the world saw it, she blossomed. Abby enjoyed this book and it was also beautifully illustrated.” —Bookshelf Momma

“This picture book is a substantial tool in teaching emotional intelligence. Giving feelings (problems) names is the first step in understanding and settling them. Recommended for Kindergarten to grade three children, who sometimes need to feel a little less lonely.” —Opened Books

“Why The Curly’s love it: Ruby becoming happier when she played with Lonely; answering the discussion questions in the back of the book. Why Mommy likes it: stunning illustrations; the message to get to know and love yourself because you will always be there for you; when we love ourselves, we become happier; discussion questions.” —Curls Up with a Good Book

“This sweet story is a MUST HAVE!!!” —Dreamreaderkids

“Today, I am sharing one of the most powerful children's books that I have read this year. Thoughtfully written and beautifully illustrated, this story aims to encourage young readers to make a connection with themselves. Before anyone can connect with others, they must first make a connection with themselves.” —Fun Reads for Kids

“Ruby and Lonely is a heartwarming story about the power of friendship and the importance of accepting our emotions” —Mama Likes This

“For all the kids who have felt alone or ignored, this book is for them. Discussion questions at the end of the book help kids explore feelings of loneliness and what helped Ruby feel less lonely.” —Sincerely Stacie

“A beautiful story and representation for those kids who have a hard time being lonely, yet struggle with finding their self-confidence. A great book to add to your SEL collection!” —bookishburnsss

“This book has a great message about loving yourself and discovering the confidence within. The author has included discussion questions to guide you through the story.” —StoriesbyStorie