Ruby Finkelman Finds the Real Magic
A stubborn girl learns that cooperation makes communities harmonious in the whimsical picture book Ruby Finkelman Finds the Real Magic.
In Mike King’s fantastical picture book Ruby Finkelman Finds the Real Magic, a child in a picturesque town neglects to brush her teeth, with snowballing effects.
Lovely Kvellville is populated by people who always do what’s right: They brush their teeth each day, make their beds, and treat each other with kindness. When stubborn Ruby decides that brushing her teeth is a waste of time and her friends follow suit, the consequences of their misbehavior escalate. The adults grow tired of nagging their children, they have no energy to clean up or be kind, and Kvellville becomes doused in filth and devolves into chaos. It’s up to Ruby to turn the situation around before it’s too late. In time, she learns that cooperation is what makes a community harmonious.
The interweaving of Yiddish and English words in the lighthearted, fabulistic narrative is seamless, as when the mensches in Kvellville kvetch about the children’s “schmutz mouths” to humorous effect. Whimsical background details are used to introduce new characters, as with a note that Ruby’s friend Benjy Bagellman’s grandfather invented the bagel, further integrating Jewish culture into the story while bolstering its humor.
The pastel illustrations lend a tranquil atmosphere to the village, which is rendered idyllic by the soft edges of buildings, friendly smiles on the villagers’ faces, and lush greenery. Skillful shading and blending of color gradients evoke depth as people in the foreground walk their dogs or hang their laundry in front of the homes layered in the background. As the village transforms, brown smog and increasing drabness encroach upon the town; when Ruby relents and brushes her teeth, the bright, cheery sunshine and delighted faces reenliven the pages and emphasize Kvellville’s return to pleasantness.
Ruby Finkelman Finds the Real Magic is a funny picture book about a girl whose foray into and return from disobeying the rules teach her that being an all-around mensch makes the world a more peaceful place.
Reviewed by
Aimee Jodoin
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
