Pistes d'exploration

Discuss the problem from the story. Talk about how the friendship of the girls was threatened and how they sorted it out, giving examples from the text.

Describe a time when you and a friend had a disagreement, and explain how you sorted it out.

List criteria for what makes someone a good friend.

Use a diagram to show things you do with your friend and things you do with others or alone.

Map out the important elements of the story. Discuss the issues, such as how the girls had a difficult moment in their friendship.

Write a list of activities you like to do with a friend.

Use a diagram to show things you do with your friend and things you do with others or alone.

Notice how the author talks about the girls’ disagreement. Discuss a disagreement you have had with a friend and how you solved the problem. Reuse some of the author’s words and expressions.

Ruby the Copycat

Mots-clés

Picture book , acceptance , cultures , differences , food , friendship , multiculturalism

Commentaire descriptif

Salma and Lily work together at school, play together at recess and eat lunch together. But each girl secretly thinks the other’s lunch is unappetizing. They feel bad for each other, that Salma must eat “that icky chickpea paste every day” and that Lily has “that gooey peanut paste every day.” The relationship between food, home and family love is skillfully depicted in the language. The whimsical illustrations in soft pencil and pretty washes will keep youngsters busy, as will discussion on themes of diversity and respect. Readers of all ages will recognize insults such as “You’re weird!” “You look funny!” “You DRESS dumb!” The spread depicting a school-wide cafeteria food-fight is a whirl of lunches of all sorts. The joy and release on the children’s faces make one wish all conflicts were fought with nothing worse than food. In the end, Lily and Salma actually taste each other’s sandwiches, and realize they are both delicious. They have a great idea: the last image—a grand, pull-out spread across three pages—depicts a school picnic, with contributions from everyone, so that they may enjoy all the flavours of diversity.