Ruthie Rose’s Big Idea

Young Ruthie Rose “wakes up with an idea./ A big, bright, beautiful idea,” in this enthusiastic picture book celebration of poetry. Simple, digitally created illustrations depict the ecstatic child heading to school, where she shares her hope with the “book-talking,/ idea-loving librarian”; a “collage-making,/ idea-loving artist”; and her “story-sharing,/ idea-loving teacher.” The rapturous concept, depicted as a glittery rainbow filled with typed excerpts of well-known poems, then “shouts” and “twirls” its way through the school, eventually returning to the library, where it becomes reality as “Poetry Place, a space that celebrates... POETS, POETRY, and POSSIBILITIES.” Schu uses exclamatory language to share Ruthie Rose’s infectious plan, giving Hatam plenty of space to visually expound on the power of the shared ideas and verse. Characters are portrayed with various abilities and skin tones. Includes a poster. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)