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“Phumiruk’s clean illustrations in soft colors are a sedate foil to Ruby’s hand-drawn icons representing each thing she sees on her walk, with dotted lines charting her path and written notes labeling her pictures. Each image of a real-life scene is juxtaposed with Ruby’s interpretation, giving readers the feeling of peeking into her notebook.….Will most certainly inspire young cartographers to chart their own worlds. ”

—Kirkus Reviews

“Measured text by Yolen and reportorial watercolor-textured digital illustrations by Phumiruk convey a knowable and approachable landscape….With its reliance on an individual’s renderings, the book offers a lovely revelation: the best maps don’t just show where one is, but also how one relates and what one perceives.”

—Publishers Weekly

“[This book] discusses the rewards of teaching kids to create their own maps. In this fundamentally quiet story, Ruby’s parents, though apparently separated or divorced, find a way for each of them to be with Ruby on her birthday. The expressive digital illustrations reflect this picture book’s positive tone and happy ending.”

—Booklist

Ruby Maps Her World

Written by Jane Yolen
Illustrated by Dow Phumiruk
Published by Christy Ottaviano Books

A STEM-focused picture book about Ruby, a curious child who is eager to map the world around her, by beloved children’s book author Jane Yolen.

It’s Ruby’s first time drawing a map all by herself. She eagerly grabs her journal and markers and heads outside with her mama close behind. Down the street, under the railroad bridge, and through the park—her mapping has begun. With each step, Ruby draws key elements of her route, carefully adding details as she goes: bikers on the trail, birds in the sky, deer in the meadow. By the end of her special day, Ruby’s map is bursting with interesting observations.

This thoughtful picture book introduces the concept of mapping. It spotlights how a child’s daily life is filled with small maps—whether inside or outside, on the sidewalk or in the park—and reinforces how those maps help us tell our stories.

Primary ISBN: 9780316478441
Publication Date: October 2025
Available As: Hardcover
Picture Book, Age 04 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , ,

Setting: United States

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Unknown Arrival

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