Ruby the Copycat

Reach for this book when you notice your child is losing their own voice in an attempt to mirror a friend or fit into a new social circle. It is the perfect story for the child who lacks the confidence to be themselves and instead finds safety in imitation. Through the story of Ruby, a new student who copies everything her classmate Angela does, the book explores the messy transition from wanting to be someone else to finding pride in one's own imagination. Pegrath Rathmann captures the humor and awkwardness of school social dynamics while offering a gentle model for how to step out of a peer's shadow. It is an essential read for the elementary years, normalizing the impulse to copy while celebrating the joy of individual creativity.