For the child who feels overshadowed or less brave than a sibling, this story illuminates how unexpected challenges can reveal personal courage when it's most needed.
A parent might reach for this book when their child feels overshadowed by a sibling's bravery or confidence. It tells the story of Ruby Jane, a young girl who believes her older sister, Velma Jean, is the bravest person she knows. Velma Jean climbs windmills and isn't afraid of spiders, while Ruby Jane is scared of many things. When a tornado threatens their family farm, it is Ruby Jane who finds a deep well of courage to save their puppy. This heartwarming story for ages 4-8 beautifully illustrates that bravery isn't about being fearless, but about acting with love in the face of fear. It's an excellent choice to help a child recognize their own unique and quiet strengths.
The book deals directly with the peril of a natural disaster (a tornado). The threat is real and depicted with tension, but the approach is secular and focused on family safety and emotional response. The resolution is hopeful: the family is safe, the home is damaged but not destroyed, and the emotional takeaway is one of empowerment and relief.
Ideal Reader
A 5 to 7-year-old who struggles with feelings of inferiority, especially in comparison to a seemingly more capable sibling or friend. It's also perfect for a child with specific anxieties, as it reframes bravery not as fearlessness, but as taking action despite being scared.
Parent Prep
Parents should preview the illustrations of the tornado. The dark, swirling sky and the family's fearful faces in the cellar (pages 18-23) could be frightening for very young or sensitive children. It can be read cold, but framing it with a calm discussion about what to do in a storm can be helpful for anxious kids. A parent overhears their child say, "I can't do it, I'm not brave like my brother," or sees them withdraw from a challenge because they feel a sibling is better. The trigger is a child's self-perceived lack of courage or skill in comparison to others.
Age Experience
A younger child (4-5) will focus on the concrete action: the scary storm and the heroic act of saving the puppy. An older child (6-8) will better understand the internal journey: Ruby Jane's self-doubt, the difference between everyday fearlessness and crisis courage, and the powerful shift in her self-identity.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many books about being brave, this story masterfully distinguishes between two types of courage: the performative, everyday bravery of Velma Jean (climbing high) and the profound, situational bravery Ruby Jane discovers in a true crisis. It validates quiet, internal strength and shows that courage is not a constant personality trait but a potential that exists in everyone.
Read plot summary
Ruby Jane sees her older sister, Velma Jean, as the epitome of bravery on their family farm, unafraid of heights, storms, or spiders. Ruby Jane, by contrast, feels she is afraid of everything. When a tornado watch turns into a warning, the family rushes to the storm cellar for safety. In the chaos, they realize their puppy is still outside. Overcoming her own terror, Ruby Jane runs into the storm to rescue the dog, proving to herself and her family that true courage emerges when it's needed most.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
At the start of the book, what things did Velma Jean do that made Ruby Jane think she was brave? What brave thing did Ruby Jane do at the end?
2
Ruby Jane was very scared of the storm, but she ran outside anyway to save her dog, Bob. What does this tell us about what it means to be brave?
3
When everyone was safe in the cellar, Papa said, 'We're all scared.' Why do you think it was important for the grown-ups to say they were scared too?
4
After the storm, Velma Jean calls Ruby Jane 'the bravest of us all.' How do you think that made Ruby Jane feel? Do you think she sees herself differently now?
