About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is struggling to reconnect with a parent after a long deployment or hospital stay, or when they feel hesitant around a family member who has become a stranger. Set against the backdrop of post-World War II London, the story follows young Ruby as she navigates the confusing mixture of excitement and fear that comes when her father finally returns from the war. It is a tender exploration of how love needs time to grow back after being apart. Shirley Hughes captures the delicate reality that reunions aren't always immediate fairy tales. Ruby finds her father's presence loud and his appearance unfamiliar, which is a deeply normalizing experience for children in military or separated families. Best suited for children ages 5 to 9, this book provides a safe space to discuss the 'slow magic' of getting to know someone again. It offers comfort by showing that it is okay to feel shy and that patience leads to a restored bond.
