About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is struggling with the arrival of houseguests, a new sibling, or a cousin who seems to be taking over their territory. Ruby Lu is the self-proclaimed Empress of Everything, but her world is upended when her cousin, Flying Duck, moves from China into Ruby's home. This humorous chapter book captures the authentic friction of sharing a bedroom and the complex feelings of jealousy that arise when attention is divided. It is a wonderful tool for navigating family transitions and cultural adjustments. Appropriate for children ages 6 to 10, it offers a realistic yet lighthearted look at empathy, the challenges of communication, and the realization that a family's love can expand to include new members without diminishing what was already there.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book addresses immigration directly but with a humorous, secular tone. Ruby's initial frustration with Flying Duck's deafness is portrayed realistically rather than through a lens of pity. The resolution is hopeful and grounded in practical family bonding.
Ideal Reader
An elementary student (grades 2 to 4) who is experiencing a change in family structure, such as a relative moving in or a new sibling being born, and who has a big, dramatic personality.
