Ruby and the Booker Boys
Oh, I have such fantastic memories of the beginner chapter book series that I read as a child. The ability to follow one central cast of characters through adventure after adventure was such a thrill, as was collecting the paperback books to sit on my bedroom bookshelf, right there for me to read again and again. Be prepared to introduce a new star and her dear family to your own collection with Scholastic's new series, Ruby and the Booker Boys, by Derrick Barnes.
In the first book of the series, Brand-new School, Brave New Ruby, we meet Ruby Booker, one fabulously confident and boisterous girl who is fully prepared to step out from the shadows of her three older brothers as she begins third grade at their school. They are all well-known among their peers for their individual personalities and talents, but Ruby has her skills, too, and she is excited to share them.
There is no shortage of spunky young characters out there in book world, but I have to say that I found a smile on my face as I read through the first three books of this series. Ruby's positive attitude is refreshing, and her family's loving interactions are the perfect context for producing confident children. While this series would likely be viewed as most appropriate for young girls, my eight year old son asked to read them as well, and I could overhear him laughing aloud while reading, so the appeal of the character isn't necessarily limited by gender. Ruby Booker will find soon find herself sandwiched between the paperbacks of Ramona, Junie B., and Jack and Annie on our bookshelves!
Are you interested in owning the first three books of the Ruby and the Booker Boys series? Scholastic Books is giving away Brand-new School, Brave New Ruby; Trivia Queen, 3rd Grade Supreme;and Slumber Party Payback to three lucky readers (U.S. shipping addresses only).
Leave a comment here if you'd like to check out this delightful series. We'll post the winners on March 4.
Last week's winners are:
George Sarris' World's Greatest Stories: #6 Angela C.All I Need is Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans:
#12 Cathy Casper
#123 Cassandra
#37 Donna R.If you didn't receive an email from me, please send your shipping info to 5minutesforbooksATgmailDOTcom.
Dawn needs to build more bookshelves. She can be found blogging to the sound of crickets chirping at my thoughts exactly.
Filed under Children's Books, Dawn, ages 6 - 9 by 
Comments on Ruby and the Booker Boys
Laura @ 12:55 am
I'm so glad to be seeing more books in this age range that have african-american protagonists. They are absolutely needed!
Christine Groce @ 7:10 am
I'm always looking for new books to read with or to my grandchildren. Please count me in. Thanks!!
Michael Capp @ 7:26 am
I'd love to win!
Diane Baum @ 7:32 am
I would love to share this with my students.
Denise @ 7:46 am
I'd love to win, thanks.
Nicole C. @ 9:16 am
My daughter loves to read, and would be thrilled with these books!!
jayne @ 10:12 am
My littleone is becoming quite the avid reader! i would love to enter!
Meredith Rogen @ 10:16 am
These would be a lovely addition to my children's library.
Sharon @ 10:17 am
Finally; A series of children's books that features an African-American child! Where was this series 5 years ago when I was teaching African-American kids? I remember so well their struggle to relate to the all white characters. Junie B., Ramona — their all great books, but they are very white. My kids needed characters who looked like them. I am just thrilled that someone has finally started a series with African-American kids! I'm predicting these will be hot items for elementary teachers across the country!
Sara Gillman @ 10:50 am
My son has just recently started to like reading, I am so excited!!!
debbie c @ 11:01 am
My grandaughter(age 6) lives in Colorado and I live in S.C.. I know this will sound strange, but, we don't get to see each other a lot so we spend a lot of time on the phone. We play games over the phone, she plays the new songs she's learned on the piano, and we read books to each other. These would be great to read to her.
Shannon @ 11:05 am
My little girl loves books we are always looking for new series. Thank you
Terry @ 12:01 pm
I would love to win. There is a confident, exuberant first grader in our house that would devour these books. Thanks for the opportunity.
CONNIE OWENS @ 1:04 pm
MY GRANDAUGHTER WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THIS.
Tracey Byram @ 1:05 pm
Emily is a reader like me. She is so proud of her reading skills that she looks for opportunities to show them off. She would love having new books to read.
shannon Baas @ 1:25 pm
I would like these.
Karen B @ 1:30 pm
Wonderful giveaway!
Converting A Spendthrift @ 1:50 pm
First time here, I am an avid reader. I will be back.
I think a new series for younger readers is great.
@Sharon, there is another series with an
African American lead – The Willimena Rules! series by Valerie Wilson Wesley.
My second grader loves these books.
Estelle @ 1:51 pm
My 7 year old would love these books. She's an avid reader.
Converting A Spendthrift @ 2:01 pm
Oops. Forgot the link.
http://www.tamarahayle.com/childrens/index.html
adrienne Gordon @ 2:14 pm
my kids would love this to read
Derrick Barnes @ 2:44 pm
Dawn, Dawn, Dawn…you are so sweet and amazingly awesome!
Thanks for putting a little shine on my series and recommending it to so many parents, educators, and especially children that I know will fall madly in love with Ruby and her brothers.
I would love to not only autograph the books that you are offering to the winner, but add the fourth book set to release on April 9th. I'll even throw in an autographed poster.
Just send me a shout via email, I'll send you my mailing info and I'll forward everything to the winner. No problem at all.
Thanks again, beautiful.
peace and blessings
Derrick Barnes
derrickbarnes.com
Marilyn Higgins @ 3:16 pm
I love these books, thanks for the chance to win them.
Angie @ 3:24 pm
My son would love these books!
Michelle Lovejoy @ 3:37 pm
Looks like great books!
Kathy Scott @ 5:19 pm
I would love to read these with my boys.
c. clemens @ 5:26 pm
great giveaway
Delores @ 7:08 pm
please enter me
romero @ 7:09 pm
would love to be entered.
Corinne @ 8:36 pm
These look great! I'd love to get them into my 3rd grader's hands
MRS.MOMMYY @ 8:59 pm
would love to win
marilyn @ 9:06 pm
i would love to have this set of books for my kids, make me a winner
Sheila H @ 9:31 pm
I would like to check these out!! Please enter me!
Sally Lindsay @ 11:52 pm
Teachers love freebies- especially books.
Cathie F @ 5:02 am
I am always looking for new books for my grandchildren. These will be great for my granddaughter. Thank you so much for the chance to win them
Kristi C @ 6:49 am
I would love these books for my daughter.
Mary Casper @ 7:23 am
the grand kids would surely love these books
Mariah @ 7:29 am
Please count me in!
Mariah
penguinqueen(at)hotmail(dot)com
Susan C @ 9:10 am
I would love to add these cute books to my library!
michele anne jaquays @ 9:44 am
Oh, the neices and nephews would like these I think.
Vicky Boackle @ 10:34 am
my grandkids love to read.
Gina Stratos @ 10:57 am
Perfect for my niece
gkstratos@yahoo.com
Zoly @ 11:08 am
The grandkids will like this after I finish.
Linda Gilbert @ 1:14 pm
My grandson is a book worm. He would love! Thank you.
Lester @ 2:23 pm
need some new bedtime lecture
Angela J @ 4:28 pm
These sound like fun books, in time for spring break for the kiddies
jenna @ 4:29 pm
I think my niece would enjoy reading this book. I would love to give it to her. Thanks for the giveaway!
Andria @ 5:11 pm
They look like great books. I would love a chance to win. Thank you.
MJ @ 5:34 pm
I'd love to win this set for my niece.
corinne @ 8:36 pm
Count me in! My 2nd grader would love these!
ellen cunningham @ 9:36 pm
I would love to win these for my oldest niece. Thanks for the chance.
veronica sandberg @ 10:36 pm
want to win this
Ginny @ 11:53 pm
Looks like a great series, love bringing new books into the house!
Alice Hansen @ 12:00 am
Thanks for introducing this series to me – sounds really interesting! And thanks for the chance!
nicole schellhas @ 12:48 am
thanks for the amazing contest!! my daughter sarah is a lil bookworm. she would be thrilled if i won this!
Karly @ 1:48 am
My son and I read together every night. I'd love add some new favorites to his book collection!
Deb - Mom of 3 Girls @ 2:55 am
My girls love the Junie B. books so I'm sure they would love to read these as well!
LuAnn @ 9:35 am
My 8 year old daughter would love these.
cris @ 12:49 pm
our girls would love these! thanks for the giveaway.
amandasue @ 12:52 pm
Sounds like a great series! Thanks for entering me.
Jennifer M @ 1:43 pm
Please enter me and thank you!
Christy Gold @ 2:33 pm
Thanks for the giveaway!
shar @ 6:59 pm
looks like a fab series and love that characters are multicultural please enter me
Dean @ 6:59 pm
would love these for my daughter, thanks
Gabriel J. @ 8:43 pm
Please, enter me, great prize!!! I would love to win this.
Pamela S @ 12:53 am
I've never heard of this character or series so it would be great to try a new series. Thanks.
KarenPr @ 11:46 am
Thanks for the contest, please enter me.
sarah h @ 3:45 pm
My third grader would like to read these and then she would donate them to my husband's fourth grade class!
Terry Vanderpool @ 10:06 pm
Please enter me in this great contest thanks
oona B @ 11:02 pm
My little reader would be thrilled if Mama won these for her!
Thanks for the giveaway! foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com
Playground for Parents @ 2:39 am
gotta have it. love that there's a little brown girl on the cover. and so age-appropriate for my princess. thank you!
Sandy M @ 9:17 am
I'd love to add these to my 'grandkid-book-collection' … when they visit we read and reread the books in the collection.
Jennifer Hedden @ 2:29 pm
enter me
Connie G @ 3:26 pm
My grandaughter is an avid reader, I know she would enjoy these books.
Vicki Chrzanowski @ 4:43 pm
I have 2 grandaughters that these books will be perfect for!!
ky2here @ 7:32 pm
My grandkids would get a kick out of this.
Dierdra Byrd @ 7:39 pm
My kids love to read so this would thrill them to death!
Karen Gonyea @ 8:27 pm
My son would love this
christopher h @ 3:24 am
youngest would love these
Marion B @ 8:51 am
Looks like a good series!
R Hicks @ 9:40 am
Great reading material for the kids
ardy22 at earthlink dot com
Cindi @ 9:56 am
Hello! Great sounding book series. I would love to win these for my niece and nephew~ Thanks, Cindi
Cassie M @ 10:30 am
I started out with the Babysitter's Club Series!! I'd love this for Angela when she gets a bit older!
Cassie
Jodene Gildea @ 11:02 am
I'd love this for my daughter!
Kathy Conley @ 12:44 pm
I would love to try this series!
Candie L @ 12:53 pm
I would love these books. Books always make great presents. Thank you
susan @ 3:09 pm
the books would be great for my daughter!
Terri L @ 3:15 pm
I think my daughter would enjoy these books!
Christine @ 3:20 pm
Thanks for the chance!
Ed Nemmers @ 7:22 pm
For my niece Hannah!
Estela S @ 9:36 pm
Please enter me to win! It would be for my girls.
Debbie B @ 9:47 pm
Looks like a cute book! I'd love it for my niece!
Rosanne @ 11:09 pm
I like that they are good for thrid graders
Mark W @ 11:14 pm
looks awesome! thanks for the chance…
Chrysa @ 12:25 am
Looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!
Crystal F @ 1:24 am
I would love to have these for my girls! Thank you!!
Julie Smith @ 1:49 am
My daughter has a new husband, brand-new baby and a new, wonderful stepdaughter who is in first grade this year. She and I love to read together, and these books look like just the ticket for some snuggle time!
Janet @ 2:11 am
TY 4 THE AWESOME CONTEST AND ENTRY:)These would be perfect for my grandkids:)
Donna C. @ 7:45 am
My daughter (and me) would love thease!
JoAnn L. @ 8:44 am
This books looks adorable, my neice would love it.
kathy pease @ 9:19 am
my daughter would love this
Carla Pullum @ 9:26 am
Would love to win this series count our family in!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com
Nanette Olson @ 9:45 am
I would love to win this prize for my grandkids.
Cassandra @ 10:54 am
I would love to share these with the girls–thanks!
Steph @ 11:17 am
Looks like a great set of books.
Aniela R. @ 11:21 am
Looks like a fun series.
Lily Kwan @ 12:39 pm
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
Teresa Iverson @ 1:28 pm
I love winning books!!!!
Susanne Troop @ 1:46 pm
My children would enjoy these books!
Catharine R @ 2:02 pm
These books sound great.
chad heimbuch @ 3:39 pm
nice
sandra @ 3:45 pm
please enter me
Donna M. Clark @ 5:40 pm
I would love to be able to read these books with my children. Well do I remeber when I first started reading these types of books. Thank you for having this giveaway.
Shawn @ 6:19 pm
I love winning books!!!!
Marcy Strahan @ 7:17 pm
Oh! The Kids would love The Ruby and The Baker Boy's books!
Thanks for the chance!