Review of ‘Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris’

I’ve long admired the work of Kate Knapp and have many of her little Twigseed creations. A good friend of mine owns a Kate Knapp chicken print that I covet. For the moment I will be content that I have the ‘Ruby Red Shoes’ books to pour over.  Ruby Red Shoes is an aware hare who lives in a prettily painted caravan. She is fond of strawberry jam and peppermint tea and of course red shoes!

At five years old, the two books in the Ruby Red Shoes series are among Pud’s most loved books and it really is little wonder – they are a visual delight and the whimsical stories are perfect for bedtime reading. It is a true delight to be transported to a world of  delicate bird eggs, colourful caravans and chickens enjoying French lessons!

Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris

Written and Illustrated by Kate Knapp

Publisher: Harper Collins

Age Range: timeless

Themes: Paris, travel, chickens, food, family, friends, wonder, whimsy

In ‘Ruby Red Shoes Goes to Paris’ Ruby and her grandmother, Babushka Galina Galushka, are off to Paris and Ruby is fizzing with excitement.

Ruby’s chickens are upset that they’re not also going to Paris. They have after all been studying French with great determination and have even given themselves new French names. But they’re happy for Ruby and sing out ‘au revoir’ with impeccable French accents.

This is a lovely tale of a trip to Paris and the illustrations are typically Kate Knapp; incredibly detailed, whimsical and full of gorgeous soft hares, chickens, birds, butterflies and bees. I particularly like that Ruby writes and sketches in her very own travel journal and that this journal and her postcards home to her beloved chickens become part of the story. Travel journals are such a wonderful way for children to experience and remember their holidays, PudStar often re-visits her Brunswick Heads journal; Brunswick has its charms but it’s not quite Paris!

There are now two books in the Ruby Red Shoes series and they would make a gorgeous gift for young ones from about four years old. I just sat down to quickly flick through both books and have spent an hour re-reading them both and pondering where I can put jars of colourful buttons and posies of flowers in pots and jugs…I want to live with Babushka Galushka too!