Ruby Lost and Found by Christina Li

When we did come across May’s, we’d do the exact same thing. We’d stop and exchange a look. Ye-Ye would raise an eyebrow. “Egg tarts or coconut bread?” 
And every time, I said, “Both?”

“I’m going to help save the bakery.” “What?” “The bakery,” I said, my voice steadying. “It can’t go. I’m going to figure out a way to help May Wong save it.” There. I said it. Now there was no going back.

It might be good to grab a map of San Francisco or look for some photographs of the city - especially if, like me, you don't live in the US or you are unfamiliar with this city.

I did read this book quite quickly. There were many plot points that felt familiar or similar to other books so while I did enjoy some parts of this story it didn't completely grab me. I have put some similar books at the end of this post.

Plot points:

• A young girl (Ruby Chu) is sent to spend the summer with her grandmother - Nai-Nai. This is partly a punishment because Ruby has been caught leaving her school at lunch time
• Ruby is carrying the burdens of grief and guilt. She is sure it is her fault that her grandfather Ye-Ye died about a year ago.
• Ruby was once best friends with her sister Viv but now that her sister is older and about to head away to college their connection seems to be gone. 
• Adding to this Ruby's best friend Mia has moved across the country and Naomi, her other friend, seems to have moved on to a different group. Ruby feels isolated and alone.
• Mum and Dad are absent from Monday to Friday because they are frantically busy with their work commitments and Ruby cannot talk to them over dinner at the weekend because they are always rushing to answer important phone calls.
• Ruby spends her weekdays with Nai-Nai and each day they go to the Seniors Centre. Ruby does make a friend but at first, she is sure she does not like Liam at all. Over time she finds out he has had some deep sadness in his life and with teamwork they bond over their shared goal of saving the bakery.

Maybe it was because after Liam and I had talked, things had changed. We now worked on stuff together and told each other all kinds of things about our families. I would never ignore him in a hallway again or tease him in my mind.

• Ruby knows she is 'grounded' but she breaks this rule by going a sleepover with Naomi. If she talks to her parents about her grandmother, they will discover this and the sleepover is a disaster.

I needed to tell Dad about Nai-Nai getting lost. And Mom. When would I mention it? I would bring it up at dinner, maybe, tonight when Dad picked me up and drove me home. But then I tried to imagine how the conversation would go. They would ask me what had happened. I would have to tell them about Naomi’s sleepover. They would get mad, I realized. My heart sank. Of course they would. They’d get angry at me and at Nai-Nai for letting me go. I didn’t know what would happen next. Would they yell at Nai-Nai? It wasn’t her fault. But would they stop letting me stay at Nai-Nai’s place? Would that leave Nai-Nai by herself again? I couldn’t leave her alone. If she was left alone maybe she’d forget more things and no one would be around to help her remember. Maybe I wouldn’t tell them, for now. I would tell them eventually. For now, I’d just keep watching Nai-Nai.

• Her grandmother is showing early signs of memory loss and later Ruby learns the words dementia and Alzheimer's.
• Mum and Dad decide Nai-Nai needs to go to an aged care facility and when Nai-Nai runs away but Ruby is able to 'rescue' her and things in her family are finally out in the open and able to be resolved.
• So by now you probably agree with me that the title is perfect - Ruby is lost and then she is found or she discovers things about herself and begins to accept the changes in her life.

Listen to an audio sample here.

Publisher blurb: Thanks to her Ye-Ye’s epic scavenger hunts, thirteen-year-old Ruby Chu knows San Francisco like the back of her hand. But after his death, she feels lost, and it seems like everyone—from her best friends to her older sister—is abandoning her. After Ruby gets in major trouble at school, her parents decide she has to spend the summer at a local senior center with her grandmother, Nai-Nai, and Nai-Nai’s friends for company. When a new boy from Ruby’s grade, Liam Yeung, starts showing up too, Ruby’s humiliation is complete. But Nai-Nai, her friends, and Liam all surprise Ruby. She finds herself working with Liam, who might not be as annoying as he seems, to help save a historic Chinatown bakery that’s being priced out of the neighborhood. And alongside Nai-Nai, who is keeping a secret that threatens to change everything, Ruby retraces Ye-Ye’s scavenger hunt maps in an attempt to find a way out of her grief—and maybe even find herself. 

Big feelings are uncomfortable but to be expected in this story of finding joy and community amid change and loss. Kirkus Star review

(While) this is not an exciting, page-turner; it's a self-contained family drama that's essentially about a grieving girl getting to know her grandmother better. It's definitely worth a read though -- Ruby's family and struggles feel real, the exploration of grief and intergenerational family relationships is touching, and the San Francisco setting sparkles. Common Sense Media

Read this detailed review from Ms Yingling and one from Horn Book Magazine.

I did enjoy the descriptions of Chinatown and also the relationships between the older ladies at the senior centre where Ruby goes each day with her grandmother. This book also explores the complexities of junior high friendships and peer group relationships. Here are some text quotes to give you a flavour of this story by Christina Li.

I took a bite and savored the sweet, creamy egg custard, pressing down the inkling of worry in my chest. The crust was soft and flaky and melted on my tongue. “Thank you,” I said, muffled, my mouth half-full. It was just like how I remembered it in May’s Bakery on a busy Saturday morning or on a quiet Sunday afternoon, leaning over the counter to peer at the egg tarts and sponge cakes through the glass. I took a sip of the tea and leaned back and felt warm and full.

They passed out bingo cards and chips. And right before it started, Auntie Lin leaned back to speak to May Wong. She kept her voice low, but I was just close enough to hear her say, in Mandarin, “Another kid to babysit? What are we, a day care?" ... Also: another kid? Some other grandchild was being brought here against their will? Five hours to go. The clock was literally slowing before my eyes.

Nai-Nai also didn’t do much after the days at the senior center. She used to always go on small trips and errands. Back when she was really into making clothes, she’d take me with her to the fabric store. We’d hang out for hours while she draped lengths of fabric over herself, so it looked like she had a rainbow cape. Or during her paint phase, she’d grab watercolors and have Ye-Ye and me paint with her. But now, like clockwork, we headed straight back to the apartment in the late afternoon. She wore gray sweater-vests and different varieties of handmade baggy pants. And her only hobby these days seemed to be watching TV.

Ye-Ye made me a scavenger hunt every August, the weekend before school started. There were colored-pencil marks over all of this map, a different color for every year. Dark green was last year. Gold was the year before, then red. The last time that Viv joined us for the scavenger hunts was recorded in a beautiful sky blue, looping near the ocean. Viv always liked to charge ahead with each clue, as if it was a race to finish as fast as possible. I liked to wander. And then the next year she stopped coming.

The other day, she left the package of tofu out on the counter after cooking noodles. When Nai-Nai came for breakfast, she stared at the tofu package and asked me why I’d taken it out for breakfast. Nai-Nai was always a bit scatterbrained. She often left mail and receipts out on the coffee table and left books she was reading open and facedown. But she never really misplaced things in the kitchen.

You might want to grab a copy of this book after reading Ruby lost and found:

And you want to eat a custard tart or some coconut bread and visit a Japanese stationery store to buy some of those fun animal erasers (chapter 7).

Companion books:

Tree Table Book

Talking to the Moon

Maizy Chen's last chance

Just like Jackie

Elmer Day 2026

Read about Elmer Day here

It is a testament to the wonder and appeal of this special little colourful elephant named Elmer that so many of the books in this series are still in print. I picked up a copy of my second favourite Elmer book - Elmer and the Hippos at a recent charity book sale and it is in mint condition. My other favourite is Elmer on Stilts.

Blurb for Elmer and the Hippos: The elephants are not very happy: the hippos have come to live in their river because their own has dried up. When the elephants complain that the river is over-crowded, Elmer the patchwork elephant soon discovers that the problem can easily be solved, but only if the hippos and the elephants work together!

Reviewers said (of Elmer and the Hippos):

"A lesson in tolerance, co-operation - and recognising colours."  Culture Sunday Times 

"With its vibrant, eye-catching colors and engaging goings-on, this book is a visual delight."  School Library Journal 

"A lovely story about co-operation . . . The Bookbag 

In a previous post about David McKee, who died in 2022, I shared nearly all of the Elmer books. Here are a few:

If you need new copies of the Elmer books or you have not yet added this series to your library I found a terrific deal - 30 titles in a set for around AUS$300 - that's only AUS$10 per book! [9781839136924]

Last week my friend and I discovered there is one new Elmer book that has just been published.

Book seller blurb: With a gentle environmental theme, this is the last Elmer story that David McKee was working on, finished by his close friend and artist Marysia Milewski. When the ice starts to melt at the North Pole, a polar bear sets off on an adventure that takes him all the way to Elmer's jungle! When a mysterious white bear appears in the jungle, Elmer and Wilbur are keen to hear his story. He has come all the way from the north pole on a floating scrap of ice, and now he can’t find his way home. Luckily, Elmer and Wilbur have an idea! But what caused the white bear’s icy home to melt in the first place? That’s a much more puzzling question. With a gentle introduction to the themes of climate change, this is David McKee's (1935–2022) Elmer story with artwork by his dear friend and fine artist, Marysia Milewski.

Here are a few other newer Elmer titles:

And this one could fit in with your Book Week reading and the 2026 slogan A Symphony of Stories:

Spirit of the Crocodile by Aaron Fa'aoso, Michelle Scott Tucker and Lyn White

The crocodile’s eyes were yellow, slit by a vertical pupil. 

The creature remained perfectly still, but it throbbed with life. 

Ezra felt goosebumps in spite of the afternoon heat, 

and took a few steps back.

‘Is that thing looking at you?’ asked Mason.

‘Nah. How could it be?’

It took me many days to read this book but I am not the target audience. I did find myself wondering though, why Spirit of the Crocodile has been short listed by the CBCA even though I think it was a good choice for their Notables list and secondly, I wonder how many readers (target audience ages 10+) will have enough reading stamina to stick with this story right to the end. Spirit of the Crocodile has been short listed by the CBCA as I mentioned and by ABIA and for the Queensland Literary Awards and it was awarded Highly Commended in the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards. It clearly appeals to many adult judges of book competitions here in Australia. I have made some suggestions of extracts you could use to entice readers in your library to read this book later in this post because there are some moments of good tension which young readers will enjoy. 

Here are the CBCA judges comments:

Publisher blurb: Twelve-year old Ezra is an ordinary boy who lives on Saibai, an extraordinary Australian island. He loves a laugh, he loves his family, and - almost more than anything - he loves a dare. But when one of his dares goes wrong, Ezra realises he needs to make some decisions about helping out and measuring up. He learns that there's more than one way to look at, well, nearly everything. And as ever-increasing climate disasters threaten Saibai, Ezra and his best mate Mason must draw on their resilience and courage to help the community survive a massive out-of-season storm. Set in today's Torres Strait, Spirit of the Crocodile is a captivating novel that explores the importance of culture, community and place to a carefree kid on the cusp of growing up.

Strengths of this story/book:

• An appealing cover
• The decorations used to fill the cover title lettering and chapter headings (check out the link to the blog Paperbark Words to read more about this - see below)
• The exploration of extended family relationships in indigenous communities
• The family relationships, sibling relationships and friendships - I especially love Ezra's little sister Tarzie.
• Descriptions of the island landscape and village

"Saibai's tiny village of maybe a hundred buildings perched on the northwest coast of the island. The village looked out to sea on one side and was hemmed in by bird-filled brackish lagoons on the other. Mason's home and the airport were at one end of Main Road. The other end of the road ran past the jetty and the council depot before finishing at the cemetery."

• Details of indigenous cultural practices and beliefs

"Ezra looked at the evening star, knowing it was part of the Koedal constellation and thinking about how he himself belonged to that crocodile clan. He thought about what Mum had told him - that Koedal was fierce and fast moving, but patient and knowledgeable as well. When Ezra's male ancestors died they became part of the Koedal constellation. when Ezra's time came, he would too."

• Ezra is so proud of his mum (and dad).

"Ezra's mum Zipporah, a teacher's aide, worked in the junior classes at the school on Saibai. Zippie was a tall, intelligent woman, full of enthusiasm and energy. With her beautiful green eyes, not a few of the littlies in her classroom were madly in love with her. She was studying part-time and online to become a fully qualified teacher."

Here are some very detailed teachers notes from the publisher (via Pegi Williams). 

Here is the author talking about his island. Further thoughts:

This quote could be a good discussion point with your class:

"the conversation sometimes veered off into a discussion about marine pollution; about which containers sank straight away and which ones kept floating for weeks; about how many and what a menace they were; about the impact of other discarded objects like fishing gear, and plastics, and household rubbish."

Ezra has a different experience of moving from Primary to High school - leaving Saibai and heading to Thursday Island. I imagine most readers of this book will have no idea about this and again this could be a good topic to discuss especially since this experience is not unique to Australia - I met a family on Fair Isle (Scotland) and their son was about to head away to his high school in Lerwick having just finished Grade 6.

It is vital to explore the topic of global change, and the dangers and evidence are a daily and terrifying reality for island communities such as this one on Saibai I did find this aspect of the story 

"He knew that the seawall, seemingly so solid and sturdy, was in fact a desperate attempt to keep the remaining community safe from the encroaching waters of the sea. Two years ago he'd seen a tide come up so high that the sea water sloshed right over the wall and inundated the gardens of many of the houses fronting Main Road. It was as if the wall wasn't even there."

"The whole world knew that islands like Saibai were in danger - that special tress like his were in danger, that houses like Mason's were in danger - and no one in charge was doing a thing to stop it. They said all the words, but they never did anything real. Nothing."

Here is another quote which you could use for a discussion with an older group of students:

"What it might give me is an easier way through to the whitefella world ... So I can learn how to use their stuff to help our people. Like Eddie Mabo did. Like the uncles achieved in the High Court. I want to learn how to use their rules, their laws, their knowledge."

The action in this story really does not 'heat up' until page 175+ of the 242 pages. This makes me wonder if readers aged 10+ will 'stick with' this book right to the end. There are a couple of terrific scenes earlier in the story though. If I was sharing this book with a group in the library here are a couple of the scenes you could use for a book talk: When Ezra dives under the truck pages 101-103 and the awful incident with the spear fishing 'gun' pages 155-157.

Joy Lawn from Paperbark Words talks to the creators of this book.

It is books like this about community and culture that truly showcase what a different culture is like, what they contribute and how they bring two worlds together to create lives filled with joy, family and everything they need to live. It acknowledges the conflicts and knowledge gaps, and shows that using what you have at hand can be the best way to work towards making a difference. The Book Muse (this review has a good plot summary).

Spirit of the Crocodile is, in many ways, an extremely relatable, age-old story exploring the pain and excitement of growing up. However, its evocative descriptions of island life, kinship systems, trilingual code-switching, cross-cultural negotiation, and community resilience also offer a generous and original insight into Torres Strait culture. Story Links

There is real tension which the authors bring to a head and then resolve beautifully. The Australian Legend

Here is a 12 minute ABC Pacific radio review.

Companion book to read after Spirit of the Crocodile:

Swimming against the Storm

Having now read all six of the CBCA 2026 Younger Readers shortlisted titles I cannot help but observe that the CBCA Younger Readers short list for 2026 does seem to be a little contrived because the choices by the judges seem to fit into very specific categories. One graphic novel - Inked; a junior chapter book for the youngest readers - Tim tie-your shoelaces; a verse novel - Little Bones; the action thriller Run by Sarah Armstrong; a realistic fiction title The Paperbark Tree Committee; and one indigenous title - Spirit of the Crocodile.

Dewey Display an idea you could adapt for your library

I saw this idea on Literacious - you could easily adapt this to your own library as a way to promote your Non-Fiction collection. 

The blogger says: With a new month, it’s time to start a new series of blog posts! This time we’re going to take a closer look at the Dewey Decimal System. For each class of numbers, I’ll share twelve specific titles for kids that you might find in that class. 

I know you won't have these exact books but these screen shots will give you an idea about the way this works.

Source Literacious

Today, we’re going to start with the 000s. This is the very beginning of the Dewey Decimal System. Here you’ll find books about general information found in encyclopedias and almanacs as well as information about computer science, libraries and books, and controversial knowledge (think monsters, aliens, etc.)

Source Literacious

Let’s move on to the 100s! And if you missed the 000s post, please take a moment to check it out! The 100s are for philosophy and psychology – not the typical subjects for kids, but you’ll find some valuable and fun books in this section. While there are books about philosophy and psychology, there are also books about haunted mansions and ghosts, and books about feelings and emotions. Plus, you’ll even find some really great books full of inspirational quotations and great life advice!

Source Literacious

We’re halfway through the Dewey Decimal System and we’re up to the 600s! The 600s are all about “technology” but let me caveat that with the fact that it’s not about computers. It’s about medicine, transportation, space travel, and more! You’ve also got farm, pets, and cookbooks, thrown in this section as well! It’s got a little bit of everything, which is one of the reasons why it makes such a great section to browse! You’ll definitely be surprised by what you’ll find!

These posts from Literacious might also give you some book shopping or book wish list ideas for your primary school library. (please note the links on Literacious do take you to Amazon). 

Once I was a Giant by Zeno Sworder

Zeno Sworder and Thames & Hudson Australia have skillfully produced a picture book that transcends age, extending the idea of what picture books are and who they are for.

This is my fourth post about this splendid book Once I was a Giant - I have never penned four posts about one book but now that Once I was a Giant and Zeno Sworder have WON the Book of the Year ABIA award I just need to celebrate all over again.

Here is the book cover again with all the award stickers!

Awards: Victorian Premier's Literary Award Winner; CBCA Picture Book of the Year short list 2026; Bologna Ragazzi Awards Amazing Bookshelf selection; Australian Booksellers Association 2026 shortlist; ABIA (Australian Book Industry Award) 2026 Winner

It is rare for a children's book to win the main ABIA award although Bluey at the Beach was the winner in 2020; Nevermoor in 2018; and Shaun Tan's book The Arrival won Australian Book of the year for Older Children in 2006. I wasn't able to find all the past winners so this is just a selection. 

Children's author Andrea Rowe said on Instagram: "If there was ever a moment for our Australian Kidlit community to collectively hug each other and lift an author / illustrator aloft on our shoulders while chanting, it's this moment. Zeno we are so thrilled for you. ... And once more for the people at the back who ask if children's writers are going to write grown-up books - a children's book just won the ABIA award BOOK OF THE YEAR."

Now check out my previous posts:

19th September 2025

21st September 2025

18th March 2026

Thinking again about Once I was a Giant if you subscribe to Magpies Magazine here in Australia, I have to say I was quite dismayed to read the review of Once I was a Giant in May 2026 Vol 41 No. 2 page 35. This reviewer clearly has a different opinion to mine and many other reviewers/bloggers/critics. You might compare her comments with the review from Magpies Magazine Volume 41 No. 1 page 34 which I have referenced in my 18th March blog post (link above).

The Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) are publishers' and literary awards held by the Australian Publishers Association (APA) annually in Australia since 2001. The awards celebrate "the achievements of authors and publishers in bringing Australian books to readers". Award recipients are first selected by an academy of more than 200 industry professionals, and then a shortlist and winners are chosen by judging panels. ABIA present 14 book awards, eight business awards, and the Lloyd O’Neil and Pixie O’Harris awards. Read more about the judging process here.

I should also mention a few of the other ABIA winners:

Of course I am thrilled with the 2020 overall winner!

Publisher blurb: Join Bluey for a fun day at the beach. What will you discover along the way? While Mum is off for a walk along the beach, Bluey discovers a beautiful shell. She runs to show Mum and has a series of encounters that will both excite and test her in unexpected ways. A gorgeous lift-the-flap board book for kids of all ages. Winner of the 2020 ABIA Children’s Picture book of the Year and the 2020 ABIA Book of the Year. Bluey is an award-winning preschool show about Bluey, a blue heeler pup, and her family. Airing on ABC KIDS, the show has amassed legions of dedicated fans and hugely popular ranges of books, toys, clothes, games and more.

On the Wing by David Elliott illustrated by Becca Stadtlander

From the graceful cranes flying across its wraparound cover to the single feather on the title page to the soaring eagle at the end, this book astounds. Kirkus Star review

If you have a bird fan in your family this is a book to hunt out in your local or school library. This book would also be good to share with your class as a model of writing succinct poems. It was published in 2014 with a paperback in 2017. I think this book might still be available to order. The short poems about a huge variety of birds are well worth sharing and reading aloud but it was the illustrations in this book that really captured my attention. I especially love the owl; cardinal (male and female); two puffins; and the Japanese crane. 

Here is the poem about the Australian Pelican:

Oh, good heavens!

Oh my word!

The biggest bill of any bird.

Ask the fish - he's no slouch!

The biggest bill, the biggest pouch!

Oh, good heavens!

Oh my word!

What an oddball! What a bird!

And The Puffin

The puffin

is unique - 

especially 

its beak.

Bookseller blurb: Take to the sky to explore a glorious array of all things avian, from the tiny, restless hummingbird to the inscrutable horned owl to the majestic bald eagle. David Elliott and Becca Stadtlander bestow a sense of wonder onto such common birdfeeder visitors as the sparrow, the crow, and the cardinal and capture the exotic beauty of far-flung fowl like the Andean condor, the Australian pelican, and the Caribbean flamingo.

I had not heard of US illustrator Becca Stadtlander and when I hunted out her books online, none were familiar, but many look very appealing. The library I visit each week has a couple more of her titles so I will add them to my 'to borrow/read' list. 

I previously talked about Baabwaa and Wooliam by David Elliott illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Here are some other books by David Elliott:

The Queen on our Corner by Lucy Christopher illustrated by Nia Tudor

Begin with the title - the queen (clearly from the cover this is not image of a queen); our corner - so this is set in a familiar neighborhood. Our not the corner. Think about a shared responsibility to help others. 

"I've been trying to tell Ma about the Queen on our corner. She's right there at the end of our road, in the plot of land that never got built on. ... I didn't notice her before either. Like everyone else, I just walked by."

After she warns the people in the town of a dangerous fire late at night things change.

"The people on our street stop and look. And then they see her. They thank the Queen finally. They give her water and blankets but I know what she wants best is her own palace."

Well not a real palace - just a home. 

Blurb: Nobody notices the unhoused woman on the corner. Nobody, that is . . . except one young girl. Through her eyes, the woman who dwells in the abandoned plot is a warrior queen, with many battles fought and won. When, one day, danger comes to the street and the queen on the corner sounds the alarm, the little girl must find a way to thank her. Can she bring the community together to turn the queen's corner into a home?

This book is an Empathy Lab title. And you could use it to talk about two of the Sustainable Development Goals - 1. No Poverty and 2. Zero Hunger.

I don't always notice dedications but this one from the author is poignant: "To those who see Queens."

The Queen on our Corner is available in paperback so it is title you could consider purchasing for your school library. 

This hopeful tale uses a youthful view of the world to imagine what our society could be like if all people and their experiences were valued and respected, though it leaves caregivers on the hook for explaining to justice-seeking children why the story’s resolution is unlikely in real life. The illustrations match the innocence of the text. Kirkus

The little girl believes the people on her street haven’t noticed the queen and it isn’t until the end of the story, when the queen is hailed as a heroine, that the people ‘see her.’ This would be an interesting theme to explore with children. Is it actually the case that people haven’t seen her? Why might they walk by the queen and not acknowledge her? What does it mean to ‘see’ someone? Should a person, homeless or not, need to prove their worth to be accepted? Just Imagine

Companion books:

Home for Grace

I saw Pete and Pete saw me

This Old Man

The Invisible

It's a no money day

Here are some other books illustrated by Nia Tudor: