Deborah Hopkinson

Author Jacqueline Véissids debut1 picture book Rubys Sword is the kind of simple family story. But with its resolute2 young heroine and Argentinean artist Paola Zakimis gorgeous illustrations， this is a perfect example of a book young readers will want to curl up with and read again and again.

The book shows little sister Ruby wading through tall grass as she tries to catch up with her two older brothers. When Ruby flops down to rest on her own， the wind blows her way and reveals something special—sticks in the shapes of swords. In Rubys hand， her “sword” vanquishes3 a fearsome dragon. But fighting dragons is best with companions， and the generous Ruby races to grant swords to her siblings. Sadly， her gift is not at first appreciated. But soon， the magical world she begins to create becomes irresistible4， and her two brothers return to join in. Together， the three children work to build a magnificent castle from the simplest of materials： a sheet from the clothesline， sticks， rocks and flowers.

Rubys Sword is a reminder of the importance of imaginative and collaborative5 play for young children. Dont worry. When youre fighting dragons， sometimes all you need is the corner of a backyard.

作者杰奎琳·維斯德的第一本圖畫書《露比的劍》是一個(gè)簡單的家庭故事。但憑借其堅(jiān)定的年輕女主人公以及阿根廷藝術(shù)家葆拉·扎基米的華麗插圖，這是一本年輕讀者想要反復(fù)閱讀的書的完美范例。

該書中，妹妹露比在深深的草叢中穿行，想要追上她的兩個(gè)哥哥。當(dāng)露比坐在地上獨(dú)自休息時(shí)，風(fēng)吹向她，并揭露出一些特殊的東西——?jiǎng)π蔚哪竟?。露比手中的“劍”打敗了一條可怕的龍。但是與龍戰(zhàn)斗時(shí)最好和同伴在一起，慷慨的露比快速地為她的哥哥們準(zhǔn)備好劍。令人沮喪的是，她的禮物一開始并不受歡迎。但很快，她開始創(chuàng)造的魔法世界就變得令人無法抗拒，她的兩個(gè)哥哥也回來加入了她。三個(gè)孩子一起用最簡單的材料——晾衣繩上的一張床單、樹枝、石頭和鮮花，建造了一座宏偉的城堡。

《露比的劍》提醒我們，對于孩子來說，富有想象力和協(xié)作性的游戲是非常重要的。別擔(dān)心。當(dāng)你與龍戰(zhàn)斗時(shí)，有時(shí)你所需要的只是后院的一角。

武漢光谷五小 陳佳 ?選譯