Ruby, Blue and Blanket - Story Snug

Ruby, Blue and Blanket by Jane Hissey

I love Old Bear and his friends so I was very excited to hear that Jane Hissey had written and illustrated Ruby, Blue and Blanket, a new story with new characters.

The Story: Ruby (a mouse), Blue (a rabbit) and Blanket (a horse) decide to dress up and the best costume will win a prize. Blue and Blanket quickly find something to wear but Ruby can’t decide what she would like to be. She goes through a range of options including a mermaid, a ghost and a spaceman until Blanket helps her. His suggestion means that they all look great and they can share the prize.

Jane Hissey’s illustrations are beautiful and children will immediately identify with the characters and the game that they are playing. There is no gender bias in this story, Blue is happy to wear a dress while Ruby considers dressing up as a cowboy or a spaceman as well as a mermaid. Blanket’s solution is interesting and moves the toys away from dressing up as stereotypical characters (I don’t want to give the ending away!). Ruby’s indecision is so believable, faced with a whole box full of wonderful clothes to try on I am not surprised that she finds the choice difficult! My daughter (who is also very keen on dressing up) loves this book and I have noticed that elements of the story are making their way into her games. She is fascinated by the details in the illustrations and asks lots of questions as we read.

Ruby, Blue and Blanket has a rhyming text and I like the repetition which allows children to join in but also makes it a good text for beginner readers.

This is another lovely book from Jane Hissey. The story of a familiar game is brought to life by her adorable characters and her wonderful illustrations.

Age Range: 3 +

Author / Illustrator: Jane Hissey

I was sent a review copy of Ruby, Blue and Blanket. I was not asked to write this recommendation, we are recommending the book because we love reading it.


Related posts


Enjoyed this? Share or comment.

Leave a Reply

8 responses to “Ruby, Blue and Blanket by Jane Hissey”


  1. sustainablemum avatar

    We love Jane Hissey books here I included one in my post for the Kid Lit Blog Hop. I hadn’t realised she was still writing!


    1. Catherine avatar

      Ruby, Blue and Blanket is the first book that Jane Hissey has written for ten years.


  2. Julie Grasso avatar

    Hi Catherine it looks like a beautiful book. We are almost at the dress up stage so I better start getting some clothes and some great books like this. Thanks for linking it in to the Kid Lit Blog Hop. Cheers Julie Grasso


    1. Catherine avatar

      My daughter loves to dress up in scarves and old blankets as much as she does in proper dressing up clothes. Since we started reading this book she likes dressing up as a ghost best!


  3. piwimama avatar

    The Characters look so cute…We weren’t familiar with this series so thanks for introducing it to us and for sharing with the Kid Lit Blog Hop!


    1. Catherine avatar

      You’re welcome – there are some great posts on the kid lit blog hop this week 🙂


  4. Susan Stephenson avatar

    It truly sounds delightful. Not sure this publisher is available in Australia but will be alert to this possibility.


    1. Catherine avatar

      It is an adorable book. Jane Hissey’s illustrations are so gorgeous that children can identify really quickly with the characters.