Kirkus Reviews

Along with learning typical skills, each student at ninja school develops a special, individual one—except, apparently, for Ruby.Not that Ruby doesn't try hard…but unlike her fellow students she just can't get the hang of slithering invisibly, being brave, or even sitting patiently. Despite the reassurances of her instructor, Master Willow, she despairs of ever finding her secret skill. But then, one night when everyone in the dorm suffers an attack of homesickness, she bravely (invisibly) slips out to patiently stitch up an armload of stuffed dragons and hand them out along with comforting tales of courage and daring. "Ruby, your skills are no longer a secret," observes Master Willow. "You are a wonderful storyteller, a fine dragon maker, and a very good friend." Pilutti uses a mostly pastel palette, the flat compositions occasionally recalling mid-20th-century classics despite the trendy theme (the dormitory in particular will have readers thinking of Madeline). She gives readers inspired to emulate Ruby appended, traceable patterns for both felt and nonstitch paper dragons. Ruby and Master Willow are both depicted in the cartoon illustrations with pale skin; the ninja-suited students display similarly drawn facial features but an array of skin tones.No need for a black body suit to be a ninja-in-training. (Picture book. 6-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Ruby is one of several -saplings- learning the ropes at ninja school, but she-s far from stealthy, can-t land her flying jump kicks, and has trouble meditating patiently. Master Willow, her kindly teacher, knows that Ruby will uncover the -secret skill- that every ninja possesses. One night, when her fellow saplings get homesick, Ruby comforts them by using everything she has learned. Master Willow declares that Ruby has multiple secret skills: -You are a wonderful storyteller, a fine dragon maker, and a very good friend.- Pilutti-s story drags a bit, especially during a sequence in which Ruby-s memories of her family trigger the other students- homesickness, but the artist-s gouache, pen, and ink illustrations are a treat, with aesthetics reminiscent of 1950s graphic design and animation. Inventive framings make every page a surprise: when Ruby confides her inadequacies to Master Willow, Pilutti (Ten Rules of Being a Superhero) has readers peer through the darkness into a lit room nestled among the school-s red-tile roofs. A craft project (a version of the stuffed dragon Ruby stitches for her fellow ninjas) is included. Ages 4-8. Agent: Jennifer Rofé, Andrea Brown Literary. (Mar.)

School Library Journal (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

PreS-Gr 2 Master Willow's School for Ninjas is open only one weekend per year, at a remote locationa steep, craggy hill far from the busy roads of a village. New "saplings," boys and girls, arrive at the school to learn how to "sneak, slither, creep invisibly , jump, kick, and throw skillfully , sit, listen, and wait patiently ," how to be brave, and (most of all) discover their own individual secret skill. Ruby finds herself lackingshe doesn't feel she's good at being invisible, skillful, or even patient, but Master Willow strongly believes that every sapling has a special talent. Practicing the ways of the ninja allows her to find and develop her own creative skills as she bravely comforts and supports her fellow saplings-in-training navigate the separation from home to school with a gift of friendship. Additional how-to pages on making a Dragon Softie or a No-Sew Dragon complete Ruby's story. VERDICT A recommended general purchase suitable for young readers finding their own special skills. Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX