Stories for Growing
Cover of Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny LieAges 4 to 6
HonestyResponsibilityMaking things right

Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie

Laura Rankin

Ages 4 to 6
About this age guidance

Kirkus: 4–6; Publishers Weekly: 3–8

The age tag follows Kirkus review. Other sources may suggest different ages. This is audience guidance, not an independent reading level.

Listed on a parent honesty booklist for ages 3 to 6. The blogger says it traces the feelings from the lie to the apology and forgiveness, and singles out the parents’ calm reaction.

On the school playground Ruthie, a young fox who loves tiny things, finds a tiny camera and keeps it. When Martin says it is his, she lies and says it was a birthday gift. The teacher holds the camera until the next day. Ruthie spends the evening sick with guilt, confesses to her parents, and next day admits the wrong and apologizes.

Good forCaught in a lieTeaching honestyApologizing

Recommended by Children’s Lit Love

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What children see in the story

Ruthie lies to keep a camera that is not hers, then chooses to tell the truth even though nobody has caught her out at home. She owns the mistake, listens to her parents’ message that she can fix it, and does the fixing herself. Her apology and open admission at school put right what the lie took.

Why it’s on these shelves

Honesty
Ruthie insists the tiny camera she found is her birthday present when Martin says it is his. Her stomach churns all afternoon and she cannot eat her favorite dinner, and by bedtime she tells her parents what she did.
Responsibility
After her parents tell her a mistake can be fixed tomorrow, Ruthie decides to admit at school what she did. Her teacher answers with praise and respect.
Making things right
Ruthie takes back her lie about the camera and apologizes for keeping what was Martin’s. Her parents have told her she can fix it, and the story ends well.

Why pick it up?

Ruthie admits the lie, apologizes, and is met with praise and respect from her teacher.

A note for parents

Edition note: the hardcover 9781599900100 is the listing on amazon.com with ratings; the paperback listing is a third party at a high price. PW adds that the book quietly shows parents how to handle a lie. It reads as story, not lecture. Kirkus and the parent blog tell the confession slightly differently: Kirkus mentions the apology and the teacher’s praise; the blog adds the bedtime talk with her parents. Both are used.

Where this recommendation comes from

Children’s Lit Love

Listed on a parent honesty booklist for ages 3 to 6. The blogger says it traces the feelings from the lie to the apology and forgiveness, and singles out the parents’ calm reaction.

Read Mary Costello’s recommendation
Sources and review status

We have checked source descriptions and drafted the value mapping. We have not personally reviewed the full book. The value labels, situation assignments, and parent notes remain provisional.

Publisher or literacy resource · Original recommendation

Our explanation of the value fit is separate from the original reviewer’s judgment. Their inclusion here does not imply an endorsement of Stories for Growing.

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