Cozy Storytime: Hello, My Name Is Ruby Written & Illustrated by Philip C. Stead

Today’s cozy read‑aloud is Hello, My Name Is Ruby — a warm, thoughtful picture book about courage, friendship, and the quiet bravery of reaching out to others.

Philip C. Stead’s storytelling pairs beautifully with his soft, textured mixed‑media illustrations. The warm palette, expressive birds, and gentle humor create an emotional landscape that invites young readers to slow down, notice details, and feel deeply.

Before I sat down to record, I spent a few minutes making an index‑card collage inspired by the book’s layered textures and soft, natural tones. This small ritual helps me notice the visual language of the story — the delicate lines, the expressive bird shapes, the gentle palette. Creating the card helps me enter the illustrator’s world with intention, and it becomes a tiny companion to the reading itself.

This book is wonderful for:

• Social‑emotional learning — friendship, courage, belonging, empathy

• Early literacy — character traits, sequencing, dialogue, story structure

• Visual literacy — mixed‑media textures, expressive birds, warm palette

• Classroom and library read‑alouds — community, introductions, making friends

• Cozy storytime moments — soft, gentle, heart‑steady

🎥 Watch the full cozy read‑aloud and join Ruby as she bravely introduces herself to the world.