Little Ruth Children's Collection
Special Charms

Every book in the Little Ruth Children’s Collection includes one or more special charms that represent the book’s key themes. These charms are based on real symbols thatinspired us while writing our stories. This page shows all the charms alongside the books that feature them and descriptions of the real-life symbols that served as inspiration.​

CHARM
HOW WE USE IT​​
REAL SYMBOL
CHARM

HOPE

CONFIDENCE

HOW WE USE IT​

We used the hope and confidence charms in First Day of School​ because they remind us to keep trying, even when things feel a little​ scary. If you try your best and believe in yourself, good things can​ happen! Ruth shows hope, confidence, kindness, and a big heart when she goes to school and finds new ways to make friends. Great job, Ruth!​

REAL SYMBOL​

ONYANKOPON ADOM NTIBIRIBIARA BEYE VIE
represents hope, providence, and faith. 
Source: Ghanaian Adinkra Symbol​

TABONO represents unity of purpose, strength,
confidence, and hard work to reach your goal.​
Source: Ghanaian Adinkra Symbol​

CHARM

SECOND CHANCES

HOW WE USE IT​

We chose the second chances charm because it reminds us how
important it is to forgive others and be kind, even when they hurt our feelings. Talking things out and working together can help make things better. Ruth forgave her sisters after they let her down, and together, Ruth, Abby, and Annie came up with a way to fix what happened. Great teamwork!

REAL SYMBOL​

MPATAPO is the knot of reconciliation. It represents a bond that​ commits people who have experienced a disagreement to a peaceful,​ harmonious reconciliation​
Source: Ghanaian Adinkra Symbol

PROBLEM SOLVING

We picked the problem-solving charm because it reminds us that smart thinking can help everyone. When we use our brains to find good solutions, we’re doing something really awesome—especially when it helps other people too! Grown-ups, like parents and teachers, often help us figure things out, just like Ruth’s mom did in the book. She helped Ruth, Abby, and Annie talk it out and solve the problem together.
We love you, Mom!

NYANSAPO is the wisdom knot. It conveys traits associated with​ being wise, such as possessing intelligence and broad knowledge,​ demonstrating ingenuity and patience, and applying learnings and​ experience to achieve practical resolutions.​
Source: Ghanaian Adinkra Symbol

CHARM

CREATIVITY

HOW WE USE IT​

We picked the creativity charm for Halloween Drama Queen because it encourages us to keep trying and to use our imagination when things get tricky—like when our parents say “no” to something. When things didn’t go her way, Ruth used her big, creative ideas to figure out the best costume ever. Way to go, Ruth!

REAL SYMBOL​

ANANSE NTONTAN means spider’s web and is a symbol of creativity and wisdom in the midst complexity. Ananse or Anansi is a clever, yet mischievous character in West African folklore, often represented as a spider, and the shape of this symbol represents a spider’s web. In the folktales, the spider uses its wits to solve problems where size and strength are not enough.​
Source: Ghanaian Adinkra Symbol​

LOVING HEART

We picked the loving heart charm because it shows how important it is to be kind and help others. Ruth’s grandma was super kind and helped her make the perfect princess dress. Thanks, Grandma! You’re the best!

AKOMA means “heart,” and it is a symbol of love, goodwill, patience, faithfulness, fondness, endurance, and consistency.​
Source: Ghanaian Adinkra Symbol​

CHARM

GOOD LUCK

HOW WE USE IT​

We chose this symbol to remind us that good luck often comes through people. When Carter felt nervous on his first day of camp, he was lucky to meet kind friends and caring camp leaders who helped him feel welcome. Carter also showed us that by being brave and trying something new, like a new camp and fun activities with new friends, we can help make our own good luck and turn a fi rst day into a happy one.

REAL SYMBOL​

花结 / Chinese Flower Knot

The Chinese Flower knot is a variation of the Good Luck Knot.  Some significant meanings about Chinese Flower knots are as follows

  • Prosperity and Beauty: Flower knots represent the blooming of new opportunities, wealth, and elegance, often displayed to attract positive energy.
  • Reunion and Harmony: The interconnected nature of the knot signifies the unity of family, friendship, and the coming together of people. 
  • Festive Good Luck: Used heavily during Chinese New Year and weddings, they are meant to bring luck, love, and joy to the home. 
  • Protection and Longevity: Representing an unbroken, continuous, and long life, these knots are often used as talismans for long life and safety, protecting against evil

FOREVER

We picked the forever charm because it reminds us of things that never end, like the love we have for friends and family. Charlotte’s charm is based on the infinity symbol. It connects us to her family’s background in England and shows that the girls’
pajama party memories will always stay with them. Some bonds and memories last forever, looping endlessly like the infinity symbol and the forever charm.

The common symbol for INFINITY was invented by an English mathematician. Three main types of infinity may be distinguished: the mathematical, the physical, and the metaphysical.  The closest approximation to our use of the infinity symbol is the metaphysical type.  The infinity knot is often used as a symbol of something without beginning or end. In philosophy and metaphysics, infinity has long represented ideas that are limitless—such as knowledge, possibility, or the universe itself. The continuous loop of the knot reflects the idea that some things, like learning, connection, and imagination, can keep growing without end.

Source: Britannica

TEAMWORK

Like Ruth’s family, this charm shows how we can do great things when we help each other and use teamwork. At the pajama party, Ruth’s mom and grandma helped each girl sparkle even more. With
their help, the girls were able to decorate backpacks that showed their own style and the friendships that were special to them. Ruth and her friends each brought something to share, and together, their gifts made the night unforgettable. Ruth’s sisters also showed teamwork when they helped Ruth make a brand-new backpack, turning a mistake into something wonderful.

ESE NE TEKREMA means “teeth and tongue.” It is a symbol of improvement, advancement, growth, the need for friendliness and interdependence.

Source: Ghanaian Adinkra Symbol

UNITY

We picked the heart necklace because it shows how different people and families come together. Zoey’s family comes from many places around the world, and all of those stories come together in Zoey and her siblings. The best friendships happen when everyone shares what makes them special and joins with others to make something even better. Like the pieces of Zoey’s necklace, Ruth, Zoey, and their friends each brought something unique that made their friendship and sleepover extra special.

BFF necklaces, often featuring broken hearts or split pendants, symbolize enduring friendship through shared, matching tokens. Rooted in ancient traditions from Egyptians, Romans, and Native Americans, the exchanging of items signifies loyalty. The concept of the BFF necklace gained significant traction in the 20th century, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s, evolving from historical, meaningful mementos into pop-culture jewelry, representing a deep, often sentimental, bond between two or more people, especially among youth.

FRIENDSHIP

We chose a friendship bracelet because it reminds us of promises and kindness that last. Sofi a’s family has been part of the American story for generations. Families like hers began building their story many years ago in the United States and nearby places long before America had its name.
We celebrate those deep and earliest connections to our traditions that continue today—like sharing friendship bracelets! Sofi a’s bracelets show how friends can celebrate their bond and hold onto the fun they share together, so they will always remember to keep building happy memories.

Today’s friendship bracelets are believed to have indigenous origins based on woven bracelets from Central America. Drawing from rich Mayan weaving traditions, Some of the most common patterns of friendship bracelets, such as chevron, diamond, and broken ladder, are based on sixteenth-century Indigenous Navajo weaving patterns. Macrame, another common technique in woven bracelets, has been traced back to thirteenth-century Arab textile art . 

CHARM

GOOD LUCK

HOW WE USE IT​

We chose the good luck charm because it reminds us of Lily and her family’s story. We are all lucky to have good friends. And, like the charm, friendships can be strong and beautiful when they are woven together with care. Good things happen when friends share their family’s traditions, their time, and their hearts with each other. Lily, Ruth, and their friends show how lucky it feels to share these special gifts with one another.

REAL SYMBOL​

The Chinese Knot symbolizes good luck and a prosperous life. It is an important part of Chinese culture and is widely practiced as a way to celebrate special occasions and bring good luck and prosperity. The knots are often used as decorations during Chinese New Year and other celebrations as they are believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and happiness. Each knot shape has its symbolic meaning. Chinese knots are typically made from a single cord or string, which is tied into a series of intricate knots to create a design.