Ruthie

From the creator of Ooko, take a walk on the wild side with pampered pooch Ruthie in this fetching and brilliantly silly picture book for fans of Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio and Christian Robinson.

Ruthie is a prince (a dog) who has it all: a bone, a fish, and a piece of cake he’s been saving for three years. He lives in a castle (a house), is beloved by his queen (his owner), and enjoys beauty-naps, butterberry pancakes and staying squeaky clean with a daily bubble bath. But still, Ruthie longs to explore beyond the castle walls.

When a chance to escape presents itself, Ruthie soon finds exploring isn't all it's cracked up to be. He is cold, hungry and worst of all: STINKY! Ruthie's royal subjects (forest animals) do their best to help, but nothing is as perfect as it was in his castle and, worst of all, he misses his queen. Will Ruthie ever be able to find his way home? And will he be able to make some friends along the way?

In this delightful companion book to Ooko that stands all on its own, Esmé Shapiro tells Ruthie’s side of this topsy-turvy story -- and a hilarious, heartfelt tale about breaking free of and longing for home.

About the Author

ESMÉ SHAPIRO grew up in Laurel Canyon, California and Ontario, Canada, and is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design. Her picture books include Ooko, which was nominated for a Governor General's Literary Award in 2016; Alma and the Beast; Carol and the Pickle-Toad; Ruthie; My Self, Your Self, which has received two starred reviews and Roy is Not a Dog which she co-wrote with her husband, Daniel Newell Kaufman.

Esmé also illustrated Yak and Dove by Kyo Maclear, Eliza: The Story of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton by Margaret McNamara and A Garden of Creatures by Sheila Heti. She has exhibited at the Society of Illustrators, and her work has been featured in Taproot and Plansponsor magazines. Esmé lives in the Hudson Valley with her husband, and their two dogs.