Ruthie - by Esmé Shapiro (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"Shapiro returns to an earlier work and adds a joyful companion volume that fills in the missing pieces, resulting in a more complex and emotionally insightful whole. . . . This winning, humorous title will delight on its own and even more so when paired with its predecessor." --STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

"Young fans of the fancier things in life will enjoy Ruthie's princely observations and will be tickled by his goofy personality (and facial expressions). Both text and the stylized, mixed-media art, which often contradict each other to delightful effect, are packed with charmingly odd details; this is a celebration of authenticity and friendship not to be passed up." --Kirkus Reviews

"Shapiro gently deflates Ruthie's ego while plumping up his friendship possibilities, showing how learning to tone down one's self-importance can lead to genuine connection." --Publishers Weekly

"Shapiro's whimsical multimedia illustrations enhance the heart of the story, making this a good addition to large picture-book collections." --Booklist

"Ruthie, with a white coat so full that it conceals any discernible limbs, is a lovably ridiculous and privileged pooch. Shapiro adds further personality to the character's alert narration and comic-style dialogue bubbles through hand-lettered text[.]" --The Horn Book

"It's impossible to mistake a book by Esmé Shapiro with the work of any other artist. Her odd, rounded, comically proportioned figures, their quirky thoughts put into the perfect words, as well as the underlying premise of Shapiro's universe, are all there." --Imaginary Elevators

About the Author

ESMÉ SHAPIRO is an acclaimed author and illustrator of books for children. Her previous picture books include Ooko, a finalist for a Governor General's Literary Award; Alma and the Beast; Carol and the Pickle-Toad; My Self, Your Self; and Roy Is Not a Dog, co-created with her husband, Daniel Newell Kaufman. She 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. Esmé lives in a castle in the Hudson Valley with her husband and their two princes. She will never say no to a slice of three-year-old cake.