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.

Author: Esmé Shapiro
Publisher: Tundra Books (NY)
Published: 03/17/2026
Pages: 48
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs
Size: 11.60h x 9.10w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781774885659
Audience: Ages 4-8


Review Citation(s):
School Library Journal 02/01/2026 pg. 43
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 03/01/2026
Booklist 03/01/2026
Kirkus Reviews 11/15/2025
Publishers Weekly 12/08/2025

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.