Esmé Shapiro is the author and illustrator of the new children's picture book Ruthie. Her other books include Ooko. She lives in the Hudson Valley.
Q: What inspired you to create Ruthie, and how did you create the title character?
A: We first catch a glimpse of Ruthie in my companion book, Ooko. There, he appears almost like a vision - a white puff of a dog with a lop of rounded, cloudlike hair and a mischievous smile. A smile that seems to denote a divine confidence! He has a small but mighty cameo.
If you look closely, you can find clues about him throughout the illustrations: his owner adorns her walls with images of him skydiving, gardening, and enjoying elaborate dinners. He’s clearly beloved and strangely cultured - and yet, he disappears for most of the story.
I became fascinated by the mystery of Ruthie - who was this bewildering little creature? That curiosity is what inspired and created Ruthie!
Q: Did you work on the text first or the illustrations first--or both simultaneously?
A: For Ruthie, I worked on the text first. I was in a somewhat unusual position because I already knew the character and his world - it had already been established in Ooko.
The process really became about discovering who Ruthie really was and what drove him. Once I realized that he believed himself to be a prince, everything clicked - and the rest of the story flowed from there!
Q: How does this new book connect to your book Ooko?
A: Ruthie takes place at the same time as Ooko. While Ooko is trying to convince a “Debbie” that she is a dog, Ruthie is attempting to escape his “castle walls.”
There is even a moment in each book where you can spot both of the characters in the garden together! But like two ships in the night, they barely notice each other.
Although they are driven by very different desires - Ooko is searching for connection, while Ruthie longs to explore beyond his comforts - they ultimately arrive at a similar truth: that there is nothing more meaningful than being loved and cherished for who you really are.
Q: The Kirkus Review of the book says, “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.” What do you think of that description?
A: I think that is an incredibly kind description! Every now and then, a review comes along where you feel like the reviewer really understood what you were trying to do - and this was one of those moments for me!
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I haven’t announced my next book just yet - but I will give you a hint…it involves…bread!!!
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: At its heart, Ruthie is really a story about perception. Ruthie helps us understand that stepping outside of your comfort zone can shift the way you see the world - and, in turn, deepen your relationships and sense of meaning.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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