Illustration of giant white dog straining at leash in a garden.

Special Storytime with Esmé Shapiro

April 18, 2026 at 11 - 11:30 am

Reading Library

Free with Museum admission

From the creator of Ooko, take a walk on the wild side with pampered pooch Ruthie in this fetching and brilliantly silly picture book

Join author and illustrator Esmé Shapiro as she shares her new book Ruthie, a hilarious and heartfelt tale about breaking free of and longing for home. Families with enjoy a read-aloud and drawing demo, followed by a book signing.

Who You'll Meet

Esmé Shapiro

Esmé Shapiro is an author and illustrator of books for children. She grew up amongst the succulents and coyotes of Laurel Canyon, California. These days, she lives in an old farm house in the Catskills with her husband and their two scruffy dogs. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, Esmé is a past recipient of both the Nancy Lee Rhodes Roberts Scholarship and the SILA West 53 Gold Award-Phillip Hayes Scholarship. She has exhibited at The Society of Illustrators and her work has been featured in Taproot, Quill and Quire, and Plansponsor Magazines. Her first book, OOKO, was nominated for a Governor General’s Literary Award and was # 1 on the National Post Best Seller’s List. Her book MY SELF, YOUR SELF was listed as one of the Best Children’s Books of the Year 2023 by The Bank Street College of Education. Follow her on Instagram at @esmeshapiro.