Ruthie is a prince. He is also a dog. He lives in a castle (a house), is beloved by his queen (his owner), and spends his days enjoying beauty naps, butterberry pancakes, and a daily bubble bath. And yet — Ruthie longs for more. When he finally escapes beyond the castle walls, he discovers that the outside world is cold, bewildering, and worst of all: terribly stinky. Esmé Shapiro's illustrations are full of wonderfully odd details, the text and pictures contradicting each other to hilarious effect throughout. A companion to her earlier book Ooko — though it stands entirely on its own.