Ruth Ohi is well-known as an illustrator of children’s books. She originally studied computer science at the University of Toronto before realizing that art could be a legitimate job. She then pursued studies at the Ontario College of Art. A Toronto resident, Ohi has illustrated more than thirty books and has started to write and illustrate her own picture books for very young readers.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
And You Can Come Too
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: Annick Press, 2005.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
For Sara and her little sister Annie, a quiet Saturday ends with a bout of sibling bickering. When Daddy intevenes, Sara crossly announces she’s running away– and Annie can come too’
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Blanket
Toronto: Groundwood Books, 2022.
Forthcoming August 2022
A Story without words.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
It’s a beautiful morning, but when Cat wakes up, the world feels gray. Cat wraps up in a blanket and hides — until Dog comes in. What can Dog do to help Cat?
Dog joins Cat under the blanket and listens to Cat’s worries. Dog’s flashlight illuminates the darkness and brings laughter. The two friends build a blanket fort where they can make shadow puppets and find comfort in storybooks. Dog makes sandwiches so that they can share a picnic meal. With Dog’s help, Cat discovers ways to cope until the sadness starts to lift.
Ruth Ohi’s first wordless picture book is a quiet, heartfelt story about those times when you just want to hide under a blanket — and how much it can mean to have a friend who will be there to keep you company.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Chicken, Pig, Cow
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: Annick Press, 2008.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Pig, Chicken and Cow love the warm and cozy barn Girl made for them out of Popsicle® sticks. Even though Girl forgot to make a door, the three toy animals think their home is perfect. The only thing that isn’t perfect is Dog. He lives outside, but his drool makes it feel as if it’s raining in the barn.
Awards and Honours
2009 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award (Finalist)
2008 First & Best selection — Toronto Public Library
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Chicken, Pig, Cow and the Class Pet
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: Annick Press, 2011.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Chicken, Pig and Cow have had many happy adventures with Dog at Girl’s house. But when Girl carts them off to school one day, leaving Dog behind, they aren’t sure what to think. Where is school, exactly? And what’s with all the noise there? Who are all these people who look like Girl but aren’t Girl? And why is their new hamster neighbor, Furface, trying to eat their barn?
Awards and Honours
2011 Best Books for Kids & Teens (Canadian Children’s Book Centre)
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Chicken, Pig, Cow and the Purple Problem
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: Annick Press, 2010.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
How come Cow’s spots are purple, when everybody else’s are gray or brown? Fed up with being different, Cow sets out on a quest to change her spots.
Thanks to a gravelly walkway, she soon finds lots of gray to cover the purple. And a squirrel in a tree provides plenty of brown by showering Cow with seeds. But when she arrives back home all big and bunchy and lumpy, Chicken and Pig hardly recognize her. When they finally realize it is Cow, they reassure her that she is their friend—purple spots and all.
Awards and Honours
2010 Best Books for Kids & Teens (Canadian Children’s Book Centre)
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Chicken, Pig, Cow Horse Around
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: Annick Press, 2010.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Chicken, Pig, and Cow are very happy together in their Popsicle stick barn, so when Horse arrives, not everyone is pleased—especially Chicken, who points out that Horse takes up a lot of space. When Chicken suggests they play a game of hide-and-seek, Horse merrily trots off. But when he disappears, a frantic search ensues—until Chicken finally spots him inside the fishbowl. Feeling guilty, Chicken jumps in to save him, only to realize that Horse is actually outside the bowl. So who will save Chicken? All ends well when Pig, Cow, and Horse—with the help of Dog—team up together to rescue their friend.
Awards and Honours
2010 First & Best selection — Toronto Public Library
2010 Best Books for Kids & Teens (Canadian Children’s Book Centre)
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Chicken, Pig, Cow on the Move
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: Annick Press, 2009.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Chicken, Pig and Cow are looking for a change. The popsicle-stick barn Girl built for them is great, but sometimes it gets just a little too crowded.
So off they go in search of a new house. They soon discover that nestling among fuzzy slippers in the closet is too “linty,” and living under the furniture is too scary! What about Girl’s dollhouse? There’s lots of space and they all get their own room—Chicken’s even has TV. But what seemed perfect turns out to be a lot less desirable than the comforts of home. Maybe their jam-packed barn isn’t so bad after all …
Awards and Honours
2009 Best Books List (Canadian Children’s Book Centre)
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Chicken, Pig, Cow’s First Fight
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: Annick Press, 2012.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Chicken, Pig, and Cow have always gotten along well—until the day Girl builds a big city out of blocks. Thinking something is missing, Chicken makes a leaf statue. Now the city is perfect.
Pig loves zipping and zooming around the city. Chicken warns him to be careful, but Pig is having too much fun to listen. Then the inevitable happens: Pig zooms right into Chicken’s statue, destroying it. Chicken is furious! Pig’s attempts to fix the statue only make matters worse. In the end, he demolishes the entire city. Realizing what a mess he’s made, Pig hides while Chicken, Cow, and Dog rebuild the city. After a nap, Pig feels better and returns to apologize to his friends. They forgive him and invite him to join them in putting the finishing touches on the city.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Choose Kindness
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: Scholastic Canada, 2021. {forthcoming in August)
Publisher’s Synopsis
Bunny is having a tough morning, but manages to brighten up and get out the door. Pretty soon Bunny comes across Beetle, who needs a little cheering too. Bunny can do that! Bunny and Beetle band together and they come across Marten. They are just what Marten needed, and the three carry on. Along the way they pick up Wren and Lemming too.
Their care and attention to each other”s feelings boosts everyone”s mood. When they find Bear, who has forgotten something important, they joyfully come together to make a big difference.
Lyrical text is infused with Ruth Ohi”s signature energy, humour, and depth. This touching story of friendship is a great reminder of the power of kindness and empathy in building community.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Clara and the Bossy
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: Annick Press, 2006.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Ruth Ohi’s tale of a little guinea pig and her bossy friend.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
The Couch was a Castle
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: Annick Press, 2006.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Two brothers discover a couch can be anything with a little pretending.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Fox and Squirrel
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: North Winds Press, 2013.
Publisher’s Synopsis
Can Fox help Squirrel see that they don’t have to be the same to be the best of friends?
Awards and Honours
2014 Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award — Canadian Children’s Book Centre (Finalist)
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Fox and Squirrel Help Out
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: North Winds Press, 2018.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
When a baby bat drops in from out of the sky, Fox is immediately taken with the soft, sweet creature and rushes to take care of it. Squirrel is less sure this is a welcome intrusion. The new squeaky stranger can’t keep up with all their favourite activities and doesn’t seem to realize how fun Squirrel can be. Can Fox and Squirrel come together to figure out what Squeak needs?
In this new installment in the Fox and Squirrel series, award-winning author Ruth Ohi delivers a heartwarming tale, with an affirming message for anyone who has felt frustrated accommodating someone with different needs. And a lovely reminder about the good feeling that comes with helping out.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Fox and Squirrel Make a Friend
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: North Winds Press, 2014.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Fox and Squirrel are the best of friends. But when Yellow Bird comes along, he and Squirrel frolic high up in the treetops where Fox can’t reach. Fox feels like Squirrel doesn’t need him anymore. Can Squirrel help Fox see that there’s room in their friendship for another?
Awards and Honours
2014 First & Best selection — Toronto Public Library
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Fox and Squirrel The Best Christmas Ever
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: North Winds Press, 2016.
Publisher’s Synopsis
Fox and Squirrel are getting ready for the festive season, but they can’t seem to agree on how to celebrate. It’s only when things fall apart that they realize what really matters at Christmas time: spending the time together.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Kenta and the Big Wave
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: Annick Press, 2013.
Publisher’s Synopsis
When the tsunami strikes Kenta’s small village in Japan, he does all he can to hang on to the things that matter to him most. But amidst the chaos of an evacuation, Kenta and his family must quickly leave their home.
Climbing to safer ground, Kenta watches as his prized soccer ball gets swept away by the waves, never to be seen again … that is, until it washes up on a beach on the other side of the world, into the hands of a child who takes it upon himself to return the ball to its rightful owner.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Me and My Brother
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: Annick Press, 2007.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
A little book about the big bond between two young brothers.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Me and My Sister
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: Annick Press, 2005.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
A little book about the big bond between two young sisters.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
No Help Wanted
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: North Winds Press, 2019.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Posy always has a plan, and she is determined to see her plans through. But when she eagerly takes charge of the new classroom pet, things don’t go according to plan. Bluey the beta fish suffers under all the special attention, and he starts looking worse and worse. Posy fears everyone will blame her. Can she admit she needs help to bring her new friend back around?
In this lovely school-based story, award-winning author and illustrator Ruth Ohi gives us a recognizable character — a high-achieving child, who needs a reminder that it’s okay to ask for help — and the lesson that cooperation wins the day!
Fiction (Juvenile, Board book)
Pants Off First
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Markham: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2001.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Scribble
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: North Winds Press, 2016.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Circle loves to roll — around and around. Solid Square likes to sit still and strong. Triangle can celebrate all her good points, and always knows which direction to go. But when Scribble suddenly dashes through their ordered world — all messy lines and energy — Circle, Square and Triangle don’t know what to think.
But turns out just a zig zag here and a wavy line there are all that’s needed to stir imaginations, and soon the shapes find themselves working as a team, on a course for adventure!
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Shh! My Brother’s Napping
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: North Winds Press, 2014.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
“Shh! My brother’s napping. He really needs his sleep,” admonishes our adorable narrator at the outset of this story. But there are pots to bang, books to read, towers to build, pictures to paint, and all sorts of fun to be had. It’s just so hard not to make any noise!
After a tower of books and blocks comes crashing down, little brother is wide awake and it’s finally time to bring out the rest of the toys and have some fun! But who’s that yawning now? This time, it’s little brother’s turn to tell us, “Shh, my brother’s napping.”
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
A Trip With Grandma
Written and illustrated by Ruth Ohi.
Toronto: Annick Press, 2007.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
An overnight outing is first-rate fun with this grandparent.
Links
Ruth Ohi personal homepage
Publisher Annick Press
Publisher Scholastic Canada publisher of North Winds Press. The site includes downloadable activities.