Ruth Chan is an author and illustrator of children’s books and comics. Chan was born in Canada, lived in China as a teen and now writes and illustrates in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to illustrated books by others, she also published works for which she is both author and illustrator. One of these, Thank You, Neighbor! was inspired by her own walks around her neighborhood in Brooklyn.
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
The Alpactory: Ready, Pack, Go!
HarperCollins, 2021.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
New experiences can be scary. It never seems like you’ll be 100% ready.
Should Marley pack 2 pencils or 25 for the first day of school? How many pairs of underwear does Ralph need for a sleepover?
Have no fear, the Alpactory is here to help! These alpacas will pack and pack and pack, until…WAIT! Nobody needs that much stuff! Maybe Marley and Ralph have been ready all along…Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Fiction (Juvenile, Picture book)
Thank You, Neighbor!
New York: HarperCollins, 2021.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Join our narrator and her dog on their daily walk as they greet the people in their neighborhood—from the mail carrier and bus driver to the sanitation workers and grocery clerks and more.
Whether listening, asking, helping, or just saying hello and thank you—it is our patience and kindness that make a neighborhood feel like home. This charming story gently reminds us to slow down and be grateful for all the people, places, and things around us.
Non-fiction (Juvenile, Memoir / Graphic novel)
Uprooted: A Memoir About What Happens When Your Family Moves Back
Roaring Brook Press, 2024.
Publisher’s Synopsis (From its website)
Ruth Chan loves her hometown in Toronto, hanging out with her best friends for life, and snacking on ketchup flavored potato chips, which are the best. What Ruth doesn’t love is having to move to Hong Kong after her dad gets a new job there.
Her mom is excited to reunite with her family, but it’s not the same for Ruth. In Hong Kong, her classes are harder, her Cantonese isn’t good enough, and her parents are never around. Ruth feels lonely and completely uprooted.
But as Ruth’s dad tells stories about her family, about how they relied on their strength, courage, and each other to survive the most difficult times, Ruth realizes that she too can be strong. Gradually, she puts down roots, knowing that home will always be where her heart is.
Links
Ruth Chan personal website
Publisher HarperCollins and HarperCollins Canada
Publisher Macmillan, owner of the Roaring Brook Press imprint