About the Author

People often ask Ruth is she always loved to draw. The answer is yesóbut she didnít always know that she wanted to be an artist. Ruth has dreamed of being many things: an astronaut, a teacher, a marine biologist, a scientist. It all depended on what she happened to be reading about or was interested in at the time. She went to the library every week and signed out a lot of books, which gave her a lot of ideas. Her mom and dad read to her every day. They also gave her blank sheets of paper, and crayons and markers that worked.

About the Book
Clara the guinea pig loves purple. She also loves triangles, tuna, and making new friends. Thatís why sheís thrilled when a classmate says to her, ìLetís be best friends!î Madison is bold and glamorous and soon the girls are inseparable. Madison even lets Clara clean up all her toys after they play together.

But Madisonís demands begin piling up. Why, she asks, does Clara wear the same purple dress every day? And why does she always eat triangle-shaped tuna sandwiches? Itís not long before Claraís lunches arenít nearly as much fun, and her favorite outfit stays in the closet. When Clara loses a treasured stone because she lacks pockets (the purple dress had big ones), she decides to go back to the things she likes.