Book Launch: SJ Russell

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Join us in the shop for the launch of new graphic novel Midnight “Don’t Judge Me” Ruiz, written by local author and animal lover SJ Russell with illustrations by Anne Kosazalka.


About the Book

This graphic novel tells the true story of Midnight, an abandoned pit bull-type dog, who wound up at Philadelphia’s crowded open-intake animal shelter in 2019. Due to a minor nip after being adopted, Midnight is returned to the shelter and becomes at-risk for euthanasia. Through Rocky-like grit, hard work, and a lot of help from his friends, Midnight goes the distance with his demons and learns to love again.

Written and illustrated by animal advocates S. J. Russell and Anne Koszalka, this graphic novel features the gruff, endearing Philadelphia dialect spoken by the two central dog characters, Midnight and Mister.

Anne Koszalka is a Philadelphia potter and artist. (Believe it or not, each of the hundreds of illustrations in the book began as a ceramic tile: each tile was shaped, etched, painted, and then fired in a kiln before being photographed and incorporated into the design.)