A Monster Is Born
Every character has to start somewhere. For Ruggi, it started with my children. Specifically, the chaos they leave in their wake. The paint on the walls. The mysterious sticky patches. The bedroom floors you cannot see for toys. I thought: what if there was a monster who was even messier than a toddler? And just like that, Ruggi was born.
Designing Ruggi
I wanted Ruggi to look loveable, not scary. He needed to be the kind of monster a child would want to cuddle, not hide from. So I gave him big round eyes, a wide goofy grin and a soft, furry body in bold colours. He is clumsy and chaotic but completely well-meaning, which felt right for the stories I wanted to tell.
The illustration process was brilliant fun. I sketched dozens of versions before landing on the final Ruggi. Some were too cute. Some were too wild. But eventually, I found the one that felt like him. You just know when a character clicks.
What Makes Ruggi Special
Ruggi is not perfect, and that is the whole point. He makes messes. He gets things wrong. He tries his best and sometimes it all goes a bit sideways. But he is kind, he is funny, and he always means well. I think children see themselves in that, and I think parents do too.
There is something really freeing about a character who embraces the mess. So many children's books focus on being tidy and well-behaved, which is lovely, but sometimes you need a book that says it is okay to be a bit chaotic. That is where Ruggi lives.
From Sketch to Story
Once I had the character nailed down, the stories came quickly. Ruggi the Messy Monster was the first, and it practically wrote itself. The rhymes flowed naturally because Ruggi's personality is so vivid. He is the kind of character who tells you what he wants to do next.
I illustrate everything digitally but start with pencil sketches. Each spread goes through several rounds of colour testing before I settle on the final palette. With Ruggi, I wanted bold, saturated colours that match his larger-than-life personality.
What Is Next for Ruggi
I have big plans for this little monster. There are more stories in the works, more messes to make and more adventures to go on. Ruggi has become one of my most popular characters, and I think it is because he feels real. Messy, loveable and absolutely himself.
If your little ones have not met Ruggi yet, I think they are going to get along just fine.