Canada’s rich literary landscape features authors of diverse backgrounds. It also has a vibrant reading culture among the young people, with juvenile and young adult titles making up 41% of book sales and 52% of library loans in 2022, based on BookNet stats. The children’s genre became a natural choice for paediatrician Mitali Banerjee Ruths, who came to Sportira to create a custom jersey that would help promote the launch of her book, The Inside Scouts.
This book series is about the adventures of Viv and Sanjay, who can enter animals’ bodies using their “shrink suits” to help treat their ailments. Released under Scholastic’s Acorn early reader line, The Inside Scouts aims to teach kids about anatomy through short stories showing body parts that people and animals share.
Dr. Ruths: Storyteller at Heart
Ruths, who lives in Montreal, is of Indian parentage and was born in New York. She grew up in Houston, Texas, and wanted to be an astronaut as a child because her father worked as a NASA engineer. Her interest later shifted to medicine amid space shuttle disasters. However, she mentioned in interviews that “the hunt for a good story” was always ingrained in her as a child. Reading about and listening to others’ experiences became a source of solace and inspiration since she was in grade school until she became a doctor.
In 2010, Ruths moved to Canada, where she resides with her husband, three children and a pet dog named Tux. Being stuck indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted her to pursue her love for storytelling, starting with her debut picture book, Archie Celebrates Diwali (2021). Soon after she released her first book series with Scholastic, The Party Diaries (2023).
Book Launch Promotion
As part of The Inside Scouts’ launch, Ruths chose Sportira to produce kids’ shirts featuring the cover image of book #1, Help the Kind Lion. The front design depicts the scouts with Ruslan the lion, who they discover has a leaky heart valve. Our art team used the book’s colours and illustrations to design a product that could be an extension of the story.
This collaboration is a fresh example of the broad range of our partners in customized printed apparel. Clients can choose from a wide selection of tops, including polos, jerseys, jackets, sweatshirts and hoodies. Our sublimation printing process allows for a quick turnaround time. Once you place an order, you can expect a digital mock-up from us within 24 to 72 hours. Production runs for 3-4 weeks as soon as you approve our proof. You can contact us for volume pricing.
Touring Author-Doc
Dr. Ruths has been touring Canada and the US to promote her books. You can invite her to hold a read-aloud in your area. Get in touch with her through Facebook, Instagram or her website.
Learn more about creating custom products for your next corporate event here.