Tucson Festival of Books

Animal Tales of Rescue, Courage & Connection


These compelling tales of animals at risk place animals in situations of risk and courage. Katherine Applegate introduces Ruby, the youngest elephant in an animal sanctuary, while Jasmine Warga shares a friendship between a cheetah and a rescue dog and Michael Sampson tells the tale of a dog who loses his family and journeys to find his place.


Panelists
Katherine Applegate

Katherine Applegate is the Newbery Medal–winning and New York Times bestselling author of beloved books for young readers, including “The One and Only” series, the “Endling” trilogy, “Crenshaw,” “Wishtree,” the “Roscoe Riley Rules” chapter books, and the “Animorphs” series....

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Michael Sampson

Michael Sampson is a professor of literacy at St. John’s University and an award-winning author known for picture books such as “Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3,” “Armadillo Antics,” and “Rainbow Bear....

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Jasmine Warga

Jasmine Warga is the No.1 New York Times bestselling author of "The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan," "Claiming," "A Rover’s Story," "The Shape of Thunder," and "A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall....

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Books:
The Littlest Elephant
A One and Only Ruby Story
Katherine Applegate
Children
HarperCollins Publishers
March 2026
ISBN 9780063357785
32 pages
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The One and Only Ruby
Katherine Applegate
Teen
HarperCollins Publishers
May 2025
ISBN 9780063080096
240 pages
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Jojo the Tornado Dog
A Tale of Rescue, Courage, and Family (Based on a True Story)
Michael Sampson
Children
Brown Books Publishing Group
April 2026
ISBN 9781612547220
112 pages
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The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan
Jasmine Warga
Children
Balzer + Bray
March 2026
ISBN 9781250387189
240 pages
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