FAQ
About the Author
Catherine M. Martell is a children’s picture-book author based in Tucson, Arizona, and the creator of the Runty Ralph series. A retired schoolteacher and lifelong animal lover, she has worked with dogs as a junior show-dog handler, breeder, behaviorist, rescuer, and pet sitter. She also owns and operates Buddy’s Retrievers, a pet-sitting business.
The series grew from Catherine’s real-life bond with Runty Ralph, a Maltipoo whose difficult birth and survival inspired the first book. Catherine also writes the books in memory of Buddy, her Golden Retriever. The stories turn these experiences into child-friendly adventures about perseverance, friendship, and never giving up.
Catherine M. Martell, M.Ed., is a children’s book author, a former schoolteacher and a lifelong animal lover based in Tucson, Arizona. Her working life has also consisted of medical and business ventures, and today she owns and operates Buddy’s Retrievers, her own pet-sitting business, named for the Golden Retriever who helped her through her recovery from a serious accident. Her experience with dogs runs through every stage of her life: junior show dog handler, breeder, behaviorist, more than a decade as a pet sitter, and a steady stream of rescues that began in college. That hands-on understanding is what gives the Runty Ralph books their emotional truth. The bond between a child and a dog is written by someone who has lived it since the crib.
You can follow Catherine Martell and Runty Ralph on Facebook and Instagram for updates on new books, events, and appearances.
Catherine holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) and worked as a schoolteacher before retiring from the classroom. Her experience in education informs her work as a children’s author.
Before and alongside her writing, Catherine worked as a schoolteacher and built a long professional history with animals. Her experience includes junior show-dog handling, breeding, dog behavior work, animal rescue, and more than a decade of pet sitting. She continues to own and operate Buddy’s Retrievers.
Yes. Catherine owns and operates Buddy’s Retrievers, her pet-sitting business. Her lifelong experience with dogs and other rescued animals is a central influence on the Runty Ralph stories.
Catherine Martell is a kids book author who writes the Runty Ralph series while also owning and operating Buddy’s Retrievers, her pet-sitting business in Tucson, Arizona. A retired schoolteacher with a lifelong passion for animals, Catherine draws on her experience in education and animal care to create stories that inspire children to embrace courage, kindness, and perseverance.
About the Books
The Runty Ralph series follows a small Maltipoo puppy as he faces challenges, makes friends, and learns to believe in himself. Inspired by the real dog, the illustrated picture books explore courage, resilience, kindness, inclusion, and the bond between children and animals.
The Runty Ralph books are illustrated picture books for young children, with the intended audience currently listed as ages 2–7. Their short, read-aloud-friendly format also suits adults sharing stories with children.
The series starts with Runty Ralph – How I Got My Name, which introduces Runty Ralph’s origin story, followed by Runty Ralph Visits The Big Dogs, where he faces a new adventure with his friend Grace.
Yes, Runty Ralph is based on Catherine Martell’s real dog, who was born stillborn and unexpectedly survived. The books are inspired by his real journey, adapted into story form for children.
Grace is Runty Ralph’s friend in Runty Ralph: Visits The Big Dogs. The third story introduces a new friend named Buddy. Other dogs also appear across the series.
The stories encourage children to persevere, show kindness, include others, build self-belief, and stand up for themselves. The third story focuses particularly on bullying and shows that courage can mean staying calm, telling someone to stop, and asking a trusted person for help.
Runty Ralph: How I Got My Name has been listed as an Amazon Best Seller in the Children’s Latin America Fiction category. This is a category-specific retailer distinction rather than a separate literary award.
The Runty Ralph books are available on Catherine Martell’s official website, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, in print and other formats where available. Available titles and formats vary by retailer and region, so check the relevant listing for current options.
The announced third story centers on a bullying incident at the dog park. When other dogs mock Runty Ralph for his size and name, he practices staying calm, speaking up, and seeking help from his family and a new friend. The story emphasizes courage, kindness, resilience, and standing up for yourself.
Yes. The press kit describes the books as short, illustrated picture books with simple, emotionally direct language intended for young children. Their themes friendship, perseverance, inclusion, and kindness, can also prompt conversations between children and the adults reading with them.
