Children's book by Stuckeman professor illustrates the power of perspective

Editor's note: Ryan Russell passed peacefully at home among his family on Oct. 23, 2023.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A Penn State graphic design professor has seen his longtime dream of being a published author become a reality with the upcoming release of his children's book that focuses on the power of perspective.

“My Annoying, Irritating, Always-in-the-way Shadow” by Ryan Russell, associate professor of graphic design in the College of Arts and Architecture's Stuckeman School, has been published by Harriman House and will be released on Dec. 12.

Russell first had the idea for the book back in 2006 when he was in graduate school at Penn State, said his wife, Samantha Russell.

“His idea was for the book to be about a child who has a shadow and that you would read the book from the child's point of view and then at the end of the story, you'd flip the book around and read it from the shadow's point of view,” she said.

Life, however, got in the way back then with Ryan joining the graphic design faculty at Penn State shortly after earning his master's degree. He married Samantha in 2011, and together they launched, and eventually sold, a successful website design platform for financial service industry members. He and his wife also would welcome three children while he was teaching and mentoring graphic design students at Penn State and continuing to produce compelling studio work.

Ryan's attention turned back to the book in April 2022, however, when he received a tragic diagnosis of an aggressive form of brain cancer.

“He had to take a leave of absence from teaching to pursue treatment, so he figured 'OK, I have more time to think about this book,'” said Samantha. “He would work on it during long plane rides to Germany [where he was receiving immunotherapy treatments] or when he'd be at the hospital getting radiation or chemo infusions.”

While the general idea of the book would remain the same as his original outline, Ryan was inspired by his life experiences — and his cancer diagnosis — to focus the message of the book on the power of perspective. Ryan both wrote and illustrated the book, using bold colors and interesting graphics to convey its powerful message.

“Ryan is always telling our kids, 'It's not what happens to you, it's how you react to it, and that is what is going to shape your worldview and how you perceive life.' It is that message that he wants to get across in this book,” said Samantha.

“My Annoying, Irritating, Always-in-the-way Shadow” tells the story of Gracie, a young girl who cannot escape her pesky shadow, which follows her everywhere. Despite Gracie's attempts to elude it — by running away, hiding, even by dressing in disguises — her shadow remains defiantly by her side. Finally, Gracie has an idea to break free of her shadow once and for all, and she turns off the lights.

At this point, the reader is instructed to turn the book upside down and a second story about the same experience emerges, this one from the shadow's point of view. Gracie's shadow isn't trying to be a pest; she simply wants to help protect Gracie and keep her safe.

“We're always told that books can be a mirror or a window to readers, that they can make readers reflect on their own experiences or they can give readers insight into how someone else experiences life,” explained Samantha. “This book is unique in that it gives you two perspectives and that it acts as both a mirror and a window for those who read it.”

Samantha noted that everyone is going to experience hardship in life, because it's part of the human experience.

“But if you focus on the negative and you live in fear, you are missing out on all the beauty and opportunity that also exists,” she said. “And that is an important and impactful message to spread.”

The family learned that Ryan's book was available for pre-order the same week they decided to call in hospice to manage his care.

“Someone from Harriman House [the publisher] reached out to us and said, 'We'll work with you to get this out and we'll publish 500 copies that people can pre-order,” said Samantha.

She took to social media to share the news about her husband's health but also to spread the word about his book. She said her children have a map on the wall and will put a pin in every location where the book is purchased.

“The post just went completely viral. People from all over the world have been ordering the book — on every continent at this point, except Antarctica,” she said.

At last count, Samantha said, just about 10,000 copies of the book have been sold.

For the Russell family, the response to the book and the outpouring of support from so many across the globe has served as a source of positivity during a time of heartbreak.

“There's this sense of tragic loss and sadness knowing that Ryan's time on Earth with us is coming to an end; but then, at the same time, having people from around the world buoying us up in support and lifting our spirits, just reminds us of the great impact any one of us can have,” said Samantha. “All of these people who are going to be reading this book to their children in bedrooms all over the world as they tuck them in at night … and my husband's name will be on the book and his legacy will live on it … it gives me chills. I'm just so proud of him.”

Learn more about Ryan's battle with brain cancer on his blog, “My Grey Matters.”