April 18, 2025

My Favorite Shapes

My favorite shapes Ruth comic

By the lovely Ruth Chan.


Ruth Chan is an illustrator who lives in Brooklyn with her husband, daughter and dog. She writes and illustrates children’s books. For Cup of Jo, Ruth has also written about traveling, pets, grief, OCD, pregnancy and her favorite band. And here’s her beauty uniform!

P.S. Questions I find myself asking since having a baby and every movie night.

Tags: comics

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Comments

25 comments
Lori W

So so cute! My little dachshund was my favorite ball. Lost him a couple months ago. Miss my sweet little ball!

Jude

How sweet, cozy and wistful all at once. Love it.

Gretchen

The toddler ball is the absolute sweetest <3

Sara

This made me want to cry in the sweetest way.

Michelle

When my daughter was almost two, her favorite word was “ball”. She’s 9 today, and still my “ball”. WHEN YOU WERE ALMOST TWO When you were almost two, you called every sphere a ball. Your brother had a Halloween balloon. It was white with black ghost eyes. You sat on your stool, denting its air. Then you floated it to me. Craning your neck to follow it, announcing, “Baaaallll”, at the same slow speed it flew. Once by mistake, Skittles bounced out of their noisy package onto the floor, rolling like marbles. The sound beckoned you, then their rainbow colors. You pinched one between your fingers. The sweet sugary smell. With a green-stained tongue, you begged, “Ball? Peeeeesssss!” At the grocery store, there were many balls: oranges, potatoes, melons, grapes, onions. As we exited, you pointed for the last time. The jackpot of spheres: lined glass jars filled with gum. You exclaimed, delighted at your discovery, “Ball! Ball! Ball!” My favorite was the day we searched for birds in the sky, but instead you found the sun and questioned with surprise and wonder at its blurred rounded shape, “Ball?” Honey, when you were almost two, you convinced me that if some fairy made me choose just a few words for the rest of my life, ball would be one of them. Heck, the whole earth is a sphere. With my word I would point to you, my floating air, delicious rainbow, hearty food, warm sunshine. My world. I’d open my round eyes and round mouth, hoping all the love inside would tumble out. Then deep, steady, slowly, so that you’d remember it for ages, I’d whisper in your ear, Ball.

Leigh-Anne

This is beautiful! Reminds me of the poem “You Begin” by Margaret Atwood. Thank you for sharing.

Katy

This is really beautiful Michelle!

Katherine

how lovely is this?!

Katy

Oh this is so gorgeous!

Capucine

Oh this brought a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes! Beautiful poem! Thank you! My daughter also had ball for her first word… now she’s almost 11 and off to middle school next year… 💗

Isa

“My Favorite Shapes” is also the name of a Julio Torres HBO special and I REALLY recommend even just watching the trailer. Nobody is like Julio!

Franny

Love this so much, especially the little kid squat ball!

ramona

I know,…right!!?? 🌝😴🥰

Lou

I love when our dog curls up in a ball! We call it “cinnamon bunning”

Emily

Stealing this, Lou! So so good.

Kiki

Oh my goodness this is so funny and sweet! I would love to purchase a print of this.

Becky

Ah, mine too.

Ashleigh

I love this

Caroline

Someone’s gotta tell me where I can get a print of this.

Anon

I am HEAVILY pregnant and having a hard day with how I see my body (so guilt-inducing, to be nitpicking the thing you are most grateful for!). This comic made me laugh out loud, and then wrap my arms around my own “ball” with joy. Thank you!

Jae

I have stretch marks and a ‘baggy’ tummy after having my gorgeous son and I still think I look great! You do too! If I ever do catch myself starting to fret over a body image thing, I ask myself “would a cave woman give a sh!t about this?”. If the answer is no, I realise those thoughts are societal not biological and I move on with my day. Congratulations on your bubba!

Susie

“Would a cave woman care?” = my new motto!! Thank you Jae

Bonnie

Ahhh so comforting ❤️ lovely! Thank you for sharing your gift with us!

Emily O

*holds my round cup of coffee* *looks at my bumpin booty* *nods in agreement*

Mia

Heck yeah!

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