Peggy Rathmann's first children's book, 'Ruby the Copycat', turned an embarrassing personal incident into a well-received story and earned the"most promising new author"distinction in the 1991 Cuffies Awards. Her second book, 'Good Night, Gorilla', was an American Library Association Notable Children's Book and her third title, 'Officer Buckle and Gloria', allowed Rathmann to walk off with the Caldecott Medal in 1996.