Ruth (Sue) B. Bottigheimer specializes in European fairy tales and British children’s literature, and has been recognized as one of America’s foremost Grimm scholars. Her research interests also include the history of illustration and the religious socialization of children through children's Bibles. Her book, Fairy Tales: A New History, challenges the commonly accepted notion that fairy tales developed among illiterate country folk, but instead came to life in cities.  Her current research involves the Arabian Nights.