Rosemary Wells Explained

Rosemary Wells
Birth Date:29 January 1943
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Alma Mater:Boston Museum School[1]
Occupation:Freelance author and illustrator
Yearsactive:1968–present
Spouse:[2] [3]
Children:Victoria, Marguerite[4]

Rosemary Wells (born January 29, 1943) is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter as part of PBS Kids on PBS.

Background & Career

Wells was born in New York City and raised in Red Bank, New Jersey. Her mother was a ballerina with the Ballet Russe de Monte-Carlo and her father was a playwright. She began drawing at age two. Wells' family encouraged her artistic talents and love of stories. "Reading stories aloud was as much a part of my childhood as the air I breathed," she recalled.[5] [6]

When Wells was nineteen, she attended the Boston Museum School, where she studied illustration. Before becoming an author and illustrator, Wells worked as an art editor for Allyn and Bacon, Inc and as an art designer for Macmillan Publishing.

In 1963, she married architect Thomas Moore Wells, with whom she has two daughters.

In 1968, Wells published her first book, an illustrated version of Gilbert and Sullivan’s A Song to Sing, O!. She has since published more than 60 books in her 30+ year career. [7] [8] [9]

A common theme in Rosemary Wells' stories is the use of animal characters rather than humans. In the children's journal Stone Soup, Wells explained that she writes using animals because it allows her to address sophisticated, controversial topics in ways children can understand and adults can accept. For example, Yoko tackles the thorny topic of racism. It is about a young Japanese kitten who, in the beginning, is ostracized when she brings in sushi for her school lunch. At the story's conclusion, she gains acceptance by hosting a school luncheon where everyone brings in food native to their family from around the world. Many of the animal characters, such as those in Max & Ruby, interact with one another much as humans would, while others such as McDuff – a West Highland Terrier – take on a more realistic role as the adopted pet of a young couple.[10]

Works

Children's books

1971–1973Library of Congress catalog records imply that these six are children's picture books.
Later
Musicals

Other books

Awards and recognition

Rosemary Wells's books have received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Horn Book Magazine. She has been nominated for numerous awards, such as the Edgar Allan Poe Award, the Black-Eyed Susan Award, the Red Clover Award, and the Beehive Award. She has won the following:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rosemary Wells - Macmillan Speakers Bureau . December 10, 2009.
  2. Wells . Rosemary . 2016 . A Short Biography of Rosemary Wells 2016 . June 19, 2018.
  3. News: . 2001-01-19 . Paid Notice: Deaths WELLS, THOMAS MOORE . The New York Times . 2023-09-23.
  4. Web site: Rosemary Wells - Penguin Random House . The Kushner-Locke Company . December 10, 2009.
  5. Web site: Rosemary Wells . 2023-10-04 . Open Road Media . en.
  6. Web site: Meythaler . Amy . 2011-02-16 . Rosemary Wells – Mackin Community . 2023-10-04 . en-US.
  7. Web site: Collection: Rosemary Wells Papers UConn Archives & Special Collections ArchivesSpace. 2021-07-28. archivessearch.lib.uconn.edu.
  8. Web site: Rosemary Wells - Children's Author and Illustrator. 2021-07-28. Macmillan Speakers Bureau. en-US.
  9. Web site: About. 2021-07-28. rosemarywells. en.
  10. Web site: Parkway. Center for the Collaborative Classroom 1001 Marina Village. Alameda. Suite 110. 2013-08-06. Interview with Rosemary Wells. 2021-08-02. Center for the Collaborative Classroom.
  11. Web site: Awards for Rosemary Wells - FictionDB. 2021-08-01. www.fictiondb.com.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Rosemary Wells".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.