This year's Spring 2013 program, held on Tuesday, March 26, was unique in that it featured two distinct events for two different audiences: One for children, which was free; the other for adults, which was ticketed. Both events featured renowned children's author and illustrator Rosemary Wells:

FOR CHILDREN: "Story Time with Rosemary Wells"

Because of Rosemary Wells's particular appeal for children, a completely separate, special "Story Time with Rosemary Wells" specifically intended for children was held from 4-5 pm in Barton College's Hackney Library prior to the adult book signing/dinner.

Wells read one of her latest books, Max and Ruby's Treasure Hunt, to well over 100 children and parents/grandparents present. Attendance was free at the "Story Time" event. During "Story Time," copies of Wells's books were available for the children or their parent/guardian to purchase, and the author signed books and had some good one-on-one time with the children as well.

FOR ADULTS: Book Signing/Wine Reception & Dinner/Program

The traditional adult program was held in Barton College’s Hardy Alumni Hall. The event began with a wine reception and book signing at 6 pm, followed by dinner and the program at 7:00 pm. Copies of Wells’s books were available for purchase at the adult book signing as well. The adult program was a ticketed event with some 100 attendees.

Wells’s career as a multi-award winning author and illustrator spans over 40 years and more than 150 books, so naming her best-loved characters is an almost impossible feat, but certainly the list would include bunny Max and his bossy older sister Ruby; Yoko, the Japanese kitten; and Noisy Nora the mouse, among many others. Several characters reappear in various series, including the Max and Ruby series, the Yoko and Friends School Days series, the Voyage to the Bunny Planet series, and others. Among numerous other awards, many of Wells’s books have received the American Library Association’s (ALA) Notable Book citations or American Bookseller “Pick of the Lists” citations, or have been named among School Library Journal’s best books of the year.

In addition to her self-illustrated books, Wells has authored books illustrated by others, including the series illustrated by collaborator Susan Jeffers about the beloved McDuff, the West Highland terrier inspired by Wells’s own pet, and Wingwalker, a book for slightly older readers that was illustrated by Brian Selznick. Conversely, she has illustrated a number of books written by other notable children’s authors, including Paula Fox, Robert W. Service, and Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. She has also adapted and illustrated classic folktales in picture book form.

Although she is perhaps best-known for her toddler board books and children’s picture books, Wells has also written and won acclaim for several young adult novels. In addition, she has ventured into nonfiction books for children and young adults, including several biographies of historical as well as contemporary women, among others.

Wells’s picture books for children often include anthropomorphic animals as characters. Her inspiration for themes has often come from observing her own children’s behavior or from her own experiences as a youth. According to Gerard J. Senick, common themes explored in her work include “childhood dilemmas or comic predicaments such as sibling rivalry, bedtime fears, inattentive parents, being embarrassed in class, and dealing with bullies or a new baby-sitter” (Something About The Author, vol. 114, p. 227). Wells “is often celebrated for capturing the essence of child behavior in books that are eloquent, witty, and affirming,” asserts Senick. “[She] is generally regarded as a gifted author/artist who seamlessly combines humor and panache in books that appeal to, and have a devoted following among, both children and adults” (p. 227).

A later entry about Wells in Something About the Author notes that “[a]s an artist, Wells favors line and watercolor; she is often praised for her rich use of color and for creating deceptively simple drawings that are filled with nuance and expression” (vol. 156, p. 189).

Born in New York City but raised on the New Jersey shore, Wells began drawing at the age of two. As she says on her web site: “Very early on I knew I would be an artist one day. Drawing and painting was what I loved to do best in the world. Not until I was in my twenties did I think I would be a writer too.”

Wells entered the Boston Museum School to study art at the age of nineteen and then left art school shortly thereafter for gainful employment after marrying husband Tom Wells. She became an art editor and designer, first with textbook publisher Allyn and Bacon in Boston, and then, following a move to New York City, with the children’s books division of Macmillan. After hearing a song from a Gilbert and Sullivan opera, she made an illustrated dummy of the lyrics and gave it to Macmillan editor-in-chief Susan Hirschman, who after viewing it, proclaimed her not just an art editor but a Macmillan author (Contemporary Authors: New Revision Series, vol. 120, p. 422). The dummy became her first published book, A Song to Sing, O! (Macmillan, 1969).

And the rest is history (and quite a long one, at that). But Wells is not resting on her laurels. To the contrary, in addition to documenting the latest of Max and Ruby's latest exploits, she has recently completed two more children’s books : Following Grandfather, a story about Jenny, a young mouse who is grieving over the death of her beloved Grandfather (written by Wells and illustrated by Christopher Denise, it was published in September 2012); and Ivy Takes Care (written by Wells and illustrated by Jim LaMarche, it was released in February 2013).

Not only is she a well-renowned author and illustrator, Rosemary Wells is also a passionate advocate of literacy programs. She has supported the “Twenty Minutes a Day” campaign, which advocates parents’ reading to their children twenty minutes each day. She also read her 1998 book Read to Your Bunny at the opening reception for the nationwide Prescription for Reading Partnership program (Something About the Author, Vol. 156, p. 192). Her web site has a special “Read to Your Bunny” section with speeches and downloadable resources in support of children’s literacy.

Wells currently resides in Connecticut.

See images from both the children's and adult events on our Facebook page.