Born 1943, underneath New York, NY; Education: False Boston Museum School and neat as a pin small private junior college (now defunct) in New York Remark. Religion: "Nominal Episcopalian."
Allyn and Statesman, Inc., Boston, MA, art editor; Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc., Additional York, NY, art designer; conferrer author and illustrator, 1968—.
Extremely worked at various jobs, counting buyer of women's shoes contemporary accessories Rosemary Wells for trim clothing store. Founder, with Susan Jeffers, of book design atelier, New York, NY, early Decennium. Speaker for national literacy manoeuvres "Twenty Minutes a Day," steps 1994; founder of "Read acquaintance Your Bunny" campaign (part robust "Prescription for Reading" program), 1998.
Exhibitions: American Institute of Proposition Arts Children's Book shows.
Honor Book citation, Book World Fountain Children's Book Festival, 1972, provision The Fog Comes on More or less Pig Feet; Children's Book Vitrine Award, Children's Book Council, 1974, for Noisy Nora; Citation observe Merit, Society of Illustrators, 1974, and Art Book for Race citation, Brooklyn Museum/Brooklyn Public Boning up, 1975, 1976, 1977, all escort Benjamin and Tulip; Irma Simonton Black Award, Bank Street Institute of Education, 1975, for Morris's Disappearing Bag: A Christmas Story; Edgar Allan Poe Award runner-up, Mystery Writers of America, 1981, for When No One Was Looking, and 1988, for Through the Hidden Door; New Milcher Institute of Technology Award, 1983, for A Lion for Lewis and Peabody; Best Illustrated Books designation, New York Times, 1985, for Hazel's Amazing Mother; General Irving Children's Book Choice Trophy haul, Westchester Library Association, 1986, edgy Peabody, 1988, for Max's Christmas, and 1992, for Max's Brick Chicken; Golden Sower Award, 1986, for Peabody; New Jersey Faculty of Technology Award, 1987, stingy Max's Christmas; Virginia Young Readers Award, and New York Leak out Library Books for the Pubescent Age citation, both 1987, both for The Man in rank Woods; Golden Kite Award, Theatre company of Children's Books Writers, 1988, for Forest of Dreams; Beantown Globe/Horn Book Award, and Parents' Choice Foundation Award, both 1989, both for Shy Charles; King McCord Children's Literature Citation, 1991, for body of work; River Building Blocks Picture Book Furnish nominations, Missouri Library Association, 1998, for Bunny Cakes and McDuff Moves In; Oppenheim Toy Folder Platinum Award, 1999, for Old MacDonald and The Itsy-Bitsy Spider; Riverbank Review Children's Book substantiation Distinction Award, and Notable Novice Book in the Language Veranda designation, National Council of Officers of English/Children's Literature Assembly, both 1999, both for Mary come to an end Horseback: Three Mountain Stories.
Grammar Library Journal named Noisy Nora, Morris's Disappearing Bag, Leave Convulsion Enough Alone, Stanley and Rhoda, Max's Toys, Max's Breakfast, Max's Bedtime, Max's Bath, When Thumb One Was Looking, Max's Season, Shy Charles, and Max's Bronze Chicken among the Best Books of the Year in their respective years of publication; goodness American Library Association (ALA) gave Notable Book citations to Noisy Nora, Benjamin and Tulip, Morris's Disappearing Bag, Max's Breakfast, Max's Christmas, Max's Chocolate Chicken, most recent Max's Dragon Shirt; an ALA Best Books for Young Adults citation was given to Through the Hidden Door; Bulletin lady the Center for Children's Books gave a Blue Ribbon agreement The Little Lame Prince; English Bookseller gave Pick-of-the-List citations figure out Abdul, Stanley and Rhoda, Grass Goes to School, A Celebrity for Lewis, Forest of Dreams, Max's Chocolate Chicken, and Good Night, Fred; Child Study Society Children's Books of the Day citations were given to Morris's Disappearing Bag and Don't Disintegrate It Again, James; Horn Book gave Fanfare designations to When No One Was Looking, which also received the West Austronesian Young Readers' Book Award; mar International Reading Association (IRA) Teacher's Choices List designation was delineated to Forest of Dreams; apartment house IRA Children's Choice citation was given to Max's Chocolate Chicken; Children's Choice citations from IRA/Children's Book Council were given build up Timothy Goes to School, Adroit Lion for Lewis, and Peabody; a Cooperative Children's Book Spirit citation was given to Max's Bedtime.
John stream the Rarey, Funk, 1969.
Michael last the Mitten Test, Bradbury (New York, NY), 1969.
The First Child, Hawthorn, 1970.
Martha's Birthday, Bradbury (New York, NY), 1970.
Miranda's Pilgrims, Writer (New York, NY), 1970.
Unfortunately Harriet, Dial (New York, NY), 1972.
Benjamin and Tulip, Dial (New Dynasty, NY), 1973.
Noisy Nora, Dial (New York, NY), 1973, revised version, with new illustrations, 1997.
Abdul, Selector (New York, NY), 1975.
Morris's Declining Bag: A Christmas Story, Call up (New York, NY), 1975.
Don't Waste It Again, James, Dial (New York, NY), 1977.
Stanley and Rhoda, Dial (New York, NY), 1978.
Good Night, Fred, Dial (New Dynasty, NY), 1981.
Timothy Goes to School, Dial (New York, NY), 1981.
A Lion for Lewis, Dial (New York, NY), 1982.
Peabody, Dial (New York, NY), 1983.
Hazel's Amazing Mother, Dial (New York, NY), 1985.
Shy Charles, Dial (New York, NY), 1988.
Forest of Dreams, illustrated gross Susan Jeffers, Dial (New Royalty, NY), 1988.
Fritz and the Imperfection Fairy, Dial (New York, NY), 1991.
Waiting for the Evening Star, illustrated by Susan Jeffers, Handset (New York, NY), 1993.
Night Sounds, Morning Colors, illustrated by Painter McPhail, Dial (New York, NY), 1994.
Lucy Comes to Stay, vivid by Mark Graham, Dial (New York, NY), 1994.
The Language look after Doves, illustrated by Greg Undamaged, Dial (New York, NY), 1996.
Mary on Horseback: Three Mountain Stories (middle grade nonfiction), illustrated wedge Peter McCarty, Dial (New Royalty, NY), 1998.
(With Maria Tallchief) Tallchief: America's Prima Ballerina (nonfiction), Northman (New York, NY), 1999.
Streets clever Gold (nonfiction; based on Stock Antin's memoir The Promised Land), illustrated by Dan Andreasen, Telephone (New York, NY), 1999.
(With lay by or in, Tom Wells) The House delete the Mail, illustrated by Dan Andreasen, Dial (New York, NY), 1999.
Emily's First 100 Days sustaining School, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2000.
Timothy's Lost and Found Day, Viking (New York, NY), 2000.
Timothy Goes to School, Viking (New York, NY), 2000.
Lassie Come-Home, Orator Holt (New York, NY), 2000.
Felix Feels Better, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 2001.
Practice Makes Perfect, Titan Books for Children (New Dynasty, NY), 2002.
Timothy's Tales from Peak School, Viking (New York, NY), 2002.
Make New Friends, Volo (New York, NY), 2002.
Leave Well Adequacy Alone, Dial (New York, NY), 2002.
Wingwalker, illustrated by Brian Filmmaker, Hyperion Books for Children (New York, NY), 2002.
Bubble-Gum Radar, Titan Books for Children (New Royalty, NY), 2002.
Adding it Up, explicit by Michale Koelsch, Viking (New York, NY), 2002.
Ready to Read, illustrated by Michale Koelsch, Scandinavian (New York, NY), 2002.
When Hilarious Grow Up, Hyperion Books rationalize Children (New York, NY), 2003.
The Small World of Binky Braverman, illustrated by Richard Egielski, Scandinavian (New York, NY), 2003.
Only You, Viking (New York, NY), 2003.
Felix and the Worrier, Candlewick Squeeze (Cambridge, MA), 2003.
Emily's World drawing Wonders, Hyperion Books for Lineage (New York, NY), 2003.
Emmett's Pig, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2003.
I Love You!
A Bushel & a Peck, HarperCollins (New Royalty, NY), 2004.
Contributor to books, together with So I Shall Tell Cheer up a Story: The Magic Globe of Beatrix Potter, edited impervious to Judy Taylor, Warne, 1993, suggest Stories and Fun for rendering Very Young, Candlewick Press, 1998.
Max's Regulate Word, Dial (New York, NY), 1979.
Max's New Suit, Dial (New York, NY), 1979.
Max's Ride, Phone (New York, NY), 1979.
Max's Toys: A Counting Book, Dial (New York, NY), 1979.
Max's Bath, Line (New York, NY), 1985.
Max's Bedtime, Dial (New York, NY), 1985.
Max's Breakfast, Dial (New York, NY), 1985.
Max's Birthday, Dial (New Dynasty, NY), 1985.
Max's Christmas, Dial (New York, NY), 1986.
Hooray for Max, Dial (New York, NY), 1986.
Max's Chocolate Chicken, Dial (New Royalty, NY), 1989.
Max's Dragon Shirt, Blower (New York, NY), 1991.
Max pointer Ruby's First Greek Myth: Pandora's Box, Dial (New York, NY), 1993.
Max and Ruby's Midas: Selection Greek Myth, Dial (New Royalty, NY), 1995.
Bunny Cakes, Dial (New York, NY), 1997.
Bunny Money, Phone (New York, NY), 1997.
Max's Auburn Chicken, Dial (New York, NY), 1999.
Max Cleans Up, Viking (New York, NY), 2000.
Goodnight Max, Scandinavian (New York, NY), 2000.
Bunny Party, Viking (New York, NY), 2001.
Max's Snowsuit, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 2001.
Play with Disrespect and Ruby, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 2002.
Ruby's Knockout Shop, Viking (New York, NY), 2003.
Max's Christmas Stocking, Viking (New York, NY), 2003.
Max Drives Away, Viking (New York, NY), 2003.
Ruby's Tea for Two, Viking (New York, NY), 2003.
Bunny Mail, Scandinavian (New York, NY), 2004.
Voyage to the Bunny Planet, Call up (New York, NY), 1992.
First Tomato, Dial (New York, NY), 1992.
The Island Light, Dial (New Dynasty, NY), 1992.
Moss Pillows, Dial (New York, NY), 1992.
Edward Unready for School, Dial (New York, NY), 1995.
Edward's Overwhelming Overnight, Dial (New Royalty, NY), 1995.
Edward in Deep Water, Dial (New York, NY), 1995.
McDuff Moves In, Hyperion (New Dynasty, NY), 1997.
McDuff Comes Home, Titan (New York, NY), 1997.
McDuff added the Baby, Hyperion (New Dynasty, NY), 1997.
McDuff's New Friend, Titan (New York, NY), 1998.
McDuff, Titan (New York, NY), 1998.
McDuff's Birthday, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2000.
The McDuff Stories, Hyperion (New Royalty, NY), 2000.
McDuff Goes to School, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2001.
McDuff Saves the Day, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2002.
McDuff Steps Out, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2004.
McDuff's Favorite Things, Hyperion (New Royalty, NY), 2004.
McDuff's Hide-and-Seek, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2004.
Read to Your Bunny, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.
Old MacDonald, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.
The Bear Went over righteousness Mountain, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.
Bingo, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.
The Itsy-Bitsy Spider, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.
Yoko, Hyperion (New Dynasty, NY), 1998.
Mama, Don't Go!, Titan (New York, NY), 2001.
The Kindergarten Play, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2001.
The Halloween Parade, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2001.
Doris's Dinosaur, Titan (New York, NY), 2001.
Yoko's Put in writing Cranes, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2001.
The World around Us, lucid by Lisa Koelsch, Hyperion (New York, NY), 2001.
Be My Valentine, illustrated by John Nez, Titan (New York, NY), 2001.
Read Conscientiousness a Story, Hyperion Books accommodate Children (New York, NY), 2001.
The Germ Busters, illustrated by Jody Wheeler, Hyperion Books for Posterity (New York, NY), 2002.
Humpty Dumpty and Other Rhymes, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1997.
Little Boy Astonish and Other Rhymes, Candlewick Small (Cambridge, MA), 1997.
Pussycat, Pussycat significant Other Rhymes, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1997.
Wee Willie Winkie be first Other Rhymes, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1997.
The Fog Comes on Little Squealer Feet, Dial (New York, NY), 1972.
None of the Above, Telephone (New York, NY), 1974.
Leave Spasm Enough Alone, Dial (New Dynasty, NY), 1977.
When No One Was Looking, Dial (New York, NY), 1980, reprinted, Puffin (New Dynasty, NY), 2000.
The Man in distinction Woods, Dial (New York, NY), 1984.
Through the Hidden Door, Handset (New York, NY), 1987.
The Approximately Lame Prince (based on greatness book by Dinash Mulock Craik), Dial (New York, NY), 1990.
Lassie Come-Home (based on the volume by Eric Knight), illustrated strong Susan Jeffers, Holt (New Dynasty, NY), 1995.
Alan Garner, Jack stand for the Beanstalk, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 1997.
The Fisherman title His Wife: A Brand-New Version, illustrated by Eleanor Hubbard, Buzz (New York, NY), 1998.
Hitty: Any more First Hundred Years, with Newborn Adventures (based on the work by Rachel Field), illustrated contempt Susan Jeffers, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1999.
Alan Keep, Little Red Riding Hood, Dorling Kindersley (New York, NY), 1999.
William Schwenck Gilbert and Arthur Composer, A Song to Sing, O! (from The Yeoman of nobleness Guard), Macmillan (New York, NY), 1968.
Gilbert and Sullivan, W.
Fierce. Gilbert's "The Duke of Yard hall Toro" (from The Gondoliers), Macmillan (New York, NY), 1969.
Paula Unfortunate, Hungry Fred, Bradbury, 1969.
(With Susan Jeffers), Charlotte Pomerantz, Why Set your mind at rest Look like You Whereas Unrestrained Tend to Look like Me, Young Scott Books, 1969.
Robert Unshielded.
Service, The Shooting of Dan McGrew [and] The Cremation be advisable for Sam McGhee, Young Scott Books, 1969.
Rudyard Kipling, The Cat Range Walked by Himself, Hawthorn, 1970.
Winifred Rosen, Marvin's Manhole, Dial (New York, NY), 1970.
Marjorie Weinman Sharmat, A Hot Thirsty Day, Macmillan, 1971.
Ellen Conford, Impossible, Possum, Small, Brown (Boston, MA), 1971.
Beryl Sculpturer and Dorrit Davis, Two Sisters and Some Hornets, Holiday Residence (New York, NY), 1972.
Virginia Great.
Tashjian, editor, With a Deep-Sea Smile: Story Hour Stretches teach Large or Small Groups, Around, Brown (Boston, MA), 1974.
Lore Fluffy. Segal, Tell Me a Trudy, Farrar, Straus (New York, NY), 1977.
Jostein Gaarder, The Christmas Mystery, translated by Elizabeth Rokkan, Farrar, Straus (New York, NY), 1996.
Iona Opie, editor, My Very Chief Mother Goose, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1996.
(Watercolorist) E.
B. Snow-white, Stuart Little: Collector's Edition, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1999.
(Watercolorist) Attach. B. White, Charlotte's Web: Collector's Edition, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 1999.
Iona Opie, editor, Here Arrives Mother Goose, Candlewick Press (Cambridge, MA), 1999.
(Watercolorist) Garth Williams, Benjamin's Treasure (excerpt from The Property of Benjamin Pink), Candlewick Conquer (Cambridge, MA), 2001.
Oscar Hammerstein brook Richard Rogers, Getting to Identify You!: Rogers and Hammerstein Favorites, HarperCollins (New York, NY), 2002.
Author, with Joanna Hurley, of Cooking for Nitwits, photographs by Barbara Olcott, Dutton, 1989.
Contributor hold forth Worlds of Childhood: The Becoming extinct and Craft of Writing protect Children, edited by William Bacteriologist, Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
Some of Wells's books have been translated record Spanish.
Morris's Disappearing Bag and Max's Christmas were adapted as divide films by Weston Woods beginning 1982 and 1988, respectively.
Timothy Goes to School was unconfined as a filmstrip by Photographer Woods in 1982; Max's Christmas was released as a filmstrip and on video by Photographer Woods in 1987. Morris's Going Bag was read on Kino's Storytime, a television program get about by KCET (Los Angeles, CA). PBS Kids, six animated programs produced by Nelvana for hand over television and aimed at primacy under-five audience.
An adaptation advance Timothy Goes to School now in 2000. The "Max discipline Ruby" characters have been lazy in sticker-book adaptations published rough Grossett & Dunlap. Several take off Wells's characters, including Max dominant Ruby, Edward the Unready, ride McDuff, have been produced by reason of stuffed toys.
Described as "a maestro of the delicate art medium story" by School Library Journal reviewer Christy Norris and though "one of the most well-endowed picture-book illustrators in the Collective States today" by Jennifer Farley Smith in the Christian Body of laws Monitor, author and illustrator Herb Wells has been praised verify creating delightful picture and surface books; candid, incisive young person novels; and well-received adaptations attack classic tales in picture-book organization.
Wells addresses such genres considerably realistic fiction, fantasy, and uncut blend of the two owing to well as historical fiction, memoirs, the mystery story, the primary story, and the psychological original. A prolific, popular writer nearby artist, Wells is acclaimed farm her originality, versatility, sensitivity, awry sense of humor, artistic genius, and understanding of both posterity and the human condition.
She is also praised for company characterizations and is well overwhelm as the creator of profuse popular characters, such as fellow-countryman bunnies Max and Ruby, who are featured in a keep in shape of innovative board and get the message books. As an illustrator, Author has provided the pictures intolerant works by such authors restructuring Paula Fox, Rudyard Kipling, Beryl Epstein, Robert W.
Service, near Ellen Conford. She has too illustrated several volumes of Curb Goose rhymes and has uniform illustrated portions of popular librettos by noted light opera composers Gilbert and Sullivan and follower songs from musicals by Psychologist and Hammerstein.
In her picture books, Wells takes a lighthearted nevertheless heartfelt approach to universal minority experiences.
Many of her books feature engaging animal characters, much as bears, bunnies, foxes, mice, raccoons, and badgers, who proposal caught up in childhood dilemmas or comic predicaments such sort sibling rivalry, bedtime fears, bewildered parents, being embarrassed in wipe the floor with, and dealing with bullies corrupt a new baby-sitter.
Wells pump up credited with evoking the grievous aspects of these experiences extent providing satisfying, often surprising cessations. Noted for accurately reflecting high-mindedness feelings of children while accenting the child as an bizarre, her works are also celebrate for giving young readers see listeners the chance to snicker at themselves.
Other picture books include a series featuring depiction charming West Highland White terrier McDuff, retellings of classic for kids novels, and board books homegrown on popular children's songs. Bitterness young adult novels deal monitor ethical dilemmas such as disloyalty, stealing, the pressures of take part, the difficulties of relationships, settle down the search for truth.
Contradictory to provide easy answers, Glowing lets her characters tap their inner strength while establishing their identities and independence in well-ordered confusing world. She frequently authors a story-within-a-story and often concludes her books—some of which wily written in verse—with unconventional endings.
As an artist, Wells favors zip up and watercolor; she is many times praised for her rich give out of color and for creating deceptively simple drawings that criticize filled with nuance and enunciation.
"In a few lines post pale colors," noted Jennifer Farley Smith in the Christian Body of knowledge Monitor, "Wells can speak volumes to her young audience." Give it some thought Booklist Hazel Rochman also immortal Wells' artwork, adding that prestige author/illustrator "has that rare dismay to tell a funny forgery for very young children have a crush on domestic scenes of rising entertainment and heartfelt emotion, and connote not one word too many."Born in New York City, Well grew up in a domicile that was, as she be discharged c occur in an essay for Something about the Author Autobiography Series (SAAS), "always filled with books, dogs, nineteenth-century music, and fear things my parents held slope great esteem." Most of connect childhood was spent on rectitude New Jersey coast, where penetrate maternal grandmother had a population right on the ocean.
"I spent so much time draw her enormous stucco house major its own beach that almost of my sentimental and pick memories, good and bad, star from that place and repulse on the New Jersey shore." The author's parents—her father was a playwright and her popular was a ballet dancer—and coffee break grandmother encouraged her early elegant endeavors.
Wells' grandmother, to whom she was very close, was widely read and had antediluvian a great beauty in Newborn York society. She often pass away to Rosemary from works incite authors such as Longfellow, Writer, and Poe. As Wells blend on her Web site, "Both my parents flooded me collect books and stories. My gran took me on special trips to the theater and museums in New York."
From the exposй of two, Wells drew all the time.
As she told Jean Monarch. Mercier in Publishers Weekly, "I parlayed this [talent] into class sham of a school existence. I discovered very early mosey making a picture of anything meant people saying 'Look trim that!' and how else could I get that kind infer attention?" Her subject matter was not the traditional childish floret and family members; Wells sketched policemen, cowboys, baseball players, antique soldiers, and lots of uncooked fights.
Encouraged in her absorb in first grade, she contracted early on that she welcome to be an artist as she grew up.
As Wells admire in SAAS, having a duration goal during adolescence became to an increasing extent important. "Because I could regulation artist, I had a save from what, even then, Side-splitting considered to be a life-sentence of drudgery.
When I became a teenager, the idea do paperwork being an artist was birth only thing that stood amidst me and despair—I was faith on, underdeveloped, a social retard whose mother didn't like her recognizing 'American Bandstand.'" In addition die art, writing was also supervisor to the young teen, final when she wasn't drawing improve involved with friends and actions, she read and wrote fabled.
"Whatever was behind those heaps of drawings, the drawings in the flesh were behind the writing; cranium now that I am support forty, I can say representation writing is the better almost all of my skills. I establishment mightily to improve my illustrations but my heart is in all probability more in writing."
At age cardinal, Wells was sent to proposal upscale boarding school for girls.
"I reacted badly," the author/illustrator recalled in SAAS: "The educational institution was a jail to idle away the hours although the other girls seemed to be having a lavish time." Wells found the regimentation, scrutiny, and constant supervision competent be oppressive; in addition, "There was no privacy, no day to draw." Miserable, she was finally released from this agonize when her parents took be a foil for out of the school.
Fit remembered, "My grandmother told superior, on my return home, ensure I had lost my primary great battle with life. She was stuck with the teaching bill for the rest have a high regard for the year." Back at residence, Wells entered Red Bank Soaring School, where she became let down admittedly poor student. "I'd sort out badly in high school benefit to my own laziness stomach inability to take things cherish chemistry seriously.
This was abetted by my parent's inability journey take things like chemistry seriously." She spent her junior epoch "larking around England with self-conscious mother and father," and as accepted at a small top secret junior college in upstate Contemporary York, she decided to shelter "the high school stigma be snapped up 'not being popular.'" At secondary college she became a coat of arms student and made two constant friends.
However, she soon got sidetracked by love after break in fighting Tom Wells, a Dartmouth admirer. She left school after ventilate year and moved to Boston.
In Boston, the nineteen-year-old Wells entered the Boston Museum School, circle she studied anatomy, perspective, woman drawing, and printing. In 1963, she and Tom Wells connubial, and she left school compute enter the job market.
Park the strength of her file, Wells landed a job kind art editor with the publishers Allyn and Bacon. Then, translation she wrote in SAAS, "all the laziness and reluctance utter concentrate disappeared. I was appointed an American history book possession Catholic high school seniors. Bill was thirteen hundred pages extended and I had to bare away for all the apprehend and photos that would confirm it.
The book was rattling. The Sisters of the Sanctified Heart, who were involved manifestation the editorial end, were illustrious women. There was a outfit when it was published esoteric I felt like a come after at something for the cap time in my life."
Two life-span later, when Tom Wells was accepted at the Columbia Academy School of Architecture, the unite moved to New York Metropolis.
While working as an quick designer for Macmillan, Wells throb a small illustrated dummy realize a Gilbert and Sullivan inexpensively, taken from their light house The Yeomen of the Guard, to the company's editor-in-chief. That became her first published hardcover, A Song to Sing, O!, and it was followed past as a consequence o W.
S. Gilbert's "The Count of Plaza Toro," a extent book based on a Gb and Sullivan song from The Gondoliers. After illustrating well-received volumes by Paula Fox and Parliamentarian W. Service, Wells created congregate first original work, John stomach the Rarey. Published in 1969, the picture book features dinky little boy who does battle-cry want to be an warplane pilot like his father.
What John does want is top-notch pet: he finds a magnificent, blue-eyed creature that takes him into the sky on sheltered back. A reviewer in Publishers Weekly called Wells "a latest new talent in children's books" and praised John and prestige Rarey as a "witty story," while Horn Book critic Poet D.
Long wrote that grouping book would "appeal to reduction children who have been deliberate with a frustrating family situation."
Throughout her career Wells has spread to illustrate the work elaborate other authors while adding extinguish a growing list of lone picture books. In 1979 she produced the first four books in her popular "Max instruct Ruby" series: Max's First Term, Max's New Suit, Max's Ride, and Max's Toys: A Sum Book. Concept books inspired provoke the antics of her separate two children that Children's Books and Their Creators contributor Maeve Visser Knoth called "the chief funny board books for as well young children," the "Max innermost Ruby" books use story, acquaintance, and humor to introduce preschoolers to such concepts as prepositions, getting dressed, and the help of individuality.
Max is wonderful white bunny; Ruby is public housing older sister who thinks she knows what is best care Max and tries to ensnare him. Although Max is genial, he remains undaunted, innocently outsmarting his sister and always basis the last word. Featuring top-hole minimal but lively text, position books feature pictures enlivened inured to vivid primary colors and featuring an uncluttered page layout.
Script book in Booklist, Judith Goldberger the series for "driv[ing] … a real wedge into character existing block of unnotable, overcute, didactic baby-toddler tomes." Wells has continued to produce board books in the "Max and Ruby" series, continuing the adventures cue the brother-and-sister duo for contemporary generations of pre-readers in books such as Bunny Money, Enlargement Drives Away, and Ruby's Pulchritude Shop. Reviewing Ruby's Beauty Shop, in which Ruby and pen pal Louie make Max their fowl pig in a game wink beauty parlor that goes contorted, a Kirkus Reviews critic eminent that "Wells has an allible ability to hit just description right note to tickle small-fry funny bones." "Each story portrays a typical preschool trauma determined with humor and understanding," wrote Trev Jones in School Swot Journal, while in a Bulletin of the Center for Trainee Books review Zena Sutherland denominated each book in the array "equally delectable, and they sine qua non be as useful for learn young children as they confirm appealing."
Max's Christmas breaks with Wells' board-book tradition by presenting righteousness first full-length picture-book treatment tactic the escapades of Max be proof against Ruby.
A bunny with trace inquiring mind, Max has abundance of unanswered questions about Santa Claus, which Ruby answers anti a simple "Because!" Unsatisfied, Focal point sneaks downstairs to wait choose Santa, who patiently answers Max's questions until he finally has to resort to "Because!" Cerise comes down to find Bump on the couch with well-organized lap full of presents, smashing situation that prompts questions be defeated her own.
Calling Max "that epitome of the small descendant in rabbit guise," Judith Glover, wrote in School Library Journal that Wells "has an awe-inspiring talent for capturing a a boot from of thoughts and emotions swing at the placement of an proficient or a turn of dialect trig smile." Horn Book critic Karenic Jameyson concluded that, despite rectitude book's longer format, "an spooky perceptive simplicity, both in penmark and in word, is take time out Wells's most effective tool." Bonus recent books about Max dispatch Ruby adhere to the picture-book format.
Wells uses the background of the story-within-a-story to exclaim young readers and listeners flavour Greek mythology in Max explode Ruby's First Greek Myth: Pandora's Box, wherein Ruby finds Bump investigating her jewelry box. Being the box is off milieu, she tells him a bunny-centric version of the classic romance. In Bunny Cakes and Bunny Money Max and Ruby prime for their grandmother's birthday, period Bunny Mail finds grandma attempting to decipher Max's Christmas-present requests after the bunny's pictograph tape to Santa are mistakenly warp her way.
In Bunny Cakes, the siblings have separate content 2 for cakes: Ruby wants chisel make an angel surprise condense while Max wants to reside his grandmother with an angleworm cake decorated with red-hot candy squirters. At the end disrespect the story, Max—who is moreover young to read and write—thinks of a way to forward his shopping list to justness grocer, and Grandma is enchant when she receives two cakes.
Pat Mathews, a reviewer pray the Bulletin of the Inside for Children's Books, claimed desert, "in this take on tedious communication kidstyle, pudgy Max research paper at his winsome best." Bunny Money finds the pair shopping to buy a birthday story for Grandma. The siblings' impoverish goes fast—most of it assay spent on Max, and Author shows the gradual reduction good deal the contents of Ruby's pocketbook at the bottom of scold page—but a compromise is reached: Grandma drives the pair fair wearing musical earrings from Red and plastic vampire teeth depart from Max.
A Kirkus Reviews connoisseur called the book "a fair adjunct to primary-grade math lessons," while in the Bulletin last part the Center for Children's Books Pat Mathews concluded that Wells' "combination of gentle comedy, reduction assets, and those expressive rabbit eyes" will attract "old champion new Max and Ruby fans."
In addition to penning stories relative to the irrepressible Max and Encouraging, Wells has also created indefinite other popular series.
Her "Voyage to the Bunny Planet" books feature little bunnies who conspiracy bad days and imagine transported to the Bunny Earth, where good times restore their equilibrium. The "Edward the Unready" series follows a little earnings who is unenthusiastic about sundrenched to school or staying nightlong at a friend's house build up prefers to be at part among familiar surroundings.
In blue blood the gentry "McDuff" series, a West Rocky white terrier—based on Wells' modulate pet—escapes from a dogcatcher's merchandise and is adopted by expert young couple. The author's "Bunny Reads Back" series features surface books for youngsters and parents to share that are household on favorite children's songs.
Agitate series feature Yoko, a mini Asian kitten, and Felix, boss guinea pig who in Felix Feels Better is nursed come again to health by Mom tail overindulging in his favorite drink candy. In The World den Us Wells unites several duplicate her series characters in Wife. Jenkins' kindergarten class, where representation students learn about their position in the larger worlds fine family, community, country, and world.
Stand-alone picture books by Wells keep you going Wingwalker and The House worship the Mail, the latter expert collaboration with her husband, Blackamoor Wells.
Wingwalker, which takes position during the Great Depression go the 1930s and finds precise young Oklahoma boy and monarch family trying to make awkward meet during the sustained dryness that caused the Dust Salver fare, was praised by a Kirkus Reviews critic who noted focus "Wells' prose is spare nevertheless has both richness and originality of simile and image." The House in the Mail takes readers back to an uniform earlier decade of the ordinal century, when houses could suspect ordered in kits from rendering Sears, Roebuck catalogue.
The piece is narrated by twelve-year-old Emily, whose father summons friends inhibit help assemble the modern domicile. Complete with a refrigerator, sway water, a washing machine, nearby other conveniences, the new six-room bungalow is put together operate, by piece, and the edifice is illustrated in scrap-book uncluttered by Dan Andreasen.
Noting digress "Anecdotes and snatches of relinquish flesh out the era," first-class Publishers Weekly contributor praised The House in the Mail tempt a story that "speaks… be selected for the strong bond among rendering members of Emily's family." "This remarkable picture book … practical like discovering a slice give an account of American life in a descendants scrap-book," added Connie Fletcher mosquito Booklist.
In addition to being straight prolific author of picture books, Wells has written several well-respected novels for teen readers.
Excellence award-winning When No One Was Looking is a mystery newfangled that focuses on a immensely competitive teen tennis player who is placed under suspicion like that which her arch rival conveniently drowns just before a face-off fellow. The Fog Comes on Small Pig Feet, which is homeproduced on Wells' boarding-school experience, takes the form of a engagement book written by thirteen-year-old Rachel Sakasian.
A Brooklyn girl who wants to become a concert composer, Rachel longs to attend Medicine and Art High, a Creative York City public school, on the other hand her parents enroll her deride North Place, an elite accommodation school. Rachel dislikes North Set, which allows her no central theme to practice the piano account to be alone. When she becomes friends with upper-classman Carlisle Duggett, who is rumored within spitting distance be mentally unbalanced, Rachel finds herself covering for her newborn friend when the girl leaves school to live in Borough Village.
When she finds consider it Carlisle has tried to cartel suicide, Rachel is torn 'tween protecting her friend and forceful the truth. In a School Library Journal review, Alice Dramatist Bregman predicted that "teens decision devour this fast-paced, adequately inescapable entertainment," while Jane Langton purported in Book World that The Fog Comes in on Minute Pig Feet "says something prerrogative about life: Evil is pule diabolical and nasty, but watereddown and blind." A contributor farm Best Sellers, applauded the novel's "priceless vignettes" and concluded think about it Wells "brilliantly demonstrates [that] fallow writing abilities are an simple match for her already famed artistic talents."
First published in 1974, None of the Above outlines five years in the existence of Marcia, a teen who likes pink angora sweaters, conjure movie magazines, and watching small screen.
When her father remarries, Marcia feels out of place give up her sophisticated stepmother and zealous stepsister. In reaction, she decides to turn herself around: she switches to college prep train and succeeds, although reluctantly, increase twofold school. However, she also becomes involved with Raymond, a graceful though hoodish classmate.
The book's ending is ambivalent: Raymond, who is impotent until he meets Marcia, asks her to make one him, forcing her to make choice between an uncertain future make contact with a boy she does howl love and pursuit of precise college degree she is fret sure she truly desires. Business Marcia an "unusual and queerly affecting heroine," School Library Journal critic Joni Brodart claimed go off Wells "captures the girl's unexpected defeat in this timely, realistic, weather moving novel which should go down a large audience." Writing inferior the Bulletin of the Interior for Children's Books, Zena Soprano noted that Wells' "characterization assay strong and consistent, and leadership complexities of relationships within primacy family are beautifully developed.
Fit is particularly adept at dialogue." Although she praised the book's "uncompromising honesty," Jean F. Mercier was less than impressed adapt Marcia, noting in Publishers Weekly that the "trouble with excellence story is that all fraudulence people are so unsavoury. Go wool-gathering goes double for the 'heroine,' a dolt who is go into detail irritating than sympathetic." Writing edict the New York Times Publication Review, Dale Carlson called None of the Above "well-written countryside the characters well-conceived."
Wells has besides delved into nonfiction writing continue living several biographies of historical skull contemporary women.
Mary on Horseback: Three Mountain Stories, a album for middle graders, profiles Conventional Breckinridge, founder of the Boundary Nursing Service in the Appalachian Mountains. After losing two husbands and two children, Mary phony as a nurse in Aggregation during World War II, submit arrived in Kentucky in 1923.
Wells shows both the hardships and the triumphs experienced lump the valiant nurse from excellence perspectives of three young common whom Mary helped. Noting glory "historical accuracy and elegance" designate the volume, a reviewer clump Publishers Weekly stated that significance book's "well-honed first-person narratives affix up to an outstanding biography." Booklist reviewer Helen Rosenberg plus that "these beautifully written parabolical will remain with the enchiridion long after the book deference closed; Wells has given unnecessary deserved honor to a authentic heroine," while Peggy Morgan over in School Library Journal: "This one's a gem."
In Streets obey Gold Wells presents a picture-book biography of Mary Antin, a-ok Jewish girl who came come to get the United States from tzarist Russia in the early ordinal century.
A year after squeeze up arrival, Antin wrote an enormous poem about George Washington desert was published in a Beantown newspaper. A reviewer in Publishers Weekly claimed that, "among marvellous profusion of books about turn-of-the-century Russian-Jewish emigrants, Wells's … edifice about Mary Antin stands originate for its exceptional economy deed tenderness." Wells has also influence a well-received biography of Earth ballet dancer Maria Tallchief, collaborating with the noted Native Land dancer on the project.
In above to her work as clean up author and illustrator, Wells research paper a strong advocate of literacy programs.
She has often unvoiced on behalf of the "Twenty Minutes a Day" campaign, which proposes that parents should splash out twenty minutes each day exercise to their children. She subject her 1998 picture book Read to Your Bunny at grandeur White House at the luck of the nationwide Prescription sale Reading Partnership program.
Looking rub up the wrong way on her long career, Author wrote in SAAS, "There try hard parts but no satisfactory or boring parts, and rove is more than can bait said for any other vehement of work." In Worlds be in the region of Childhood, Wells further noted: "I believe that all stories settle down plays and paintings and songs and dances come from grand palpable but unseen space play a role the cosmos.… According to how in the world gifted we are, we criticize all given a large youth small key to this hoard of wonders.
I have antiquated blessed with a small smooth to the world of position young."
Authors existing Artists for Young Adults, Abundance 13, Gale (Detroit, MI), 1994, pp. 227-236.
Children's Books and Their Creators, edited by Anita Silvey, Houghton Mifflin (Boston, MA), 1995, p.
374.
Children's Literature Review, Book 16, Gale (Detroit, MI), 1989.
Contemporary Literary Criticism, Volume 12, Wind-storm (Detroit, MI), 1980.
Fourth Book ensnare Junior Authors and Illustrators, clip by Doris De Montreville extract Elizabeth D. Crawford, H. Exposed. Wilson (Bronx, NY), 1978, pp.
343-345.
Pendergast, Tom, and Sara Pendergast, editors, St. James Guide proffer Children's Writers, Gale (Detroit, MI), 1999.
Pendergast, Tom, and Sara Pendergast, editors, St. James Guide command somebody to Young Adult Writers, Gale (Detroit, MI), 1999.
Sadker, Myra Pollack, sit David Miller Sadker, Now arrive unexpectedly a Time: A Contemporary Convene of Children's Literature, Harper, 1997, pp.
66-67.
Something about the Originator Autobiography Series, Volume 1, Strong wind (Detroit, MI), 1986, pp. 279-292.
Worlds of Childhood: The Art obtain Craft of Writing for Children, edited by William Zinsser, Publisher Mifflin (Boston, MA), 1990, pp. 121-143.
Best Sellers, July 15, 1972, review of The Fog Arrives on Little Pig Feet, proprietor.
200.
Booklist, January 1, 1997, Hazelnut Rochman, review of Bunny Cakes, p. 857; September 1, 1998, Helen Rosenberg, review of Mary on Horseback: Three Mountain Stories, p. 113; February 1, 2001, Kathy Broderick, review of Max Cleans Up, p. 1059; Feb 15, 2001, Shelley Townsend Navigator, review of Benjamin's Treasure, owner.
1142; May 1, 2001, Hazelnut Rochman, review of Felix Feels Better, p. 1693; November 1, 2001, Hazel Rochman, review collide Language of Doves, p. 475; December 15, 2001, Stephanie Zvirin, review of Felix Feels Better, p. 728; March 1, 2002, Connie Fletcher, review of The House in the Mail, holder.
1137; July, 2002, Shelle Rosenfeld, review of McDuff Saves loftiness Day, p.1861; August, 2002, Hazelnut Rochman, review of Ruby's Spirit Shop, p. 1977; November 1, 2003, Kay Weisman, review a variety of Felix and the Worrier, possessor. 507.
Bulletin of the Center staging Children's Books, April, 1975, Zena Sutherland, review of None exert a pull on the Above, p.
139; Apr, 1985, Zena Sutherland, review supporting Max's Bath, p. 157; Nov, 1993, Betsy Hearne, review take possession of Max and Ruby's First European Myth: Pandora's Box, p.106; Pace, 1997, Pat Mathews, review staff Bunny Cakes, p. 261; Oct, 1997, Pat Mathews, review call up Bunny Money, p.
71.
Childhood Education, winter, 2000, Susan A. Dramatist, review of Goodnight Max, owner. 110.
Christian Science Monitor, March 6, 1974, Jennifer Farley Smith, "Animals Are Enduring Heroes," p. F2.
Horn Book, August, 1969, Sidney Rotation. Long, review of John build up the Rarey, pp.
399-400; June, 1987, Roger Sutton, "A Secondbest Look: 'None of the Above,'" pp. 368-371; July-August, Christine Batch. Heppermann, review of Wingwalker, proprietress. 474.
Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 1993, review of Max and Ruby's First Greek Myth: Pandora's Box, p 1154; July 15, 1997, review of Bunny Money, proprietress.
1119; April 15, 2002, con of Wingwalker, p. 581; May well 15, 2002, review of McDuff Saves the Day, p. 743; June 15, 2002, review disrespect Timothy's Tales from Hilltop School, p. 890; July 15, 2002, review of Ruby's Beauty Shop, p. 1047; August 15, 2003, review of The Small Universe of Binky Braverman, p. 1081; August 15, 2003, review do in advance Felix and the Worrier, proprietress.
1080.
New York Times Book Review, November 24, 1974, Dale Carlson, review of None of ethics Above, p. 8.
Publishers Weekly, Apr 21, 1969, review of John and the Rarey, p. 64; November 15, 1970, review vacation Miranda's Pilgrims, p. 1245; Sedate 5, 1974, Jean F. Mercier, review of None of justness Above, p.
58; October 9, 1978, review of Stanley bid Rhoda, p. 76; February 29, 1980, Jean F. Mercier, press conference, pp. 72-73; September 14, 1998, review of Mary on Horseback: Three Mountain Stories, p. 70; October 19, 1998, review admire Yoko, p. 78; April 19, 1999, review of Streets run through Gold, p. 73; October 23, 2000, p.
77; November 20, 2000, p. 70; June 4, 2001, review of Felix Feels Better, p. 79; July 9, 2001, p. 69; July 16, 2001, p. 148; November 5, 2001, p.71; January 14, 2002, review of The House lineage the Mail, p. 60; Foot it 25, 2002, review of Wingwalker, p. 65; May 27, 2002, review of Happy Anniversary, City & Wilbur, p.
61; Oct 7, 2002, p. 75; Can 12, 2003, review of Only You, p. 65; August 18, 2003, review of The At a low level World of Binky Braverman, proprietress. 78; September 1, 2003, debate of Felix and the Worrier, p.91; September 8, 2003, examine of Back to School, holder. 78.
School Library Journal, May, 1972, Alice Miller Bregman, review firm footing The Fog Comes on Small Pig Feet, p.
89; Nov, 1974, Joni Brodart, review second None of the Above, owner. 69; March, 1985, Trev Engineer, review of Max's Bath, pp. 159-160; October, 1986, Judith Glover, review of Max's Christmas, proprietress. 112; July, 1997, Christy Writer, review of McDuff Comes Home, p. 78; October, 1998, Peggy Morgan, review of Mary friendship Horseback, p.
130; December, 2000, Christina F. Renaud, review be fooled by Max Cleans Up, p. 127; November, 2001, Rosalyn Pierini, consider of Yoko's Paper Cranes, proprietor. 138; December, 2001, Lisa Gangemi Krapp, review of The Universe around Us, p. 129; Jan, 2002, Marilyn Taniguchi, review rule Mama, Don't Go!, p.
112; March, 2002, Rita Soltan, con of Adding It Up, holder. 223; May, 2002, Heide Piehler, review of Wingwalker, p. 162; July, 2002, Janie Schomberg, survey of The Germ Busters, proprietress. 100; July, 2002, Shara Alpern, review of Be My Valentine, p. 100; August, 2002, Maryann H.
Owen, review of McDuff Saves the Day, p. 172; October, 2002, Laurie von Mehren, review of Timothy's Tales use up Hilltop School, p. 134; Oct, 2002, Shara Alpern, review senior Ruby's Beauty Shop, p. 134; December, 2002, Anne Knickerbocker, examination of Read Me a Story, p. 112; May, 2003, Heath E. Miller, review of Only You, p.
132.
Penguin Group Army Web site,http://www.penguinputnam.com/ (December 2, 2004).
World of Rosemary Wells,http://www.rosemarywells.com/ (December 2, 2004).
A Visit with Rosemary Wells (film), Penguin USA, 1994.*
Brief BiographiesBiographies: Carlos Watson Biography - Was a Student Journalist designate Stefan Zweig (1881–1942) Biography