I came to Rosemary Wells' large body of work unexpectedly. Before starting Through the Magic Door, and while our children were quite young, I focused on the quality of the writing and the effectiveness of the illustrations of books when purchasing books for them. I tended to avoid those authors with big marketing dollars behind them and in fact often did not focus on who wrote the book at all. This approach has some merits and some drawbacks. It also opens you up to some surprises. In this case, it was quite a while before I finally cottoned on to the fact that three quite different groups of books which our children enjoyed (a couple of young adult titles, the McDuff series, and some children's board books) were actually all by the same author. I was surprised at the time of the discovery, but even in hindsight, it still seems pretty surprising.
Rosemary Wells was born January 29, 1943 in New York and has pretty much followed a career in the book business since the beginning; though starting from one direction and arriving in another. She studied art at the Museum School in Boston, but was dissatisfied with what and how she was being taught and left school before finishing her studies. She married and started a career as a book designer for Allyn and Bacon. When her husband's studies took him to New York she joined Macmillan publishing company in their children's book division.
It was while with Macmillan that Rosemary Wells produced her first book, A Song to Sing, O!, an illustrated version of one of the songs from the Gilbert and Sullivan opera entitled The Yeoman of the Guard. As she recalls the story, she heard the song, sketched out the lyrics, bound up the pages and presented the book to the editor in chief who read the book, sang the song, then invited other editors in to have a good old sing-along of various Gilbert and Sullivan songs at the end of which she welcomed Wells as a new Macmillan author rather than just an art editor.
You have got to hand it to Gilbert and Sullivan - they sure wrote catchy tunes that seem to stick in people's heads and then are shared with the world at the strangest of times. Years ago Sally's uncle passed away and the family was all gathered in Columbia, South Carolina for the memorial church service. From there we were to drive caravan-style to a small town in western South Carolina where her uncle was born and raised, so that he might be buried in the same cemetery as his parents. It was all very somber, serious and traditional as one would expect. From the church service, the hearse , the three or four chauffeured limos carrying the immediate family and the caravan of cars with family and friends were escorted to the highway out of town by the police department.
Now all of this was in keeping with a very traditional Southern funeral for a fine gentleman who had grown up in a small South Carolina town, gone to college locally, went off to World War II, returned and taught history at the University of Virginia for his entire career, never married and then retired to Columbia to be near his brother. What it ignores is that Uncle Jim was a bit of a character with a quirky core beneath the traditional exterior.
So, it was not entirely unfitting when we discovered that the chauffeur of our car was an amateur thespian and, in fact, had been an English teacher of Sally's in high school. That connection and familiarity was all the edge he needed to blossom. He had a little bit of that same quirky streak as did Uncle Jim and his answer to the gravity of the occasion was to entertain us with a variety of Gilbert and Sullivan songs, starting with a Modern Major General, all the way from the church to the cemetery - not a short distance. While there were a couple of arched brows and pursed lips at this entirely inappropriate performance, I couldn't help but thinking that Uncle Jim would have been pleased.
Anyway, back to Ms. Wells and Gilbert and Sullivan as the catalyst to her career change. Following the success of her first book, she then illustrated another Gilbert and Sullivan song, "The Duke of Plaza Toro" from The Gondoliers. In fact, she published six books the following year; four of which she illustrated and two of which she wrote and illustrated. In the years following, she has, with only a couple of exceptions, published at least one book every year and usually anywhere from two to half a dozen a year. Rather unusually for someone who started as an illustrator and then began writing, she has been highly flexible through her writing career as to what role she plays in a book. There are some books by others whom she has chosen to illustrate. There are some of her own books which she has written that she has elected to have illustrated by others. And then, of course, there are her own stories she has chosen to illustrate.
Ms. Wells has stated that, while illustrations are important, the foundation of a book is the story and the words. "I am both an artist and a writer, but I am firmly convinced that the story comes first . . . The child may be charmed, intrigued or even inspired by good illustration, but it is the sound of the words and the story that first holds the child's attention."
And, boy, can she make the words ring. Cadence, vernacular, individual verbal tics, she uses all the devices to make her stories sing. What I particularly like about Wells' writing is the knack she has for structuring the story; giving a lot of crisp specific descriptions and tying it up with a reasonably neat ending while at the same time leaving holes for the reader (or listener) to fill in. Many authors' stories are so bare or so overlabored that not much is left to the imagination. Wells' gives you hills and streams, and all the major features, but leaves you the opportunity to fill-in the details.
If you are choosing among Wells' books, don't be misled by her illustrations. She has assessed her writing talents to be greater than her artistic talents and I would agree, but there is more to her illustrations than initially meets the eye: a fact I discovered too late.
I fell into this trap when assessing her picture books when our children were young. Her illustrations don't particularly stand out on their own. They aren't the cartoonish simplicities that adorn many books, but they aren't particularly eye-catching either. Consequently I never dipped into them. It is a shame; our children would have enjoyed them.
Had I looked more closely I would have discovered three things: the whole of the pictures together are more than the sum of the individual parts; Rosemary Wells has a talent for integrating the illustrations more closely to the narrative flow than is common; and Wells has a mischievous eye for details. For example, in Felix Feels Better (one of a series of stories about a guinea pig named Felix), there are a couple of examples in a single illustration. Felix is shown reluctantly entering the doctor's office, his reluctance manifested by his sheltering under his mother's overcoat. On the wall is Dr. Duck's diploma from his alma mater, Universitatus Aquaticus.
Anyway, lots to sample from regardless of the ages of your children. I think you will find pleasure and entertainment in virtually any choice you make.
Picture Books
Adding It Up by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Michael Koelsch |
Be My Valentine by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by John A. Nez |
BIngo written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Bubble-Gum Radar by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Jody Wheeler |
Bunny Cakes written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Bunny Mail written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Bunny Money written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Bunny Party written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Carry Me! written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Doris's Dinosaur by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by John A. Nez |
Emily's First 100 Days of School written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Felix and the Worrier written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Felix Feels Better written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Goodnight Max written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Hazel's Amazing Mother written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Here Comes Mother Goose edited by Iona Archibald Opie, illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
HIde and Seek written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Humpty Dumpty and Other Rhymes written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
I Love You A Bushel & A Peck by Frank Loesser, illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Letters and Sounds by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Michael Koelsch |
Make New Friends by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Jody Wheeler |
Mama, Don't Go! by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Jody Wheeler |
Max & Ruby's Christmas Tree written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max & Ruby's Winter Adventure written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max and Ruby in Pandora's Box written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max and Ruby's Busy Week written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max and Ruby's Midas written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max and Ruby's Show and Tell written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max and Ruby's Snowy Day written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max Cleans Up written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max Counts His Chickens written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max Drives Away written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max's ABC written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max's Bedtime written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max's Birthday written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max's Breakfast written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max's Chocolate Chicken written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max's Dragon Shirt written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max's Easter Surprise written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max's First Word written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max's Halloween written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max's New Suit written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max's Ride written and llustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max's Toys written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max's Valentine written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max's Work of Art written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
McDuff by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Susan Jeffers |
McDuff and the Baby by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Susan Jeffers |
McDuff Comes Home by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Susan Jeffers |
McDuff Goes To School by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Susan Jeffers |
McDuff Moves In by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Susan Jeffers |
McDuff Saves The Day by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Susan Jeffers |
McDuff's Birthday by Rosemary Wells |
McDuff's Christmas by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Susan Jeffers |
McDuff's Favorite Things by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Susan Jeffers |
McDuff's Hide and Seek by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Susan Jeffers |
McDuff's Wild Romp by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Susan Jeffers |
Morris's Disappearing Bag written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Mother Goose's Little Treasures edited by Iona Archibald Opie, illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
My Kindergarten written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
My Very First Mother Goose edited by Iona Archibald Opie, illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Noisy Nora written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Old MacDonald written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Only You written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Practice Makes Perfect by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Jody Wheeler |
Read Me A Story written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Read To Your Bunny by Rosemary Wells |
Read To Your Bunny Very First Library written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Ready To Read by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Michael Koelsch |
Ruby's Beauty Shop written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Ruby's Falling Leaves written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Ruby's Rainy Day written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Ruby's Tea For Two written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Shy Charles written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Streets of Gold by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Dan Andreasen |
Tallchief by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Gary Kelley |
The Bear Went Over the Mountain written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
The Christmas Mystery by Jostein Gardner, illustrated by by Rosemary Wells |
The Fisherman and His Wife by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Eleanor Hubbard |
The Germ Busters by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Jody Wheeler |
The Gulps by Rosemary Wells and Marc Brown |
The Halloween Parade by Rosemary Wells |
The Itsy Bitsy Spider written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
The Miraculous Tale of the Two Maries by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Petra Mathers |
The School Play by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Jody Wheeler |
The Small World of Binky Braverman by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Richard Egielski |
The World Around Us written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Timothy Goes To School written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star by Rosemary Wells |
When I Grow Up written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Yoko written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Yoko's Paper Cranes written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Yoko's World of Kindess by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by John Nez and Jody Wheeler |
Independent Reader
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams and Rosemary Wells |
Lassie by Rosemary Wells, illustrated by Susan Jeffers |
Mary On Horseback written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Max and Ruby Play School written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Play With Max and Ruby written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells |
Red Moon At Sharpsburg by Rosemary Wells |
Stuart Little by E. B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams and Rosemary Wells |
Through the Hidden Door by Rosemary Wells |
When No One Was Looking by Rosemary Wells |
Wingwalker by Rosemary Wells |
Bibliography
John and Rarey written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1969
Michael and the Mitten Test written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1969
The First Child written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1970
Martha's Birthday written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1970
Miranda's Pilgrims written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1970
Unfortunately Harriet written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1972
Benjamin and Tulip written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1973
Noisy Nora written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1973
Abdul written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1975
Morris's Disappearing Bag: A Christmas Story written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1975
Don't Spill It Again, James written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1977
Stanley and Rhoda written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1978
Max's First Word written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1979
Max's New Suit written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1979
Max's Ride written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1979
Max's Toys: A Counting Book written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1979
Good Night, Fred written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1981
Timothy Goes to School written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1981
A Lion for Lewis written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1982
Peabody written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1983
Hazel's Amazing Mother written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1985
Max's Bath written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1985
Max's Bedtime written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1985
Max's Breakfast written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1985
Max's Birthday written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1985
Max's Christmas written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1986
Shy Charles written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1988
Max's Chocolate Chicken written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1989
The Little Lame Prince written by Dinah Mulock Craik and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1990
Fritz and the Mess Fairy written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1991
Max's Dragon Shirt written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1991
First Tomato: A Voyage to the Bunny Planet written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1992
The Island Light: A Voyage to the Bunny Planet written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1992
Moss Pillows: A Voyage to the Bunny Planet written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1992
Max and Ruby's First Greek Myth: Pandora's Box written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1993
Edward Unready for School written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1995
Edward in Deep Water written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1995
Edward's Overwhelming Overnight written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1995
Max and Ruby's Midas: Another Greek Myth written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1995
Bunny Money written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1997
Bunny Cakes written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1997
Read to Your Bunny written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1998
Old MacDonald written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1998
The Bear Went over the Mountain written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1998
The Itsy-Bitsy Spider written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1998
Yoko written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1998
B-I-N-G-O written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 1999
Emily's First 100 Days of School written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2000
Timothy Goes to School written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2000
Timothy's Lost and Found Day written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2000
Max Cleans Up written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2000
Goodnight Max written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2000
Timothy's Class Trip: Based on Timothy Goes to School and Other Stories written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2001
Be My Valentine written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2001
Doris's Dinosaur written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2001
Felix Feels Better written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2001
The Halloween Parade written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2001
Letters and Sounds written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2001
Mama, Don't Go written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2001
The School Play written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2001
Yoko's Paper Cranes written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2001
Max in the Tub written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2001
The Germ Busters written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2002
Ruby's Beauty Shop written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2002
Play with Max and Ruby written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2002
Emily's World of Wonders written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2003
Felix and the Worrier written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2003
Max and Ruby's Show-and-Tell written by Rosemary Wells and illustrated by Rosemary Wells 2006
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