Spotlight on Rosemary Wells

Rosemary Wells is the author of more than one hundred and twenty books for children in her forty-five-year career, including more than forty about the beloved bunnies, Max and Ruby, who star in their own television show on Nick Jr. She lives in New England.

Q: How did you first start creating books for children?

I got started in publishing in 1963 as an art department assistant at Macmillan. I had my first book published in 1967. Everything has changed since then except for one thing: Being in a publishing office helps enormously in getting a first work on the way. You learn everything and have access to the people who make decisions.

Q: Your newest picture book, Max Can Read!, is about understanding instructions. Why is this an important lesson for children to learn?

Max Can Read! is really about reading pictures instead of words. It’s called “emergent reading” which is for many children, the first step in understanding that symbols on a page can become words in the mind.

Q: What do you hope young readers take from the story?

I hope young readers take from the story that not everyone is ready at the same time for reading type and understanding phonics. Max much prefers picture learning and that is a very valuable skill!

Q: In addition to writing your own books, you also illustrate them as well. Do you have any tips for budding artists about finding their style?

Everyone’s style is different. What comes naturally to any young artists is the way they should go. Then I tell kids and young artists alike, surround yourself with your favorite picture books and copy what works well.

Q: As an author illustrator do you write the story first and then create the art?

Story always, always, always comes first. Then pictures. Then revise the story.

Q: What are some of your favorite children’s books?

I don’t like to favor one artist over another but here are some geniuses: Jerry Pinkney, Arnold Label, Chris Van Allsburg, Allen Say, Peter Sís. I love all their books.