Rosemary Wells: "A Daily Dose of Reading"

Rosemary Wells, a New York Times bestselling children’s author and illustrator, believes that reading books should be an everyday occurrence – especially among younger readers.
 
 
Wells delivered the keynote address on early childhood literacy at the day-long symposium titled “A Daily Dose of Reading: Growing Readers Everywhere” on Tuesday, May 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Kent State University. The symposium was sponsored by the Kent State University School of Library and Information Science along with the Northeast Ohio Regional Library System (NEO-RLS).
 

Wells' address was followed by a panel discussion on “Reading to Children, Health Care Connections and Reaching the Primary Caretaker.” In the afternoon, presentations considered the topics of “Music and Movement,” “Sensory Storytime” and “Ready to Read.” Additionally, Wells will be available to autograph books, available for purchase at the KSU Bookstore.

Raised on the New Jersey shore, Wells grew up in a home teeming with books.

“Reading stories aloud was as much a part of my childhood as the air I breathed,” Wells has said in recent interviews. Based on those early memories, Wells believes that the most important 20 minutes of a day are the ones spent reading to children. In her rhyming story, Read to Your Bunny, Wells invites parents and children to read together every day.  

“Reading to your little one is just like putting gold coins in the bank,” she writes. “It will pay you back tenfold.”

Wells’ career as an author and illustrator includes more than 120 books filled with beloved characters like Max and Ruby, Noisy Nora and Yoko. She has won numerous awards, including more than 20 American Library Association Notable Children's Book citations and a Boston Globe/Horn Book Award. Many of her books have been named among the Best Books of the Year in their respective years of publication by School Library Journal, including Max’s Chocolate Chicken, Noisy Nora, Shy Charles and When No One Was Looking.

Most importantly, though, Wells has helped shape the childhoods of readers for more than 40 years.

The symposium took place in the Kent State University Student Center. Teachers, librarians, artists, creators, graduate and undergraduate students and book collectors were among those in attendance.

Symposium Schedule

  • 8:30 a.m. Registration and coffee
  • 9:00 a.m. Welcome, introductions and announcements
  • 9:15 a.m. Keynote by Rosemary Wells
  • 10:45 a.m. Break and door prizes
  • 11:00 a.m. Panel discussion on Reading to Children, Health Care Connections and Reaching the Primary Caretaker
  • 12:00 p.m. Lunch and autographing
  • 1:00 p.m. Music and Movement
    • Laura McFalls and Anne-Marie Savoie, Akron-Summit County Public Library: Children are drawn to music, and need more time to move. Use children’s natural desire to move and be actively involved in the learning process through engaging literacy activities. Music and movement experiences can foster valuable connections to our children's language, memory, physical activity, creative thinking, emotional development and emerging academic success. 
  • 1:45 p.m. Break and door prizes
  • 2:00 p.m. Sensory Storytime 101
    • Tricia Twarogowski, Teen Librarian/Branch Manager, Northwest Akron Branch Library, Akron-Summit County Public Library: Learn the basics of why this storytime is offered, who it serves, what is different from other storytimes and how to serve special population through these programs.
  • 2:45 p.m. Ready to Read Corps, Sarah Mackey, Manager, Columbus Metro Library
  • 3:30 p.m. Wrap up, door prizes, raffle winners
POSTED: Thursday, October 29, 2015 11:48 AM
UPDATED: Thursday, December 08, 2022 03:20 PM
WRITTEN BY:
Lily Martis

Related Articles

The fall season is upon us and the crispness in the air is lending to a “can do” spirit here at the iSchool. Fall brings a time of reflection as we take stock of all that was accomplished over the spring and summer term as we enter the remaining term of 2023. 

Michael Bice served as a senior executive of academic medical centers and large healthcare systems for over 25 years. In 2008, when he was tapped by Kent State University's Provost, Robert Frank, to create a healthcare master's degree for the university, there were only three health informatics programs in the United States. Kent State's made it four.

Claudia Lillibridge’s extensive career of over 20 years in health informatics has allowed her to be exposed to numerous changes throughout the field. In her role as Senior Project Manager at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Lillibridge is using innovative technology to enhance physician-patient communication.