LEOMINSTER — Do animals get earaches? Sore throats? Stomach aches? Who helps them if they can’t talk?
Meet the author and illustrator of “Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals”, an award-winning STEM picture book based on and informed by real-world veterinarians, at a special event at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Leominster Public Library, 30 West St.
Jennifer Welborn, author, and Rozillia MH, illustrator, will tell the story behind the story of Dr. Rosie and then engage children in an interactive reading.
“Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals” was inspired by a picture of a baby giraffe sent to Welborn by her husband, a wildlife veterinarian.
“The baby giraffe had a neck bandage and was successfully treated at a veterinary medical center,” Welborn explained. “This made me think about other animals who have common afflictions that children experience and became the concept for my book.”
Welborn has been involved in STEM for more than thirty years as a researcher, teacher, and contributor to science journals and textbooks. She has a B.S. degree in wildlife management, and an M.Ed. in science education.
“I think a good children’s story is one that is relatable, has some unexpected twists, humor, and of course, a happy ending,” she said.
When she isn’t writing inspiring and thought-provoking children’s books, Welborn is a science educator and mother with many interests, including triathlon racing, sewing quilts, playing the flute and piano, and open water swimming. She lives with her family in Western Massachusetts where she enjoys going on hikes with her husband and their Italian water dog, Bari. “Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals” is her debut children’s book.
Rozillia MH is passionate about art and storytelling through visual designs. For as long as she can remember, she has collected books, comics, and graphic novels.
“It is through my love of books and knack for learning that I developed an appreciation of different languages and cultures,” she said. “This was one of my motivators to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in linguistics.”
She also developed a desire to see the world and has traveled to over ten countries.
“Through my travels, I gained a whole new perspective of people and realized there are so many stories not being told,” MH said. “Unfortunately, in fictional storytelling, there is a lack of people of color. So, when the opportunity arose to work on and illustrate a story of a young black girl traveling the world and helping animals, I was beyond ecstatic.”
“Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals”, her debut picture book, “is my dream coming to life,” MH added.
In addition to her talent and passion for illustrating, MH is pursuing a career in speech and language pathology. It is through this field that she hopes to continue learning how to help children of diverse backgrounds and how to better tell their stories through books and illustrations.
Following the reading there will be a hands-on activity where children (and their grown-ups) learn how to evaluate, diagnose, and treat a stuffed animal.
Each participant will receive their own mini veterinarian kit and diagnostic/treatment sheet to take home. Children are welcome to bring their own stuffed animals. However, mini stuffed animals will be provided for any child that needs one.
Karen Fine, DVM, Leominster veterinarian and bestselling author of “The Other Family Doctor,” gave admiration to the author and illustrator.
“As a holistic veterinarian, I am thrilled with this book,” she said. “Rosie’s mom does a great job representing the profession, and Rosie herself is curious and has no limits to her imagination. It is also wonderful to see representation of people of color, as the veterinary profession has struggled with diversity.”
“Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals” is well-suited for parents, caregivers, teachers, and librarians “looking for books on representation, diversity, empathy, adventure, and STEM careers,” said Welborn.
“This book is also perfect for children who just love animals or who are interested in veterinary medicine,” Welborn added. “I purposefully created relatable, accessible characters to pay homage to everyday heroes. I hope my readers see themselves in my book’s characters and are inspired to chase after their dreams.”
This library event is geared towards children ages 4 to 8 and their caregivers, and registration is required. For more information, or to register, call the Leominster Public Library at 978-534-7522 or visit their website at leominsterlibrary.org. For more information on “Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals,” visit drrosiehelpstheanimals.org.
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