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Rosemary in Paris
Written by Barbara Robertson
BookPage,
7/30/2001
"The Hourglass Adventures series, by Barbara Robertson, takes the reader on adventurous action-packed journeys back in time. The international settings of bygone eras introduce readers aged 8-10 to well-researched historic events, different cultures and lifestyles, producing a true sense of the past. The first two books transport the readers to Berlin in Rosemary Meets Rosemarie ($4.95, ISBN 1890817554) and to Paris in Rosemary in Paris ($4.95, ISBN 1890817562). Interactive Web prompts provide detailed information about a variety of subjects woven into the stories, like the Franco-Prussian War—in a totally teen, totally cool way."
Emery-Pratt Newsletter,
6/1/2001
The main character in each book is 10-year-old Rosemary. For her tenth birthday she receives ten very special presents from her grandmother. Each box is filled with wonderful treasures. One has costumes, another is filled with old postcards. The last one is the most special of all; in it lies an hourglass. Rosemary is holding the hourglass while looking at an old postcard, and suddenly finds herself in Berlin, 1870. She meets her great-great-great-grandmother, and they share an exciting adventure. Once home again, she and her grandmother prepare for her next adventure-Paris during the Exposition of 1889.
What makes these books exciting for children is the whole idea of time travel. Each book is filled with pictures that better illustrate the story. In addition, at the end of every book is a brief historical lesson from the author. The kids can put what they've read into perspective and learn that these events really did happen. Also each book is full of web links to www.winslowpress.com. While visiting this site, children can send virtual postcards, play dress-up with Rosemary, solve more mysteries, and learn even more.
I gave these books the ultimate test. I gave them to two 9-year-old boys to read on a sunny day after school. They both spent a full hour with their noses in the books rather than go outside to play. To me that says a lot about these books.
Greenville Magazine,
10/1/2001
Barbara Robertson - Time Traveler
After Barbara Robertson puts her three children to bed, she travels back in time, exploring Berlin in 1870, Paris in 1889, Mauritania in 1919, or the Bahamas in 1947. The places she visits and the times she experiences are the settings for her books, which are published by Winslow Press. She's writing about her ten-year-old character, Rosemary Rita, who "discovers the magic of the hourglass and travels back in time to meet her grandmothers," one in each book.
The idea for the book series sprang from Robertson's love for her grandmother, Rosemary, whom her children never met, and from her love of education. Robertson has a Masters degree in Education from Furman University. At the time she began the books, she was a stay-at-home mom who helped out by doing the books at her husband's law firm. She had been working with an author of a science book for Winslow Press. The author had a series of crises and had to drop the project. Winslow Press offered it to Robertson. She told them she wasn't really interested in that project, but she had an idea of her own. She pitched the Rosemary idea and they liked it. Robertson began writing. It was the beginning of what would become a series of books called The Hourglass Adventures.
She wanted to incorporate some history into each book, while making sure each story would be a great read. Robertson accomplishes this by setting the books in places like the World's Fair in Paris in 1889 (book 2). Rosemary Rita meets her ten-year-old great-great grandmother, Rosemary Grace. Together they track down a thief.
Books three and four recently hit stores. They are carried at, amongst other places, Barnes & Noble and Target. Robertson has had signings at The Open Book and on Long Island, where she's from. She's traveled to Chicago for the Book Expo. "Greenville has been very supportive," she says. She has managed to slip some of the people in her life into the books, including the mail carrier. Currently putting the finishing touches on book five, which is due out in the Spring, Robertson sees the series continuing for many more books. "She [Rosemary] can go back and meet other family members," Robertson says.
Winslow Press has a website just for The Hourglass Adventures. There are games to play, like the Rosemary Rita Costume Shop where you can play virtual dress up.
And Robertson shows no signs of slowing on her ideas for the adventures. "I've convinced myself that I'm most creative between 9:00 and midnight," she says. So, after she puts the children to bed, off she goes to another place and time. Robertson also finds creative space when she's literally traveling to other places. "I do my best writing on planes." Now, if she can just get an hourglass of her own.
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