Paid Notice: Winifred Rosen, beloved children’s author and artist, passed away on December 5, 2024, at the age of 81. Raised and educated in New York City, Winnie graduated with honors from NYU. She taught high school English and Literature for several years before discovering her true calling as a writer of children’s and young adult books.
Throughout her writing career, Winnie delighted young readers with her imaginative storytelling. Her Henrietta series, including the Newbery Award- nominated Henrietta, the Wild Woman of Borneo (1985), captivated children with the spirited adventures of its unforgettable main character. She also brought her creativity to works like Dragons Hate to be Discreet and the young adult novel Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’. Winnie’s versatility as a writer extended beyond children’s literature to include Three Romances: Love Stories from Camelot Retold and a collaboration with Andrew Weil on From Chocolate to Morphine: Everything You Need to Know About Mind-Altering Drugs.
Known for her quick wit, insatiable curiosity, and genuine warmth, Winnie cultivated deep friendships that spanned decades. Beyond her literary achievements, she was an accomplished multi-medium artist whose creativity knew no bounds. Her inquisitive spirit led her to explore countless creative pursuits, from crafting intricate leather animals and embroidering bags, belts, and tapestries, to creating dried flower arrangements from the vegetation she found around her East Hampton home. Her gift also extended to gardening, where she transformed outdoor spaces as an accomplished perennial landscape designer, bringing the same artistry and care she brought to all her work.
There was a driving force in Winnie’s life: the need to create beautiful things. Whether it was her words on a printed page, which spoke with her unique voice and perspective; her vision in planting a garden bed to anticipate how it would mature; or her ability to transform pictures of fish into playful, three-dimensional mobiles—everything she touched became art.
She will be deeply missed by her loving circle of friends and family.
