Barbara Joosse is the award-winning author of more than fifty books for children, with works translated into 29 languages and millions of copies sold worldwide. Her best-known title, "Mama, Do You Love Me?," has alone sold roughly three million copies and is widely regarded as a modern classic on unconditional love.

A Wisconsin native born in Grafton, Barbara earned her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and later studied creative writing at UW-Milwaukee. Her career spans more than four decades, encompassing picture books, the Wild Willie middle-grade mystery series, and the Lulu and Rocky national parks series. Her work has earned recognition from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Council of Wisconsin Writers, and other literary organizations.

Barbara writes from "The Crow's Nest," her perch overlooking the harbor in Port Washington, where she lives with her husband Chuck Whitehouse, a bronze sculptor. Her recent work includes "The Fishermen, the Horse, and the Sea" with the Wisconsin Historical Society Press, and "Better Together: A Book of Family," co-authored with her daughter Anneke, a biology professor at UW-Whitewater.

We are delighted to welcome Barbara to the Rotary Club of Port Washington-Saukville on Wednesday, June 3.