Rosalia author will read from 'No See Ems' book

Rosalia author Diane Nebel’s new book teaches children about hand washing and safe food handling techniques.

Rosalia author Diane Nebel has been invited to read her new book at the Colfax Library and the Palouse Resource Network for Families 22nd Annual Family Fair in Pullman.

Nebel worked for the Spokane Regional Health District in Spokane as Environmental Health Specialist from 1986 until retiring in 2001. One particular case in 1988 involved a reported case of Hepatitis A for a food worker at a popular restaurant in Spokane. That one infected person led to (directly or indirectly) causing nearly 5,000 cases of Hepatitis A.

Since that outbreak, Nebel made it her goal to get the word out about the importance of hand washing and safe food handling. In 1989, she thought a great way to get the word out to the public would be to use bus posters.

In 1993, Nebel went ahead to write and illustrate a children’s book about hand washing and safe food handling back in the days of the cave people. She wrote and illustrated "The Land of No See Ems" but never got around to publishing it.

After retiring in 2001, Diane and her late husband, Jim Nebel, opened up The Budding Rose Art Gallery, a non-profit gallery for kids of all ages and at times has read her story to visiting pre-schoolers.

On March 1, 2018, Nebel read her story to the Rosalia Elementary School during their annual "Read Across America Week". She feels it’s now the right time to publish her book and share it with other schools, in light of the influenza outbreak.

She has been invited to read "The Land of No See Ems" on stage at 11:30 a.m. at the 22nd annual family fair in Pullman’s Lincoln Middle School April 21. This event is presented by the Palouse Resource Network for Families in collaboration with Washington State University, United Way of Pullman and the YMCA.

Nebel has also been invited to read "The Land of No See Ems" at the Whitman County Library in Colfax to the elementary class from Steptoe School Tuesday, April 24, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and during that time have an author’s meet and greet.

Nebel hopes to share her book with the Spokane School District’s elementary schools and the Spokane Library.