Meet the Characters
Meet Ned & Patrick
Patrick is a young boy who is curious, imaginative, and adventurous. He loves to learn new things and he loves his very best friend, Ned. Ned is Patrick’s playful dog. Patrick includes Ned in all of his adventures. Ned loves being with Patrick more than anything in the world. Together, they discover, create, travel, and play.
Teemu
Teemu is the real-life inspiration for Ned. Much like Ned, Teemu is playful, curious, and a little bit mischievous. Teemu is a very loyal friend to his “mom” and “dad.” Children are Teemu’s favorite people. He loves to get attention and hugs from little people. Much like Ned, Teemu is a very lovable character.
Meet the Characters Who Created the Characters
Kim Kemen
Kim has been teaching for 26 years, with the majority of those years being in the primary grades. She has held the role of Reading Specialist in Cincinnati Public Schools where she has been teaching for 20 years. Kim has a Master’s Degree in Early Literacy. She obtained her Reading Endorsement from Mount St. Joseph University. Kim also holds an Orton-Gillingham certificate. This research-based method of teaching reading is what drives her to reach as many young readers as she can knowing that, with explicit instruction, they will read.
Katie O'Brien
Katie has been teaching in Cincinnati Public Schools for 9 years, and the last 4 have been as a Reading Specialist. She holds a Master’s Degree from Mount St. Joseph University where she also obtained a Reading Endorsement and a certification in Orton-Gillingham. She is currently enrolled in a Leadership Program through Miami University. Upon completion, she will have a second Master’s Degree. Her experience has been in the primary grades and her focus has been on strengthening the reading skills of young readers.
Maureen Coakley Born
Maureen Coakley Born earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University of Cincinnati. She taught in private schools and she taught Kindergarten for 22 years for Cincinnati Public Schools. Her artistic talents include watercolor, acrylic painting, abstract collage, pottery, and eco-printing. Maureen is the artist/illustrator for Ned & Patrick and has also illustrated two books in the Drew and Stu Adventurous Shoes series.
Created by Reading Specialists
Kim and Katie have successfully taught hundreds of children to read, both as classroom teachers and as Reading Specialists.
They know, through their education and experience, that the key to developing a child's reading skills is by teaching them the tools and techniques needed to decode and attack the printed word.
The Ned & Patrick series of books is the culmination of the desire, from both Kim and Katie, to provide students with books and activities that reinforce those skills.
