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Marc Brown | |
|---|---|
 Brown at a Naperville, Illinois bookstore in April 2011 | |
| Born | Marc Tolon Brown November 25, 1946 Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation |
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| Genre | Children's books, television shows |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouse | Stephanie Marini (m. 1968; div. 1977)Laurene Krasny (m. 1983) |
| Children | 3 |
Marc Tolon Brown (born November 25, 1946) is an American author and illustrator of children's books. Brown writes as well as illustrates the Arthur book series and is best known for creating that series and its numerous spin-offs.
Early life and education
[edit]While growing up in Erie, Pennsylvania, with his three sisters, Brown was told many stories by his grandmother Thora. This inspired Brown to write stories of his own in the later years of his life. An example of this was the "borrowing" of his 7th grade algebra teacher's name Mr. Rathbun for the character Mr. Ratburn.[1] It was Grandma Thora who also fueled Brown's affinity for drawing, which was discovered at the age of six. While attending McDowell Senior High School, his art teacher, Nancy Bryan, introduced him to watercolors, which he now uses for the majority of his illustrations. Brown was inspired by other artists like Marc Chagall. Maurice Sendak, the author of the children's book Where the Wild Things Are, also influenced Brown in deciding on a career choice.
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With the help of his Grandma Thora, Brown was able to major in graphic design at the Cleveland Institute of Art.[2] Even with the opposition from his colleagues, Brown continued with his dream to be a children's book illustrator. After graduating, Brown presented a sample of his drawings to the publishing company Houghton Mifflin, in Boston, Massachusetts, who offered him a USD$5,000 deal. This offer allowed Brown to confirm his decision of making professional illustrating his career. In 1969, he began part-time teaching at Garland Junior College in Boston and illustrated textbooks.[3]
Career
[edit]He had many different jobs before focusing solely on his writing career.[4] He was a truck driver, a short-order cook, a TV art director, and finally a college professor. Brown said his professorship was short-lived as the college went bankrupt one semester into his hiring.[5]
Brown published the first book in the Arthur series, Arthur's Nose, in 1976. The names of his two sons, Tolon Adam and Tucker Eliot, have been hidden in all of the Arthur books except for one.[citation needed] He also has a daughter named Eliza, whose name appears hidden in at least two books.[citation needed] He is a three-time Emmy award winner; the Arthur TV series adapted from the books was named number one on PBS for three years (1997, 2000, 2001). He also served as an executive producer on the show during seasons ten through twenty-five.[6]
In 2000, five audiobooks were recorded. Two more were released in 2007 and 2009. In 1996, the books became a television series airing on PBS. Aiming for an audience aged between four and eight years old, the show ran for nearly 25 years, officially ending on February 21, 2022.[7] In total, Brown has published over forty Arthur books as of 2011, seven audiobooks, and 2 beginner books.
Personal life
[edit]Brown married his first wife Stephanie Marini, a ballet dancer and college teacher, on September 1, 1968.[8] Together, they had two sons.[8] The marriage ended in divorce in 1977.[8] On September 11, 1983, he married his second wife, Laurene Krasny, a psychologist and writer.[8] Together, they have a daughter.[8]
He currently lives in Hingham, Massachusetts.
Bibliography
[edit]Arthur Adventure Series
[edit]- 1976 - Arthur's Nose
- 1979 - Arthur's Eyes
- 1980 - Arthur's Valentine
- 1981 - The True Francine (later republished and retitled in 1996 as "Arthur and the True Francine")
- 1982 - Arthur Goes to Camp
- 1982 - Arthur's Halloween
- 1983 - Arthur's April Fool
- 1983 - Arthur's Thanksgiving
- 1984 - Arthur's Christmas
- 1985 - Arthur's Tooth
- 1986 - Arthur's Teacher Trouble
- 1987 - Arthur's Baby
- 1989 - Arthur's Birthday
- 1990 - Arthur's Pet Business
- 1991 - Arthur Meets the President
- 1992 - Arthur Babysits
- 1993 - Arthur's Family Vacation
- 1993 - Arthur's New Puppy
- 1994 - Arthur's Chicken Pox
- 1994 - Arthur's First Sleepover
- 1995 - Arthur's TV Trouble
- 1996 - Arthur Writes a Story
- 1997 - Arthur's Computer Disaster
- 1998 - Arthur Lost and Found
- 1999 - Arthur's Underwear
- 2000 - Arthur's Teacher Moves In
- 2011 - Arthur Turns Green[9]
D.W. Series
[edit]- 1987 - D.W. Flips!
- 1988 - D.W. All Wet
- 1993 - D.W. Thinks Big
- 1993 - D.W. Rides Again!
- 1995 - D.W. the Picky Eater
- 1998 - D.W.'s Lost Blankie
- 1999 - D.W. Go to Your Room!
- 2001 - D.W.'s Library Card
- 2003 - D.W.'s Guide to Preschool
- 2006 - D.W.'s Guide to Perfect Manners
Arthur audiobooks
[edit]- 2000 - Marc Brown's Arthur Chapter Books: Volume 1 - (Arthur's Mystery Envelope, Arthur and the Scare-Your-Pants-Off Club, and Arthur Makes the Team)
- 2000 - Marc Brown's Arthur Chapter Books: Volume 2 - (Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest, Arthur Accused!, and Locked in the Library)
- 2000 - Marc Brown's Arthur Chapter Books: Volume 3 - (Buster's Dino Dilemma, The Mystery of the Stolen Bike, and Arthur and the Lost Diary)
- 2000 - Marc Brown's Arthur Chapter Books: Volume 4 - (Who's in Love with Arthur?, Arthur Rocks with Binky, and Arthur and the Popularity Contest)
- 2000 - Marc Brown's Arthur Chapter Books: Volume 5 - (King Arthur, Francine, Believe It or Not, and Arthur and the Cootie-Catcher)
- 2007 - Arthur's Audio Favorites Volume 1 - (Arthur's Tooth, Arthur's Birthday, Arthur's Pet Business, Arthur's New Puppy, and Arthur Writes a Story)
- 2009 - Arthur's Audio Favorites Volume 2 - (Arthur's Family Vacation, Arthur Goes to Camp, Arthur Babysits, Arthur Meets the President, Arthur's Baby, and Arthur's Halloween)
Beginner books
[edit]- 1982 - Wings on Things
- 1983 - Spooky Riddles
- 1996 - Glasses for D.W.
- 1996 - Arthur's Reading Race
Chapter books
[edit]- Arthur's Mystery Envelope
- Arthur and the Scare-Your-Pants-Off Club
- Arthur Makes the Team
- Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest
- Arthur Accused!
- Locked in the Library!
- Buster's Dino Dilemma
- The Mystery of the Stolen Bike
- Arthur and the Lost Diary
- Who's in Love with Arthur?
- Arthur Rocks with Binky
- Arthur and the Popularity Test
- King Arthur
- Francine, Believe It or Not
- Arthur and the Cootie-Catcher
- Buster Makes the Grade
- Muffy's Secret Admirer
- Arthur and the Poetry Contest
- Buster Baxter, Cat Saver
- Arthur and the Big Blow-Up
- Arthur and the Perfect Brother
- Francine the Superstar
- Buster's New Friend
- Binky Rules
- Arthur and the Double Dare
- Arthur and the No-Brainer
- Arthur and the Comet Crisis
- Arthur and the 1,001 Dads
- Arthur Plays the Blues
- Arthur and the Bad-Luck Brain
- Arthur Loses His Marbles
- Arthur and the Nerves of Steal
- Arthur and the World Record
Good Sports chapter books
[edit]- Arthur and the Race to Read
- Arthur and the Seventh-Inning Stretcher
- Arthur and the Recess Rookie
- Arthur and the Best Coach Ever
- Arthur and the Goalie Ghost
- Arthur and the Pen-Pal Playoff
Other books written and illustrated by Marc Brown
[edit]- One, Two, Three: An Animal Counting Book
- Marc Brown's Full House
- Moose and Goose
- Lenny and Lola
- The Cloud Over Clarence
- Pickle Things
- Finger Rhymes
- Witches Four
- Your First Garden Book
- Count to Ten
- Marc Brown's Boat Book
- The Silly Tail Book
- Perfect Pigs: An Introduction to Manners (co-written with Stephen Krensky)
- What Do You Call a Dumb Bunny?: And Other Rabbit Riddles, Games, Jokes, and Cartoons
- There's No Place Like Home
- Hand Rhymes
- Play Rhymes
- Party Rhymes
- Marc Brown's Play-Pops: One, Two, Buckle my Shoe
- Marc Brown's Play-Pops: Can You Jump Like a Frog?
- Marc Brown's Play-Pops: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear
- Marc Brown's Play-Pops: Two Little Monkeys
- Scared Silly!: A Book for the Brave
- Monster's Lunch Box
- Playtime Rhymes
- In New York
- Monkey: Not Ready for Kindergarten
- Monkey: Not Ready for the Baby
- Monkey: Not Ready for Bedtime
Other books illustrated by Marc Brown
[edit]- What Makes the Sun Shine? by Isaac Asimov
- The Iron Lion by Peter Dickinson
- I Found Them In the Yellow Pages by Norma Farber
- Ride! Ride! Ride! by Marcia Wiesbauer
- Four Corners of the Sky by Theodore Clymer
- Super Sam and the Salad Garden by Patty Wolcott
- My Doctor Bag Book by Kathleen N. Daly
- How the Rabbit Stole the Moon by Louise Moeri
- Little Owl by Janwillem Van de Wetering
- There Goes Feathertop! by Norma Farber
- Why the Tides Ebb and Flow by Joan C. Bowden
- Rabbit's New Rug by Judy Delton
- The Banza: A Haitian Story by Diane Wolkstein
- What's So Funny, Ketu? by Verna Aardema
- Swamp Monsters by Mary Blount Christian
- Little Witch's Big Night by Deborah Hautzig
- Oh, Kojo! How Could You! by Verna Aardema
- Go West, Swamp Monsters! by Mary Blount Christian
- Happy Birthday, Little Witch by Deborah Hautzig
- A World Full of Monsters by John Troy McQueen
- Read-Aloud Rhymes For the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky
- The Family Read Aloud Christmas Treasury selected by Alice Low
- The Family Read Aloud Holiday Treasury selected by Alice Low
- Wild About Books by Judy Sierra
- The Gulps by Rosemary Wells
- Born to Read by Judy Sierra
- Buying, Training, and Caring for Your Dinosaur by Laura Joy Rennert
- Dancing Feet! by Lindsey Craig
- Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig
- ZooZical by Judy Sierra
- Wild About You by Judy Sierra
- If All the Animals Came Inside by Eric Pinder
- Ten Tiny Toes by Todd Tarpley
- The Little Shop of Monsters by R. L. Stine
- Mary McScary by R. L. Stine
- Everyone Counts by Judy Sierra
- Why Did the Monster Cross the Road? by R. L. Stine
Books by Laurene Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
[edit]Dino Life Guides for Families
- Dinosaurs Travel
- Dinosaurs Alive and Well!: A Guide to Good Health
- Dinosaurs to the Rescue: A Guide to Protecting Our Planet
- How to Be a Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them
- When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death
- Dinosaurs Divorce
Other
- What's the Big Secret?: Talking about Sex with Girls and Boys
Arthur 8×8 paperbacks
[edit]- Arthur's Birthday Surprise
- Arthur's Heart Mix-Up
- Arthur's Jelly Beans
- Arthur and the Big Snow
- Arthur Helps Out
- Arthur to the Rescue
- Arthur and the Dog Show
- Arthur Jumps into Fall
- Arthur's Tree House
- Arthur Off to School
- Good Night D.W.
- Arthur's Homework
- D.W.'s Perfect Present
- Arthur's Mystery Babysitter
- D.W. The Big Boss
- Arthur Tells a Story
References
[edit]- ^ Lorant, Richard (November 17, 1996). "AN AARDVARK NAMED ARTHUR". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
- ^ "CIA Honors Arthur Illustrator Marc Brown '69". Cleveland Institute of Art. Archived from the original on January 3, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
- ^ "Educational Paperback Association". www.edupaperback.org. Archived from the original on February 17, 2003. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
- ^ "Marc Brown Interview Transcript". Scholastic. Scholastic. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
- ^ Woods, Mae. (2001). Marc Brown. Abdo Pub. Co. ISBN 1577651111. OCLC 43329049.
- ^ "YouTube". youtube. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- ^ Hailu, Selome (February 23, 2022). "'Arthur' Creator on Ending the Beloved Series After 25 Years, Arthur's Racial Identity and the 'New Puzzles' Ahead". Variety. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Brown, Marc (Tolon) 1946– Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com.
- ^ "Marc Brown". Book Finder.
