Marc Brown (author)
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. The names of his two sons, Tolon Adam and Tucker Eliot, have been hidden in all of the Arthur books except for one. He also has a daughter named Eliza, whose name appears hidden in at least two books. 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.[1] He currently lives in Hingham, Massachusetts.
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 |
Early life and education
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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]
Career
He had many different jobs before focusing solely on his writing career.[5] 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.[6]
Personal life
Brown married his first wife Stephanie Marini, a ballet dancer and college teacher, on September 1, 1968.[7] Together, they have two sons.[7] The marriage ended in divorce in 1977.[7] On September 11, 1983, he married his second wife, Laurene Krasny, a psychologist and writer.[7] Together, they have a daughter.[7]
Bibliography
Arthur Adventure Series
- 1976 - Arthur's Nose
- 1979 - Arthur's Eyes
- 1980 - Arthur's Valentine
- 1981 - 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 - D.W. Flips
- 1987 - Arthur's Baby
- 1988 - D.W. All Wet
- 1989 - Arthur's Birthday
- 1990 - Arthur's Pet Business
- 1991 - Arthur Meets the President (Early Moments)
- 1992 - Arthur Babysits
- 1993 - D.W. Thinks Big
- 1993 - D.W. Rides Again
- 1993 - Arthur's Family Vacation
- 1993 - Arthur's New Puppy
- 1994 - Arthur's Chicken Pox
- 1994 - Arthur's First Sleepover
- 1995 - D.W., the Picky Eater
- 1995 - Arthur's TV Trouble
- 1995 - Arthur Goes to School
- 1996 - Arthur Writes a Story
- 1996 - Arthur's Reading Race
- 1996 - Glasses for D.W.
- 1996 - Arthur's Neighborhood
- 1996 - Arthur and the True Francine
- 1997 - Arthur's Computer Disaster
- 1997 - Say the Magic Word
- 1997 - D.W.'s Lost Blankie
- 1997 - Arthur's Really Helpful Word Book
- 1997 - Arthur Tricks the Tooth Fairy
- 1998 - Arthur Lost and Found
- 1998 - Arthur's Really Helpful Bedtime Stories
- 1998 - Arthur Decks the Hall
- 1999 - Arthur's Underwear
- 2000 - Arthur's Teacher Moves In
- 2000 - Arthur's Perfect Christmas
- 2002 - Arthur, It's Only Rock 'n' Roll
- 2006 - Arthur Jumps into Fall
- 2011 - Arthur Turns Green[8]
Arthur audiobooks
- 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
- 1980 - Pickle Things
- 1980 - Witches Four
- 1982 - Wings on Things (Early Moments)
- 1983 - Spooky Riddles
- 1985 - The Bionic Bunny Show
- 1980 - Finger Rhymes - collected and illustrated by Marc Brown
- 1986 - A World Full of Monsters (illustrated)
- 1995 - D.W. the Picky Eater (Early Moments)
- 1996 - Glasses for D.W.
- 1996 - Arthur's Reading Race (Early Moments)
- 1999 - Arthur In A Pickle (Early Moments)
- 1998 - Arthur Tricks the Tooth Fairy (Early Moments)
- 1999 - D.W., Go to Your Room!
- 2000 - Arthur's Teacher Moves In (Early Moments)
- 2001 - D.W.'s Library Card
- 2002 - Arthur's Animal Adventure (Early Moments)
- 2006 - D.W. Goes to Preschool
- 2008 - D.W. Says Please and Thank You
Chapter books
- 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
- 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
Books written and illustrated by Marc Brown
- Monkey: Not Ready for Kindergarten
- In New York
- Marc Brown's Playtime Rhymes: A Treasury for Families to Learn and Play Together
- What Do You Call a Dumb Bunny? And Other Rabbit Riddles, Games, Jokes, and Cartoons
- Believe in Yourself: What We Learned from Arthur (2022)
Books illustrated by Marc Brown
- Mary McScary by R. L. Stine
- The Little Shop of Monsters by R. L. Stine
- Ten Tiny Toes by Todd Tarpley
- Wild About Books by Judy Sierra (Early Moments)
- Born to Read by Judy Sierra
- Farmyard Beat by Lindsey Craig
- Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig
- ZooZical by Judy Sierra
- Wild About You by Judy Sierra
- Little Witch's Big Night (Step into Reading) by Deborah Hautzig
- Happy Birthday, Little Witch (Step into Reading) by Deborah Hautzig
- Rabbit's New Rug (Parents Magazine Books) by Judy Delton
- If All the Animals Came Inside by Eric Pinder
- What Makes the Sun Shine? by Isaac Asimov
- The Gulps by Rosemary Wells
- Read-Aloud Rhymes For the Very Young by Jack Prelutsky
- The Banza: A Haitian Story by Diane Wolkstein
Books by Laurene Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
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 8x8 paperbacks
- 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
- "YouTube". youtube. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
- 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.
- "Brown, Marc (Tolon) 1946– Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com.
- "Marc Brown". Book Finder.