Marc Brown (author)
| Marc Brown | |
|---|---|
 At a Naperville, Illinois bookstore, April 2011. |
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| Born | November 25, 1946 Erie, Pennsylvania |
| Occupation | Author and illustrator |
| Nationality | American |
| Genres | Children's books Television shows |
| Spouse(s) | Laurie Krasny Brown |
Marc Tolon Brown (born November 25, 1946) is an American writer of children's books. He writes as well as illustrates his Arthur books, and is best known for that series and its spin-offs. He currently lives in Hingham, Massachusetts. 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 Morgan, whose name appears hidden in at least two books. He is a Daytime Emmy award winner; the Arthur TV series adapted from the books was named number ONE on PBS for three years. (1997, 2000, 2001)
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[edit] Career
Brown’s well-known character Arthur Read, an aardvark, was “born one night when Brown was telling a bedtime story to his son”. [1] Since then, Brown’s stories about Arthur have developed over the years into the first Arthur book, Arthur’s Nose, which was published in 1976. After his first book, Brown continued to write and illustrate more than thirty other children’s books about Arthur and his younger sister Dora Winifred Read. Many of the characters from his books were inspired by people in Brown’s life growing up, such as Grandma Thora. Brown looks at his past experiences and to his three children for inspiration. He also gets suggestions from the students at the schools he visits. [2] Brown’s Arthur books turned out to be very popular among young audiences and sold five million copies over the years between 1976 and 1995. However, with the debut of the animated “Arthur” TV series in 1996, another 45 million books were sold from 1996 to 2001. Finally in 2001, the “Arthur” TV show was rewarded with the prestigious Peabody Award. [3]
[edit] Childhood
While growing up in Erie, Pennsylvania with his three sisters, Brown’s grandmother Thora told them many stories. This inspired Brown to write stories of his own in the later years of his life. It was Grandma Thora who also fueled Brown’s penchant for drawing which was discovered at the age of six. Eventually, his high school 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.
[edit] Education
With the help of his Grandma Thora, Brown was able to major in painting at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Even with the opposition from his colleagues, Brown continued onward 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 five thousand dollar 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]
[edit] Works
The Arthur books are about situations that children often face.[1] In their book Beyond Picture Books for which Deborah Hatzig's Little Witch’s Big Night and Happy Birthday, Little Witch were selected, Barbara Barstow and Judith Riggle said that Brown's "friendly watercolor illustrations" in the former "take away all fear."[2] Brown's illustrations are mainly done in watercolor and pencil. In some of the Arthur books, Brown hides the names of his three children in the illustration. (Tolon, Tucker, and Eliza)[1]
[edit] The Creation of Arthur
“We feel like we should do something and we're doing what we can," -Marc Brown
The day Arthur was born is an unforgettable moment for Marc Brown. It all started over night, When Marc Brown's son Tolon asked him for a bed time story. “Tell me a story about a weird animal” he said. The first thing that came to Marc Brown's mind was an aardvark. Since he had so much passion towards working with kids, telling stories and drawing he wondered if he can make a living by putting all his talent together. Before Marc Brown's current success, he had many jobs, which were stints as a truck driver, soda jerk, actor, chicken farmer, television art director, short order cook, and college professor. Marc Brown turned a number of offers down before he accepted PBS kids for their idea of using media and animation to influence kids to read. The show Arthur is produced with WGBH in Boston and Cookie Jar Entertainment in Montréal. Arthur is a T.V show that gives there audience which are kids a message that will help them in life. Marc Brown uses some of his experience to create “Arthur” episodes. Marc Brown says that when he creates his shows “Arthur” he feels like he goes back to his grade three years this helps him express how the characters feel in his shows and books. For example he uses the bullies he faced in grade three when he talks about the impression people have on the bully in this T.V show which is Binky Barns. Most of the characters in Marc Brown's books are modeled after one person or a combination of people from his life. For inspiration Marc Brown looks to his three children; Tolon, Tucker, and Eliza. "I think the best ideas come from real life. If you're looking for great ideas for your own stories, just keep your eyes and ears open. Great stories are around you every day. I like to look for things that are helpful to kids and families to write about." Marc Brown quotes. Now Tolon works with Marc Brown and helps him with the television show since Marc Brown gets his best ideas from his family; due to that reasoning Tolon soon became the assistant producer of "Arthur". Arthur is a learning show that entertains people while providing kids with experience on how to face the challenges, lessons and obstacles of growing up. Arthur's target audiences are boys and girls ages 2-5, with a secondary target of 6- 11 year old. Over 60 million books sold to date in the US alone and Arthur series a #1 New York Times bestseller. In the past ten years Marc Brown sold over 65 million books in the United States. The Arthur series has received 17 Emmy nominations and won 6 awards. Arthur also received the George Foster Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting. Marc Brown faced many obstacles in life which were mainly a failure. Although he slipped from many milestones, he knew that he still had a chance for what he believed in, wanted to achieve and strive for. Not only did Marc Brown have confidence in himself, he also has a positive attitude and that is what brought him to where he is today.
[edit] List of books
[edit] Arthur Adventure Series
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This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
- 1976 - Arthur's Nose
- 1979 - Arthur's Eyes
- 1980 - Arthur's Valentine
- 1981 - 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 First Sleepover
- 1994 - Arthur's Chicken Pox
- 1995 - Arthur's TV Trouble
- 1996 - Arthur Writes a Story
- 1996 - Arthur's Reading Race
- 1997 - Arthur's Computer Disaster
- 1998 - Arthur Lost and Found
- 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
[edit] Arthur's Audiobooks
- 2000 - Mark Brown's Arthur Chapter Books: Volume 1 (Reissue) - (Arthur's Mystery Envelope, Arthur and the Scare-Your-Pants-Off Club, and Arthur Makes the Team) ISBN 0-8072-8015-1
- 2000 - Mark Brown's Arthur Chapter Books: Volume 2 (Reissue) - (Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest, Arthur Accused!, and Locked in the Library) ISBN 0-8072-8040-2
- 2000 - Mark Brown's Arthur Chapter Books: Volume 3 (Reissue) - (Buster's Dino Dilemma, The Mystery of the Stolen Bike, and Arthur and the Lost Diary) ISBN 0-8072-8090-9
- 1999 - Marc Brown's Arthur Chapter Books: Volume 4 - (Who's in Love with Arthur, Arthur Rocks with BINKY, Arthur and the Popularity Test) ISBN 0-8072-8146-8
[edit] Beginner Books
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This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
- Wings on Things
- A World Full of Monsters (illustrator)
- Spooky Riddles
- Glasses for D.W.
- From Whom the Bell Tolls
- The Bionic Bunny Show
- Arthur's Teacher Moves In
- Arthur Tricks the Tooth Fairy
- Arthur's Reading Race
- Witches four written 1980
- Arthur's Animal Adventure
- Pickle Things
- 1995 - D.W. the Picky Eater
[edit] Chapter Books
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This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
- Arthur and the Mystery Envelope
- Arthur and the Double Dare
- Arthur and the Crunch Cereal Contest
- Arthur and the Cootie-Catcher
- King Arthur
- Arthur and the Big Blow-up
- Arthur and the Scare-your-pants-off Club
- Arthur and the Lost Diary
- Arthur and the 1001 Dads
- Arthur and the Perfect Brother
- Arthur rocks with Binky'
- Arthur and the Nerves of Steal
- Arthur and the Poetry Contest
- Arthur and the Popularity Test
- Arthur Accused!
- Arthur Loses His Marbles
- Arthur Makes the Team
- Arthur and the Comet Crisis
- Buster Baxter, Cat Saver
- Buster Makes the Grade
- Buster's Dino Dilemma
- Muffy's Secret Admirer
- Francine, Believe It or Not
- Francine the Superstar
- "The Poetry Contest"
- The Mystery of the Stolen Bike
- Locked in the Library
- Who's in Love with Arthur?
- BINKY RULES
[edit] Good Sports Chapter Books
- Arthur Race to Read
- Arthur and the Best Coach Ever
- Arthur and the Goalie Ghost
- Arthur and the Pen-Pal Playoff
- Arthur and the Recess Rookie
- Arthur and the Seventh Inning Stretcher
- Arthur and the Poetry Contest
[edit] Books Illustrated by Marc Brown
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This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
- 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
[edit] Books by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
- Dinosaur's Travel (Dinosaurs Travel) by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
- Dinosaurs Alive and Well!: A Guide to Good Health (Dino Life Guides for Families) by Marc Brown and Laurie Krasny Brown
- How to Be a Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them (Dino Life Guides for Families) by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
- When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death (Dino Life Guides for Families) by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
- Dinosaurs Divorce by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
[edit] References
- ^ a b Schaefer, Pat (2001). Watson, Victor. ed. The Cambridge Guide to Children’s Books in English. Elizabeth L. Keyser, Juliet Partridge, Morag Styles (advisory editors). Cambridge University Press. pp. 109. ISBN 0 521 55064 5.
- ^ Barstow, Barbara; Riggle, Judith (1995). Beyond Picture Books: A Guide to First Readers (Second edition ed.). New Providence, NJ: R.R. Bowker. pp. 84–85. ISBN 0-8352-3519-X.
