Marc Brown (author) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marc Brown
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Brown at a Naperville, Illinois bookstore in April 2011
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| 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. He is best known for creating the Arthur book series. Marc Brown writes and illustrates these popular books. Many spin-off shows and books have also come from the Arthur series.
Contents
Growing Up and Finding Art
Marc Brown grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania. He had three sisters. His grandmother, Thora, told him many stories. These stories inspired Marc to write his own tales later in life. For example, he used his 7th-grade algebra teacher's name, Mr. Rathbun, for the character Mr. Ratburn in his books.
Grandma Thora also encouraged Marc's love for drawing. He discovered this talent when he was six years old. While attending McDowell Senior High School, his art teacher, Nancy Bryan, taught him about watercolors. Marc still uses watercolors for most of his illustrations today. He was inspired by other artists like Marc Chagall. Maurice Sendak, who wrote Where the Wild Things Are, also influenced Marc to become a children's book illustrator.
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College and First Steps
With his Grandma Thora's help, Marc Brown studied graphic design. He went to the Cleveland Institute of Art. Even though some people disagreed, Marc continued to follow his dream. He wanted to be a children's book illustrator.
After graduating, Marc showed his drawings to a publishing company. Houghton Mifflin in Boston, Massachusetts, offered him a deal. This offer helped Marc decide to make illustrating his full-time career. In 1969, he began teaching part-time at Garland Junior College in Boston. He also illustrated textbooks.
Marc Brown's Career Journey
Before becoming a full-time writer, Marc Brown had many different jobs. He worked as a truck driver and a short-order cook. He was also a TV art director and a college professor. His time as a professor was short. The college went out of business during his first semester.
The Arthur Series Begins
Marc Brown published the first Arthur book, Arthur's Nose, in 1976. He has a fun secret in his Arthur books. The names of his two sons, Tolon Adam and Tucker Eliot, are hidden in almost every Arthur book. He also has a daughter named Eliza. Her name appears hidden in at least two books.
Marc Brown has won three Emmy awards. The Arthur TV series is based on his books. It was the number one show on PBS for three years. This happened in 1997, 2000, and 2001. He also worked as an executive producer for the show. He helped make the show from season ten to season twenty-five.
Books and Beyond
In 2000, five Arthur audiobooks were released. Two more came out in 2007 and 2009. In 1996, the books became an animated TV series on PBS. The show was made for kids aged four to eight years old. It ran for nearly 25 years. The final episode aired on February 21, 2022. As of 2011, Marc Brown has published over forty Arthur books. He also has seven audiobooks and two beginner books.
Personal Life
Marc Brown married his first wife, Stephanie Marini, on September 1, 1968. She was a ballet dancer and a college teacher. They had two sons together. Their marriage ended in 1977.
On September 11, 1983, he married his second wife, Laurene Krasny. She is a psychologist and a writer. They have one daughter together. Marc Brown currently lives in Hingham, Massachusetts.
