Marcia Brown facts for kids

Marcia Joan Brown (born July 13, 1918 – died April 28, 2015) was a famous American writer and artist. She created over 30 wonderful children's books. Marcia Brown was very talented. She won the important Caldecott Medal three times for her amazing illustrations. This award is given by the American Library Association for the best pictures in a U.S. picture book. She also received six Caldecott Honor awards. In 1992, she won the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal. This award celebrates someone's lasting work in children's literature. Her books have been translated into many languages. These include Afrikaans, German, Japanese, Spanish, and Xhosa. Marcia Brown is known as one of the most celebrated illustrators in children's books.

Marcia Brown's Life Story

Early Life and Education

Marcia Brown was born in Rochester, New York. When she was older, she went to the New York State College for Teachers. This school is now known as the University at Albany.

Becoming a Writer and Illustrator

After college, Marcia Brown taught at Cornwall High School in New York City. It was there that she started her journey as a writer. Her very first book was called The Little Carousel. It was a 32-page picture book. She wrote the story and drew all the pictures herself. Scribner's published it in 1946.

Marcia grew up during a tough time called the Great Depression. At first, she thought about becoming a doctor. But she later decided to teach. Then, she found her true passion in writing and illustrating books for children.

Awards and Recognition

Top Honors for Children's Books

Marcia Brown received many special awards for her work. She was nominated twice for the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. This is one of the highest honors for creators of children's books. She was nominated in 1966 and again in 1976.

In 1977, she won the Regina Medal. This award from the Catholic Libraries Association celebrates a person's ongoing and excellent contributions to children's literature.

Caldecott Medals and Honors

Marcia Brown won the prestigious Caldecott Medal three times. This award is given every year by the American Library Association. It honors the illustrator of the most outstanding American picture book for children. Only one other person, David Wiesner, has also won three Caldecott Medals.

Her winning books were:

• Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper in 1954
• Once a Mouse...: A Fable Cut in Wood in 1961
• Shadow in 1982

Besides her three gold medals, Marcia Brown also received six Caldecott Honor awards. These books are recognized as being excellent, and they display silver seals instead of gold ones. She earned these honors between 1948 and 1954.

Selected Books by Marcia Brown

Marcia Brown wrote and illustrated many beloved books. Here are some of her well-known works:

• The Little Carousel (1946) – Her first book, which she wrote and illustrated.
• Stone Soup: An Old Tale (1947) – A Caldecott Honor book. She also narrated an audio version of it.
• The Trail of Courage: A Story of New Amsterdam (1948)
• Henry, Fisherman: A Story of the Virgin Islands (1949) – A Caldecott Honor book.
• Dick Whittington and his Cat (1950) – A Caldecott Honor book.
• Skipper John's Cook (1951) – A Caldecott Honor book.
• Puss in Boots (1952) – A Caldecott Honor book.
• The Steadfast Tin Soldier (1953) – A Caldecott Honor book.
• Anansi, the Spider Man: Jamaican Folk Tales (1954) – Illustrated for author Philip Manderson Sherlock.
• Cinderella, or the Little Glass Slipper (1954) – A Caldecott Medal winner.
• Three Billy Goats Gruff (1957)
• Once a Mouse...: A Fable Cut in Wood (1961) – A Caldecott Medal winner.
• The Wild Swans (1963)
• How, Hippo! (1969)
• The Bun: A Tale From Russia (1972)
• The Snow Queen (1972)
• All Butterflies: An ABC (1974)
• The Blue Jackal (1977)
• Shadow (1982) – A Caldecott Medal winner.
• Sing a Song of Popcorn: Every Child's Book of Poems (1988) – Illustrated for Beatrice Schenk de Regniers.
• The Sea of Gold and Other Tales from Japan (1988)
• Of Swans, Sugarplums, and Satin Slippers: Ballet Stories for Children (1991)
• How the Ostrich Got its Long Neck: A Tale from the Akamba of Kenya (1995)

Other Works

Marcia Brown also wrote a book about her thoughts on children's books and art:

• Lotus Seeds: Children, Pictures, and Books (1986)

Books Translated into Other Languages

Marcia Brown's stories are loved around the world. One of her books, Once a Mouse..., was translated into Turkish:

• Minik fare kükredi... [Once a Mouse...] (Maya Kitap, 2018) (translated by Şeyda Uysal)

See also

In Spanish: Marcia Brown para niños