Marc Brown

Photo © 2004 Rob Muller

“The most interesting—and the funniest—things happen in real life.”—Marc Brown



ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marc Brown is best known as the author and illustrator who created the beloved aardvark Arthur. This popular character was born one night over twenty years ago, when Brown was telling his oldest son, Tolon, a bedtime story. Most of the stories he told were about animals, and that night the story just happened to be about an aardvark. Brown has written and illustrated more than thirty Arthur and D.W. (Arthur’s little sister) books since then. He has also illustrated twelve other books with his wife—author, illustrator, and psychologist Laurie Krasny Brown.

As a child, Marc Brown’s passion for drawing was encouraged by his grandmother Thora, who saved his artwork in the bottom drawer of her bureau. “I knew it must be special,” recalls Brown, “because she didn’t save many things.” His grandmother later provided an education fund that helped Brown pay for art school. He attended the Cleveland Institute of Art from 1964 to 1969.

Grandma Thora is just one person in Marc Brown’s life who has afforded the inspiration for one of his characters. Many other characters are based on children he knew while he was growing up and going to school in Mill Creek, Pennsylvania. His sisters—Bonnie, Colleen, and Kimberly—have all served as models for his characters D.W. and Francine. Brown patterned Buster after Terry Johnson, his best friend in elementary school, while Mr. Ratburn is based on “the meanest algebra teacher ever.”

Brown was born in 1946 in Erie, Pennsylvania. Before he created the Arthur series, he worked at a variety of jobs, including stints as a truck driver, short-order cook, college professor, soda jerk, actor, chicken farmer, and television art director. Now, in addition to developing the Arthur television series on PBS, Brown continues to create new books both for Random House Children’s Books and Little, Brown & Company Children’s Books. The Arthur publishing program at Random House includes the Great Big Flap Books, Arthur’s Neighborhood and Arthur Goes to School, as well as the Step into Reading Sticker Books, Arthur’s Reading Race and Glasses for D.W. In addition, Brown has also created Arthur Mini-Play Books for younger readers, including Kiss Hello, Kiss Good-bye and Say the Magic Word. Arthur and D.W. outdo themselves in Arthur’s Really Helpful Word Book.

Marc Brown lives with his wife Laurie and their young daughter, Eliza. He also has two grown sons, Tolon and Tucker. Brown looks to his three children for inspiration and story ideas. He also gets many suggestions from children he meets in schools, libraries, and bookstores around the country.


PRAISE

ARTHUR’S FIRST KISS

—A New York Times Bestseller

Author Bookshelf
		Arthur and the School Pet Written by Marc Brown Trade Paperback During Christmas vacation week, D.W. volunteers to take the classroom pet gerbil, Speedy, home for the holidays. D.W. plans to teach him some new tricks to show her class, but soon learns that taking care of a gerbil isn’t as easy as she thinks, especially one as quick as Speedy. ... Read More
		Arthur and the School Pet Written by Marc Brown Hardcover Library Binding During Christmas vacation week, D.W. volunteers to take the classroom pet gerbil, Speedy, home for the holidays. D.W. plans to teach him some new tricks to show her class, but soon learns that taking care of a gerbil isn’t as easy as she thinks, especially one as quick as Speedy. ... Read More
		Arthur in a Pickle Written by Marc Brown Hardcover Library Binding Arthur must report to the principal's office first thing tomorrow morning for telling Mr. Ratburn his dog ate his homework. That night, Arthur dreams about the weird town of Pickletown and its peculiar pickle citizens. He is chased by the pickle police, jailed by Judge Picklepuss, and must eat everything from... Read More
		Arthur in New York Written by Marc Brown Trade Paperback WHEN ARTHUR AND D.W. travel to New York City with their parents, they visit the Statue of Liberty, a museum, and they even see a Broadway show! But D.W. is most excited about visiting Mary Moo-Cow Palace with her Mary Moo-Cow doll. When D.W. doesn’t follow her parents’ rule and goes... Read More
		Arthur in New York Written by Marc Brown Hardcover Library Binding WHEN ARTHUR AND D.W. travel to New York City with their parents, they visit the Statue of Liberty, a museum, and they even see a Broadway show! But D.W. is most excited about visiting Mary Moo-Cow Palace with her Mary Moo-Cow doll. When D.W. doesn’t follow her parents’ rule and goes... Read More
		Arthur Loses a Friend Written by Marc Brown Hardcover Library Binding When Arthur’s best friend Buster leaves town to visit his father for a month, Buster promises to send postcards to Arthur. Every day Arthur looks for a postcard in the mail, but finds nothing from Buster. When Arthur learns that all his friends at school have heard from Buster, Arthur is... Read More
		Arthur Lost in the Museum Written by Marc Brown Trade Paperback During a class visit to the museum, Arthur needs to make a quick visit to the boys’ lavatory. But a wrong turn leads him into a diorama of life-size models of Pilgrims celebrating the first Thanksgiving . . . just as Mr. Ratburn and his class are about to study it... Read More
		Arthur Lost in the Museum Written by Marc Brown Hardcover Library Binding During a class visit to the museum, Arthur needs to make a quick visit to the boys’ lavatory. But a wrong turn leads him into a diorama of life-size models of Pilgrims celebrating the first Thanksgiving . . . just as Mr. Ratburn and his class are about to study it... Read More
		Arthur Tricks the Tooth Fairy Written by Marc Brown Trade Paperback D.W. is jealous when her big brother Arthur loses a tooth and gets a visit from the Tooth Fairy.  Arthur explains that the Tooth Fairy comes only when you lose a tooth and put it under your pillow at night, so D.W. dreams up some hysterical (but unsuccessful) plans to trick her... Read More
		Arthur's Back to School Surprise Written by Marc Brown Hardcover Library Binding Read More
		Arthur's Classroom Fib Written by Marc Brown Trade Paperback When Arthur and his classmates head back to school, they're asked to write about their summer vacation. But when Arthur hears the exciting things his friends have done, Arthur feels he must make up a better story of his own. Will Arthur tell the whole class a lie or will he... Read More
		Arthur's Classroom Fib Written by Marc Brown Hardcover Library Binding When Arthur and his classmates head back to school, they're asked to write about their summer vacation. But when Arthur hears the exciting things his friends have done, Arthur feels he must make up a better story of his own. Will Arthur tell the whole class a lie or will he... Read More
		Arthur's Fire Drill Written by Marc Brown Illustrated by Marc Brown Trade Paperback When D.W.'s  teacher announces that they will have a fire drill, D.W. is afraid the school is going to burn down! So Arthur gives her his fire fighter's hat, a whistle, and a few tips on fire safety, and appoints her their home fire warden. She then sets off to school prepared... Read More
		Arthur's Fire Drill Written by Marc Brown Illustrated by Marc Brown Hardcover Library Binding When D.W.'s  teacher announces that they will have a fire drill, D.W. is afraid the school is going to burn down! So Arthur gives her his fire fighter's hat, a whistle, and a few tips on fire safety, and appoints her their home fire warden. She then sets off to school prepared... Read More
		Arthur's First Kiss Written by Marc Brown Illustrated by Marc Brown Trade Paperback Rumor has it that Francine is finally going to find a way to kiss Arthur at her birthday party. Arthur is worried, until he is assured that they will not play that spin-the-bottle kissing game. Instead, Francine and Muffy have a devilishly clever plan, and only D.W. and Pal can save... Read More
		Arthur's Lost Puppy Written by Marc Brown Illustrated by Marc Brown Trade Paperback Arthur and D.W. take Baby Kate and Pal to the neighborhood street fair. But suddenly Baby Kate starts crying. Arthur sends D.W. to buy Kate an ice cream cone, and she carefully ties Pal's leash to a bench outside the store. But when she comes out, Pal has squirmed out of... Read More
		Arthur's Lost Puppy Written by Marc Brown Illustrated by Marc Brown Hardcover Arthur and D.W. take Baby Kate and Pal to the neighborhood street fair. But suddenly Baby Kate starts crying. Arthur sends D.W. to buy Kate an ice cream cone, and she carefully ties Pal's leash to a bench outside the store. But when she comes out, Pal has squirmed out of... Read More
		Arthur's Reading Race Written by Marc Brown Trade Paperback Arthur promises to buy ice cream for his little sister, D.W., if she can read ten words.  The twosome race to the park, where D.W. is quick to recognize signs such as ZOO, DON'T WALK, POLICE, and ICE CREAM.  When she reads WET PAINT before her big brother does, Arthur is in for... Read More
		Arthur's Reading Trick Written by Marc Brown Trade Paperback Will Arthur figure out D.W.’s reading trick? D.W. makes a bet with Arthur that she can teach Baby Kate how to read in a single afternoon. The loser of the bet has to change their little sister’s stinky diapers! D.W. devises a clever trick to make sure she wins the bet. But... Read More
		Arthur's Reading Trick Written by Marc Brown Hardcover Library Binding Will Arthur figure out D.W.’s reading trick? D.W. makes a bet with Arthur that she can teach Baby Kate how to read in a single afternoon. The loser of the bet has to change their little sister’s stinky diapers! D.W. devises a clever trick to make sure she wins the bet. But... Read More
		Glasses for D.W. Written by Marc Brown Hardcover Library Binding D.W. wants to wear glasses, just like her big brother, Arthur.  After Arthur explains that without his glasses a hat looks like a bat and some string looks like a ring duck, D.W. sets out to prove that everything looks funny to her, too.  Finally, Arthur finds a way to make his sister... Read More
		Dancing Feet! Written by Lindsey Craig Illustrated by Marc Brown Hardcover Clickity! Clickity! Long green feet!   Who is dancing that clickity beat? Lizard is dancing on clickity feet.   Clickity! Clickity! Happy feet! Introducing a get-up-and-dance toddler book-so catchy and rhythmic, you'll almost want to sing it. Lindsey Craig's rollicking text features funny sound words (Tippity! Creepity! Stompity! Thumpity!), dancing animals, a singsong beat, and a guessing element... Read More
		Dancing Feet! Written by Lindsey Craig Illustrated by Marc Brown Hardcover Library Binding Clickity! Clickity! Long green feet!   Who is dancing that clickity beat? Lizard is dancing on clickity feet.   Clickity! Clickity! Happy feet! Introducing a get-up-and-dance toddler book-so catchy and rhythmic, you'll almost want to sing it. Lindsey Craig's rollicking text features funny sound words (Tippity! Creepity! Stompity! Thumpity!), dancing animals, a singsong beat, and a guessing element... Read More
		Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young Selected by Jack Prelutsky Illustrated by Marc Brown Hardcover First published in 1986 and just as fresh and relevant today, this widely acclaimed, child-friendly poetry anthology is now being reissued with a striking new jacket. In his introduction to this book Jim Trelease, bestselling author of The Read-Aloud Handbook, writes, “No one better recognizes the essence of the child-poetry connection... Read More
		Buying, Training, and Caring for Your Dinosaur Written by Laura Joy Rennert Illustrated by Marc Brown Hardcover Library Binding A hilarious guide to having a dinosaur . . . as a pet! Dogs are delightful. Cats are cute. And fish are fun. But the best pet of all is . . . a DINOSAUR! But how do you pick the dino that’s right for you? Spiky? Armored? Humongous? Pea-brained? Plant-eater? How do... Read More