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.
While growing up in Erie, Pennsylvania, with his three sisters Bonnie Colleen and Kim, 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.[1] 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.
With the help of his Grandma Thora, Brown was able to major in graphic design at the Cleveland Institute of Art.[2] 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.[3]
Career
He had many different jobs before focusing solely on his writing career.[4] 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.[5]
Brown published the first book in the Arthur series, Arthur's Nose, in 1976. The names of his two sons, Tolon Adam and Tucker Eliot, have been hidden in all of the Arthur books except for one.[citation needed] He also has a daughter named Eliza, whose name appears hidden in at least two books.[citation needed] He is a three-time Emmy award winner; the Arthur animated television series adapted from the books, which first aired on PBS in October 1996, was named number one on said network for three years (1997, 2000, 2001). He also served as an executive producer on the show during seasons ten through twenty-five.[6] Aiming for an audience aged between four and eight years old, the show ran for nearly 25 years, officially ending on February 21, 2022.[7]
Personal life
Brown married his first wife Stephanie Marini, a ballet dancer and college teacher, on September 1, 1968.[8] Together, they had two sons.[8] The marriage ended in divorce in 1977.[8] On September 11, 1983, he married his second wife, Laurene Krasny, a psychologist and writer.[8] Together, they have a daughter.[8]
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