Marc Brown (author)

Learn to draw Arthur with Marc Brown! - YouTube

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Marc Tolon Brown (born November 25, 1946) is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. Brown writes and illustrates the book series Arthur and is best known for making the series and its many spin-offs. The names of his sons, Tolon Adam and Tucker Eliot, have been hidden in all the books of Arthur except one. He also has a daughter named Eliza, whose name is hidden in at least two books. He is an Emmy award winner three times; Arthur's TV series adapted from the books was named number one on PBS for three years (1997, 2000, 2001). He has also served as executive producer on the show since the 10th season. He currently lives in Hingham, Massachusetts.

Video Marc Brown (author)

Early life and education

When growing up in Erie, Pennsylvania, with three sisters, Brown was told many stories by his grandmother, Thora. It inspired Brown to write his own stories in the last years of his life. An example of this is "borrow" from his 7th-grade history teacher named Mr. Rathbun for Mr. character Ratburn. It was Grandma Thora who also triggered Brown's inclination to draw, which was discovered at the age of six. When attending McDowell Senior High School, his teacher, Nancy Bryan, introduced him to watercolors, which he now uses for most of his illustrations. Brown was inspired by other artists such as Marc Chagall. Maurice Sendak, author of children's books Where Wild Things Are, also influenced Brown in determining career choices.

With the help of his grandmother Thora, Brown was able to major in graphic design at the Cleveland Institute of Art. Even with the opposition of his colleagues, Brown continues to advance with his dream of becoming a children's book illustrator. After graduation, Brown presented his example image to the Houghton Mifflin publishing company, in Boston, Massachusetts, which offered him a deal worth USD $ 5,000. This offer allows Brown to confirm his decision to make professionals describe his career. In 1969, he began teaching part-time at Garland Junior College in Boston and pictorial text books.