About the Author:
Marc Brown, who was born in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1946, received great encouragement and support from his grandmother and uncle. Inspired by the books of Maurice Sendak, Brown decided to pursue his ambition of becoming an illustrator. After receiving a B.F.A. in painting from the Cleveland Institute of Art, he worked as a TV art director, a professor of mechanical drawing, and a freelance illustrator, before becoming a writer. In his books, he addresses the fears and problems which children face and events like friendship, family, school and pets. For his illustrations, Brown uses pencil with watercolor on a variety of papers to achieve different visual effects. The "Arthur" series, about the everyday adventures of a lovable aardvark, began in 1976 and continues to this day with 25 titles published. Brown has also created other series such as the "Rhymes" series, and the nonfiction "Dinosaur" series, which conveys messages of do's and don'ts. These series, like the stories of Arthur, hold the attention of young children while transporting their imaginations on magical journeys.
From School Library Journal:
Kindergarten-Grade 3-To get to his swimming lesson, Arthur must take the bus on his own for the first time. His pal Buster comes along for moral support. The unknown is scary and their resolve is shaken by some urban-legendary gossip: "I heard about his guy who got on the bus, and it just kept going and going and going." Nevertheless, Arthur and Buster pluck up their courage and take the trip. Trouble ensues when they fall asleep, miss their stop, and become lost in a strange part of town. Although he is frightened, Arthur knows just what to do. Looking for a phone booth leads the boys to a diner where they calm their nerves with "six chocolate winkies and two cans of strawberry soda." Finding the telephone broken and having spent all their money on snacks, Arthur once again demonstrates his resourcefulness by pleading their case to the bus driver. He not only lets them on, but also calls their parents and chauffeurs them right to Arthur's front door. Brown's trademark watercolor-and-ink cartoons are full of witty details, inviting readers into this aardvark's world. Another pleaser, this time one that speaks of self-reliance and safety.
Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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