Brown, Marc: - "Best known as Arthur's creator, author/illustrator Marc Brown has been working with the beloved aardvark for over thirty years. Born one night when Brown was telling a bedtime story to his son, Arthur soon evolved into the book Arthur's Nose, published in 1976. Since then, Brown has written and illustrated more than thirty Arthur and D.W. books, and has illustrated many other books - including several with his wife, author/illustrator and psychologist, Laurie Krasny Brown. Brown was born in 1946, in Erie, Pennsylvania. His passion for drawing was kindled at age six by the loving attentions of his grandmother (Grandma Thora), who saved his artwork in her bottom bureau drawer. I knew it must be special, recalls Brown, because she didn't save many things. Besides encouraging his artwork, Brown's grandmother bequeathed him her gift for weaving imaginative stories on command for her grandchildren. And it was his grandmother who built an education fund that helped Brown pay for art school at the Cleveland Art Institute, which he attended from 1964 to 1969. Before creating the Arthur book series, Brown worked at various jobs, including stints as a truck driver, short-order cook, college professor, television art director, and children's book illustrator. In addition to his work with WGBH developing the ARTHUR television series, Brown continues to create new books. (See lists of Arthur books right here on this Web site.) Brown lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Laurie. He also has three grown sons. Brown's own childhood and the experiences of his three children are his main inspiration for the Arthur stories."