Margaret Wise Brown
Margaret Wise Brown was a celebrated American author renowned for her significant contributions to children's literature. Born on May 23, 1910, in Brooklyn, New York, she grew up in Whitestone Landing, where her childhood experiences in nature greatly influenced her writing. Brown's educational journey included studying in Switzerland and graduating with a B.A. in literature from Hollins College. She became involved in an innovative educational program that focused on storytelling from a child's perspective, which shaped her approach to writing.
Throughout her career, Brown authored over one hundred children's books, many of which have become timeless classics, such as "Goodnight Moon" and "The Runaway Bunny." Her work garnered critical acclaim, including a Caldecott Medal for "The Little Island" in 1947. Sadly, her life was cut short when she passed away on November 13, 1952, in Nice, France, following a medical procedure. Brown's legacy continues to resonate, as her books remain beloved by generations of children and parents alike, highlighting the importance of imagination and simplicity in childhood development.
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Subject Terms
Margaret Wise Brown
- Born: May 23, 1910
- Birthplace: New York, New York
- Died: November 13, 1952
- Place of death: Nice, France
Biography
Margaret Wise Brown was born in Brooklyn, NewYork, on May 23, 1910, the daughter of Robert Bruce Brown and his wife, Maude. She was the granddaughter of Benjamin Gratz Brown, a founder of the national Republican Party who ran for vice president with Horace Greeley in 1872. Brown grew up in Whitestone Landing, New York. Isolated by age from her siblings, she spent much time playing alone in the woods and on the beach. These experiences provided her with memories that she later recreated in her books.
After attending schools in New York, she studied at the Château Brilliantmont School in Lausanne, Switzerland, from 1923 through 925. She graduated from Dana Hall in Wellesley, Massachusetts, in 1928, and she received a B.A. in literature from Hollins College in 1932. While taking a writing course at Columbia University, she heard about an experimental program in education sponsored by the Bureau for Educational Experiment (now known as the Bank Street College of Education). She entered its Cooperative School for Student Teachers in 1935; part of the program involved telling stories in the child’s voice from the child’s viewpoint. She also taught and observed children, noting their reactions to the world around them.
Brown decided not to pursue teaching and concentrated instead on writing children’s books. In 1938, when publisher William R. Scott decided to print children’s books, he looked to the Bank Street School, where his son was a student, for a possible editor. Brown was recommended for the position, and she remained an editor until 1941.
Brown authored more than one hundred children’s books, many of them considered classics, including Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny. She won a Caldecott Medal in 1947 for The Little Island and was a Caldecott Medal finalist in 1944 for a Child’s Goodnight Book and in 1955 for Wheel on the Chimney. In 1952, Brown went to France, where her book, Mister Dog, was about to appear in a French language edition. While there, she fell ill. She died in Nice, France, from an embolism following minor surgery, on November 13, 1952.