Maurice Sendak, the author of the children's book Where the Wild Things Are, also influenced Brown in deciding on a career choice. Brown was inspired by other artists like Marc Chagall. 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. It was Grandma Thora who also fueled Brown's affinity for drawing, which was discovered at the age of six. An example of this was the 'borrowing' of his 7th grade algebra teacher's name Mr. This inspired Brown to write stories of his own in the later years of his life. While growing up in Erie, Pennsylvania, with his three sisters, Brown was told many stories by his grandmother Thora. He currently lives in Hingham, Massachusetts. He also served as an executive producer on the show during seasons ten through twenty-five. He is a three-time Emmy award winner the Arthur TV series adapted from the books was named number one on PBS for three years (1997, 2000, 2001). He also has a daughter named Eliza, whose name appears hidden in at least two books. The names of his two sons, Tolon Adam and Tucker Eliot, have been hidden in all of the Arthur books except for one. Brown writes as well as illustrates the Arthur book series and is best known for creating that series and its numerous spin-offs. Marc Tolon Brown (born November 25, 1946) is an American author and illustrator of children's books.

Brown interviewed by Alison Starling at the National Book Festival in 2022

D.W.'s Guide to Preschool by Marc Brown