Marla Frazee
Encyclopedia
Marla Frazee is an American
author
and illustrator
of children's literature
. She twice received a Caldecott Honor and has won numerous awards in her field.
and moved to Glendale, California
during her childhood. She found her early inspiration in children's books such as Maurice Sendak
's, Where the Wild Things Are
and Robert McCloskey
's, Blueberries for Sal
. She illustrated her first book in third grade, called The Friendship Circle. After it won awards in state competitions, Frazee created a duplicate for her school library. It was Frazee's first "book."
She attended college in the Greater Los Angeles Area
, earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts
at Art Center College of Design
and graduating in 1981. At Art Center College of Design, Frazee met photographer Tim Bradley. The two married in Pasadena, California
and have lived there since 1986. She has three sons.
, Milton Bradley
, and Parker Brothers
. Frazee made Happy Meal
boxes for McDonalds and team characters for the National Football League
which were used for many purposes. She found whatever illustration work she could and she sent her work to various publishers.
, a journal for children's and young adult literature.
. The book revolves around a family with seven children, each of which are extremely picky eaters. A review from the Horn Book called it, "A pleasure for parent and child." More good reviews followed, and Frazee became more popular in the world of children's books.
. Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild!, deals with Harriet, a little girl who doesn't mean to be pesky but can't help but get in the way of her mother. They both do things they wish they hadn't, but their love for each other remains strong. Then in 2001, Frazee illustrated Everywhere Babies, a book written by Susan Meyers. The book tells babies all the ways their families love them, and the diverse community Frazee creates is united by the love for their children. After Everywhere Babies, Frazee illustrated Linda Smith's text, Mrs. Biddlebox in 2002. Mrs. Biddlebox uses all the ingredients to her bad day (fog, dirt, and sky) to bake a delicious cake.
Frazee uses pen and ink drawings to make the story of an overly-active and imaginative third-grader come to life. More recently, Frazee wrote and illustrated A Couple of Boys have the Best Week Ever. Loosely based upon the adventures of her son and his friend at a nature camp, Frazee captures the essence of summer vacation
and what it means to children. Frazee earned her first Caldecott Honor for her illustrations in the book, although she wrote it as well. Following the publication of A Couple of Boys have the Best Week Ever, Frazee illustrated All the World, a book written by Liz Garton Scanlon
. The book follows a family and their friends through the course of a day and ends with a festive gathering at night. For her beautiful illustrations and double page spreads, Frazee picked up another Caldecott Honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and illustrator
Illustrator
An Illustrator is a narrative artist who specializes in enhancing writing by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text...
of children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
. She twice received a Caldecott Honor and has won numerous awards in her field.
Early Life and College
Frazee was born in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and moved to Glendale, California
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
during her childhood. She found her early inspiration in children's books such as Maurice Sendak
Maurice Sendak
Maurice Bernard Sendak is an American writer and illustrator of children's literature. He is best known for his book Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963.-Early life:...
's, Where the Wild Things Are
Where The Wild Things Are
Where the Wild Things Are is a 1963 children's picture book by American writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak, originally published by Harper & Row. The book has been adapted into other media several times, including an animated short in 1973 , a 1980 opera, and, in 2009, a live-action feature film...
and Robert McCloskey
Robert McCloskey
Robert McCloskey was an American author and illustrator of children's books. McCloskey wrote and illustrated eight books, two of which won the Caldecott Medal, the American Library Association's annual award of distinction for children's book illustration.Many of McCloskey's books were set on the...
's, Blueberries for Sal
Blueberries for Sal
Blueberries for Sal is a children's picture book by Robert McCloskey. It was awarded the Caldecott Honor in 1949.The story is of a little girl Sal and her mother as they go out into the country to pick blueberries for winter, and a bear and his mother as they go to eat berries for winter from the...
. She illustrated her first book in third grade, called The Friendship Circle. After it won awards in state competitions, Frazee created a duplicate for her school library. It was Frazee's first "book."
She attended college in the Greater Los Angeles Area
Greater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
, earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts
In the United States and Canada, the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, usually abbreviated BFA, is the standard undergraduate degree for students seeking a professional education in the visual or performing arts. In some countries such a degree is called a Bachelor of Creative Arts or BCA...
at Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design is a private college located in Pasadena, California, and was cited by BusinessWeek as one of the 60 best design schools in the world. The college’s industrial design program is consistently ranked number one by both DesignIntelligence and U.S...
and graduating in 1981. At Art Center College of Design, Frazee met photographer Tim Bradley. The two married in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
and have lived there since 1986. She has three sons.
After College (1981-1990)
After graduating from college, Frazee worked for various companies in advertising, educational publishing, toys, games, and magazines. She did toy design with companies like MattelMattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
, Milton Bradley
Milton Bradley
Milton Bradley , an American game pioneer, was credited by many with launching the board game industry in North America with Milton Bradley Company....
, and Parker Brothers
Parker Brothers
Parker Brothers is a toy and game manufacturer and brand. Since 1883, the company has published more than 1,800 games; among their best known products are Monopoly, Cluedo , Sorry, Risk, Trivial Pursuit, Ouija, Aggravation, and Probe...
. Frazee made Happy Meal
Happy Meal
A "Happy Meal" is a meal specifically marketed at children, sold at the fast-food chain McDonald's since June 1979. A toy is typically included with the food, both of which are usually contained in a small box or paper bag with the McDonald's logo....
boxes for McDonalds and team characters for the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
which were used for many purposes. She found whatever illustration work she could and she sent her work to various publishers.
World Famous Muriel and the Magic Mystery - That Kookoory! (1990-1995)
In 1990 Frazee illustrated her first published book, World Famous Muriel and the Magic Mystery, written by Sue Alexander. After Muriel, Frazee illustrated That Kookoory!, written by Margaret Walden Froehlich. She received good reviews of her work in the Horn Book MagazineHorn Book Magazine
The Horn Book Magazine, founded in Boston in 1924, is a bimonthly periodical about literature for children and young adults. It began life as a "suggestive purchase list" prepared by Bertha Mahony Miller and Elinor Whitney Field, proprietresses of the country's first bookstore for children, The...
, a journal for children's and young adult literature.
The Seven Silly Eaters (1997)
It was with the publishing of The Seven Silly Eaters, written by Mary Ann Hoberman that Frazee achieved moderate success in the field of illustrationIllustration
An illustration is a displayed visualization form presented as a drawing, painting, photograph or other work of art that is created to elucidate or dictate sensual information by providing a visual representation graphically.- Early history :The earliest forms of illustration were prehistoric...
. The book revolves around a family with seven children, each of which are extremely picky eaters. A review from the Horn Book called it, "A pleasure for parent and child." More good reviews followed, and Frazee became more popular in the world of children's books.
On the Morn of Mayfest - Mrs. Biddlebox (1998-2002)
Following the release of The Seven Silly Eaters, Frazee illustrated many books which increased her popularity. In 1998, Frazee illustrated On the Morn of Mayfest written by Erica Silverman. After the publication of On the Morn of Mayfest, Frazee's next book was Hush, Little Baby. Frazee illustrated the classic folk song in 1999. In 2000, Frazee illustrated a book written by Mem FoxMem Fox
Mem Fox, AM is an Australian writer of children's books and an educationalist specialising in literacy. Fox is semi-retired and lives in Adelaide.-Career:...
. Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild!, deals with Harriet, a little girl who doesn't mean to be pesky but can't help but get in the way of her mother. They both do things they wish they hadn't, but their love for each other remains strong. Then in 2001, Frazee illustrated Everywhere Babies, a book written by Susan Meyers. The book tells babies all the ways their families love them, and the diverse community Frazee creates is united by the love for their children. After Everywhere Babies, Frazee illustrated Linda Smith's text, Mrs. Biddlebox in 2002. Mrs. Biddlebox uses all the ingredients to her bad day (fog, dirt, and sky) to bake a delicious cake.
Roller Coaster (2003)
Frazee wrote her first book, Roller Coaster in 2003. The idea for the book was conceived during a family trip, during which Frazee's sons talked continuously about roller coasters. Roller Coaster became the first book both written and illustrated by Frazee. It follows a typical roller coaster ride and its passengers; a young girl apprehensive about the ride becomes the main character.Clementine - All the World (2006-2009)
In 2006, Frazee illustrated Clementine, a series of chapter books written by Sara PennypackerSara Pennypacker
Sara Pennypacker, born in Massachusetts, is an author of children's literature who was awarded the Golden Kite Award for Pierre In Love.She has written thirteen children's books, including the those in the Clementine and Stuart series...
Frazee uses pen and ink drawings to make the story of an overly-active and imaginative third-grader come to life. More recently, Frazee wrote and illustrated A Couple of Boys have the Best Week Ever. Loosely based upon the adventures of her son and his friend at a nature camp, Frazee captures the essence of summer vacation
Summer vacation
Summer vacation is a vacation in the summertime between school years in which students and instructors are off school typically between 6 and 12 weeks, depending on the country and district.-Students:In some countries, students participate in programs such as organized sports, summer camps, and...
and what it means to children. Frazee earned her first Caldecott Honor for her illustrations in the book, although she wrote it as well. Following the publication of A Couple of Boys have the Best Week Ever, Frazee illustrated All the World, a book written by Liz Garton Scanlon
Elizabeth Garton Scanlon
Elizabeth Garton Scanlon is an American author of Children's books.-Career:Scanlon grew up Vail, Colorado and later moved to Wisconsin. Her undergraduate degree was in English and her graduate was in Creative Writing. After helping her daughter put on socks on her daughter she got the idea for...
. The book follows a family and their friends through the course of a day and ends with a festive gathering at night. For her beautiful illustrations and double page spreads, Frazee picked up another Caldecott Honor.
Boss Baby (2010)
In fall 2010, "The Boss Baby," both written and illustrated by Frazee, was published. With her playful use of humorous text and watercolor illustrations, Frazee describes a young couple's newest arrival. The baby quickly takes over their lives with his nightly "meetings" and demands.Awards
- Caldecott Honors for A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever and All the World
- School Library Journal's Best Book of 2001
- Horn Book Fanfare
- Parenting Magazine Reading Magic Award
- Society of Children's Book Writer's and Illustrator's Golden Kite AwardGolden Kite AwardThe Golden Kite Awards are given annually by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators to recognize excellence in children’s literature. Instituted in 1972, the Golden Kite Awards are the only children’s literary award judged by a jury of peers...
- Children's Literature Council of Southern California's Excellence in Illustration Award
As Illustrator
- World Famous Muriel and the Magic Mystery
- That Kookoory!
- The Seven Silly Eaters
- On the Morn of Mayfest
- Harriet, You'll Drive Me Wild!
- Everywhere Babies
- Mrs. Biddlebox
- New Baby Train
- Clementine Series
- Clementine
- The Talented Clementine
- Clementine's Letter
- All the World
As Author and Illustrator
- Roller Coaster
- Santa Claus, The World's Number One Toy Expert
- Walk On, A Guide for Babies of All Ages
- A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever
- The Boss Baby
External links
- Marla Frazee Official Webite
- Marla Frazee Bio on Answers
- Marla Frazee Interview on Reading Rockets
- Marla Frazee Santa Claus Interview
- Marla Frazee Books on Amazon
- Marla Frazee Books at Vroman's Bookstore
- Marla Frazee A Couple of Boys have the Best Week Ever Interview
- Marla Frazee Official Publisher Page, Simon and Schuster
- Marla Frazee Bio