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Martha Alexander

Biography:

Author and illustrator of the ever-popular "Blackboard Bear" series, Martha Alexander was known for her soft pencil and watercolor illustrations and her simple texts, both of which regale young readers with the magic, delights, and frustrations of childhood. Born in Georgia, Martha was an artist since childhood, trying her hand at ceramics, doll making, fabric and clothing design, portrait painting, children's murals and paintings, decorative collages and mosaics, and teaching art to adults and children. Martha said after attending the Cincinnati Academy of Art, she did not find her niche in the art world until, at the age of forty-five, she was given her first children's book to illustrate. She knew then that her long search for the right medium of expression had been more than justified.

"I felt for the first time that here it was," said Martha. "It was as though I searched all my life to find me - or home." As she went on to produce an impressive selection of picture books, her unique ability to make pictures tell the story and her insightful outlook on children combine to win her popular and critical acclaim.

Interaction with children in her family was a great source of inspiration for her books. Nobody Asked Me if I Wanted a Baby Sister and When the New Baby Comes, I'm Moving Out originated when Martha's two-year-old granddaughter indirectly expressed feelings of sibling rivalry about her new baby sister. She told her mom that the baby wanted to live with grandma. After thinking about the unvoiced resentment and jealousy that might be behind the two-year-old's statement, Martha decided to write a story in which an older brother actually gives his baby sister away. She hoped that by reading about the basic, often unspoken, resentments of sibling rivalry, her young readers will understand they are not alone in these feelings and will find appropriate ways to resolve them.

Martha lived in many places, including New York, Alaska, and Washington, before settling in Honolulu, Hawaii. She has two children, eight grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. Sadly, Martha passed away in 2006. She and her irresistible humor will be missed.

Also by Martha Alexander

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Max and the Dumb Flower Picture

Illustrated bys: Martha Alexander, James Rumford By authors: James Rumford, Martha Alexander
ISBN: 978-1-58089-156-1
Ages: 4 - 7
Availability: In stock
Price: $9.95

Max's teacher wants the class to color-in pictures of flowers for Mother's Day persents. Determined to express his creativity, Max draws his own picture for his mother.

"Martha Alexander (1920-2007) left notes and sketches for this story about the possibilities of "a blank sheet of paper," and James Rumford ably completed it."
--The New York Times Book Review

"[A] lovely tribute to a veteran writer and illustrator whose works no self-respecting library should be without."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Alexander is spot-on with her understanding of the pressures children feel to conform (“You'll be the only one without a nice picture for your mother,” says Miss Tilley) and her respect for their individualism, which to the uninformed, may appear like acting-out. "
--Publishers Weekly

The Little Green Witch

By authors: Barbara Barbieri McGrath, Martha Alexander Illustrator: Martha Alexander
ISBN: 978-1-58089-042-7
Ages: 3 - 6
Availability: In stock
Price: $15.95

This clever retelling of "The Little Red Hen" features a hard-working little witch whose lazy monster friends won't help her make a pumpkin pie.

Also Available As:

The Little Green Witch

Binding Information: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-58089-153-0
Availability: In stock
Price: $7.95