Leonard s marcus biography

Personal

Born December 11, 1950, in Mount Vernon, NY; son of Frank P. (in business) and Estelle Marcus; married Amy Schwartz (a writer and illustrator), May 20, 1990; children: Jacob. Education:Yale University, B.A. (history; magna cum laude), 1972; University of Iowa, M.F.A. (poetry), 1974. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, traveling.

Addresses

Home—Brooklyn, NY. E-mail—[email protected].

Career

Writer and literary historian. Teacher of seminars at School of Visual Art, 1982-90, and New School for Social Research, 1985-90; coordinator of symposia; exhi-

bition curator. Lion and Unicorn, book review editor, 1986-91; Parenting magazine, children's book reviewer, beginning 1987. Judge of National Book Awards, 1996; creator and director of Parenting magazine annual awards for överlägsen kvalitet eller utmärkt prestation in children's literature; standing member of Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award committee. Member of board of trustees, Eric Carle Museum of Picture

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Leonard Marcus

Leonard Marcus is one of the most respected writers and historians of children’s literature. His critically acclaimed books have looked at Caldecott winners, the history and impact of Golden Books, fantasy writers, and the lives of other children’s authors including the influential Margaret Wise Brown.

Marcus reviews children’s books for Parenting magazine since and has been a contributing editor to the magazine since 1988. He is a frequent contributor to The New York Times Book Review, Washington Post Book World, The Horn Book, and Publishers Weekly, among other publications. He has also curated exhibitions on children’s books and book illustration at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, where he is a founding trustee.

Marcus holds degrees in history from Yale and poetry from the University of Iowa Graduate Writers’ Workshop. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the Bank Street College of Education

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Photo by Sonya Sones

Leonard’s pathfinding writings and exhibitions have earned him acclaim as one of the world’s preeminent authorities on children’s books and the people who create them. He is the author of more than 25 award-winning biographies, histories, interview collections, and inside looks at the making of children’s literature’s enduring classics. His reviews and commentary have been featured in the New York Times Book Review, Washington Post, The Horn Book, and on numerous radio and television programs including Good Morning America, All Things Considered, PBS NewsHour, BBC Radio 4, CBC As It Happens, Beijing Television, and Radio New Zealand, among others.

A founding trustee of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Leonard curated the New York Public Library’s landmark exhibition The ABC of It: Why Children’s Books Matter, as well as a long roster of touring exhibitions highlighting the art of Golden Books, Alice and Martin Provensen, Leona