Students, students, what do you see?

I see a teacher, a principal, and an author looking at me!

I've wrote over 300 children books, collaborated to make over a dozen award winning books, and have my own personal award, 'The Bill Martin Jr. Picture Book Award'!

Students, students, what do you see?

I see a college student, named William Ivan "Bill" Martin Jr. looking at me!

A student who struggled with reading and was practically illiterate until he was the age of twenty!

1934-1938 1956-1961

Students, students, what do you see?

I see a high school English, dramatics, and journalism teacher looking at me!

I taught at St. John, Kansas for three and a half years starting in the year 1938-1941. Then enlisted to serve 4 years in the Army after Pearl Harbor, to be a newspaper editor.

1934-1938 @Kansas State Teacher College

1938-1941 @St. John HS

1941-1945 Enlisted/Serving in the Army

Students, students, what do you see?

I see the first published book in 1945 by Martin & Sampson that sold over one million copies!

Elanor Roosevelt gave this book a great review in her column 'My Day' in 1946!

Students, students what do you see?

I see Bill Martin Jr. reading to me!

1945-1955 @ Tell-Well Shop

Bill Martin Jr. had published over 20 collaborated books with his brother Bernard at Tell-Well Shop!

Students, students, what do you see?

I see a master graduate, principal, and doctoral graduate looking at me!

1956-1957 @NWU Graduate School

1958-1961 Principal @Crow Island Elementary 

1956-1961 Ph.D. in Reading and Child Development

"The things I believe about language have become so much a part of the way I think and write that it's hard for me to sort them out and talk about them separately, I guess I've become integrated, sort of like the curriculum."

Students, students, what do you see?

I see a new collaboration of books written by Bill and Peggy!

1961-1979 Bill continuously worked with Peggy Brogan

1967-2006 Bill collaborated with his dear friend Eric Carle

After 'Brown Bear' the beginning of my true career started!

Students, students, what do you see?

I see two great friends making history!

1945-2004 The best of friends and neighbors, Bill and Michael have collaborated over 23 books, and award winners!

Students, students, what do you see?

I see two besties learning from each other to teach me!

1980-1989 Bill Collaborated with John Archambault

Skit skat skoodle doot.

Flip flop flee.

Everybody running for more books by Bill Martin Jr. to see!

I've always aspired to be a writer like Bill! So we collaborated!