by Sophia Tesch

Created on: March 25, 2009   Last Updated: April 21, 2009

One morning more than 40 years ago on a Long Island commuter train bound for Penn Station, a passenger sat and listened to the melodic clacking of the train's wheels against the track. Clickty-Clack- Clickty-Clack-Clickity-Clickity- Clack.

As he rode on, listening to the rhythms of the train a stream of words began to meander into his consciousness, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?" Thirty-three minutes later as the train pulled into the station the story "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?" had been conceived. The man was Bill Martin, Jr.

A month later as he was seated in his doctor's office waiting for his appointment Dr. Martin picked up a magazine and began to peruse the pages. A red lobster caught his eye. This lobster, made in a form of tissue paper art seemed to be the perfect complement to his newly written story, the year 1966. He contacted the graphic artist Eric Carle.

Previous to Martin's call, Eric Carle had only a mild interest in children's literature. Yet after the experience of creating the loveably colorful and whimsical creatures of Martin's book he went on to have a historic 27 year career of his own.

Eric Carle's art is an important dynamic to the success of "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?" The vibrant menagerie designed by Carle, featuring the rhythmic cadence of Martin's narrative combine to create a wonderful story that is really fun to read again and again.

"The love of language conquered my fear of the written word." Bill Martin Jr. once said. He had been a non reader until the age of 20 when he went to college. His greatest gift was his teacher Miss Davis who read to him. Bill Martin, Jr. learned to read and went on get a doctorate at Northwestern University in Early Childhood Education. From there he went on to be a teacher, school principal, a textbook editor, though most know him best as a world famous writer.

Bill Martin Jr. was born on March 20, 1916 in Hiawatha, Kansas. There were no books in his house growing up. He considered himself a reader because he loved the sound and cadence of literature so much, he would get lost in books like Treasure Island and To Build a Fire because of the voice of the storytelling. To Martin the voice is the most important literary element which was the deciding factor when he chose to invest his time in reading a book. He applied this philosophy to his writing creating an interesting and interactive voice that pulls the reader into the story and makes them a part of it.

On August 11, 2004, at the age of 88 Bill Martin Jr. passed away but he left behind his amazing award winning work. Accolades such as the Redbook Children's Book Award and the honor of the American Library Association's Laura Ingalls Wilder Award have been bestowed on this beloved book. "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see?" is a timeless classic that belongs in every child's collection to be enjoyed and passed down from generation to generation.

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