Marsha Wilson Chall


Marsha Wilson Chall is an American educator and author of children's picture books. Several of her books were inspired by her home state of Minnesota.

Biography

Early life and education

Chall was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 7, 1953. She was an only child. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Drake University in 1975 and a Master of Arts from the University of Minnesota in 1984.

Career

Chall published her first book, Mattie, in 1992. She received a Smithsonian Notable Children's Book citation in 2000 for Bonaparte. Bonaparte received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which said the book was "fresh as a newly baked croissant" and "Chall's narrative strikes just the right balance between humor and feelings of loss in this captivating dog-loses-boy, dog-gets-boy tale".
Chall works at Metropolitan State University as an adult literacy instructor.

Personal life

Chall is married and has two children. She lives on a farm near Minneapolis.

Selected works

  • Mattie. Illustrated by Barbara Lehman. 1992.
  • Up North at the Cabin. Illustrated by Steve Johnson. 1992.
  • Rupa Raises the Sun. Illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger. 1998.
  • Sugarbush Spring. Illustrated by Jim Daly. 2000.
  • Bonaparte. Illustrated by Wendy Anderson Halperin. 2000.
  • Prairie Train. Illustrated by John Thompson. 2000.
  • Happy Birthday, America. Illustrated by Guy Porfirio. 2000.
  • One Pup's Up. Illustrated by Henry Cole. 2010.
  • Pick a Pup. Illustrated by Jed Henry. 2011.
  • A Secret Keeps. Illustrated by Heather M. Solomon. 2012.
  • The Secret Life of Figgy Mustardo. Illustrated by Alison Friend. 2016.