ARNOLD, Marsha Diane 1948-

PERSONAL: Born July 7, 1948, in Kingman, KS; daughter of Eugene (a farmer) and Elsie Raymond (a telephone operator; maiden name, Lippincott) Krehbiel; married Frederick Oak Arnold (in business), January 25, 1970; children: Amy Marie, Calvin Diedrich Oak. Ethnicity: Caucasian. Education: Kansas State University, B.A. (cum laude), 1970; graduate study at Dominican College, San Rafael, CA. Politics: Independent. Hobbies and other interests: Travel, scuba diving, reading, gardening, singing, attending live theatre.

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Author Mail, Dial Books for Young Readers, Penguin Putnam, 375 Hudson St., New York, NY 19914. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Children's book author and journalist. Eligibility profiler, Social Services Department, Marin County, CA, 1971-82; freelance writer and columnist, CA, 1985—. Has also worked variously in animal rehabilitation for the California Marine Mammal Center, Marin County, 1973-75, as a teacher's aide, Sonoma and Marin County, CA schools, 1990-93, and as publicist/secretary for Theater Arts Guild, 1994-97; public speaker, 1995—.

MEMBER: Author's Guild, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

AWARDS, HONORS: Named best local columnist, California Newspaper Publishers Association, 1986, 1987, 1993; Children's Distinguished Book Award; Marion Vannett Ridgway Award for best first book, International Reading Association distinguished book designation, Houston Chronicle best book of 1995, Young Hoosier Book Award, and Missouri Show Me Readers Award, all for Heart of a Tiger; Smithsonian Notable Book designation, 1998, and Westchester Library Master List outstanding book designation, both for The Pumpkin Runner; Notable Social Studies Trade Book designation, 1999, for The Chicken Salad Club; Atlanta Parent Monthly Best Book designation, 2000, and Kansas Reading Association Bill Martin Award nominee, both for The Bravest of Us All.

WRITINGS:

Heart of a Tiger, illustrated by Jamichael Henterley, Dial (New York, NY), 1995.

Quick, Quack, Quick, illustrated by Lisa McCue, Random House (New York, NY), 1996.

The Pumpkin Runner, illustrated by Brad Sneed Dial Books for Young Readers, (New York, NY), 1998.

The Chicken Salad Club, illustrated by Julie Downing, Dial Books for Young Readers, (New York, NY), 1998.

The Bravest of Us All, illustrated by Brad Sneed, Dial Books for Young Readers, (New York, NY), 2000.

Metro Cat, illustrated by Jack E. Davis, Golden Books (New York, NY), 2001.

Edward G. and the Beautiful Pink Hairbow, illustrated by Karen Stormer Brooks, Golden Books (New York, NY), 2002.

The Tail of Little Skunk, illustrated by Michael Terry, Golden Books (New York, NY), 2002.

Prancing, Dancing Lily, illustrated by John Manders, Dial Books for Young Readers (New York, NY), 2004.

Contributor of column "Homegrown Treasures" to newspapers.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Roar of a Snore, for Dial, 2005; Hugs on the Wind, for Abrams, 2006; Slobberchops, a tall tale about a drooling dog; Secret of the Yellow Dragon, a fantasy novel; Gandy Goose, for beginning readers.

SIDELIGHTS: Marsha Diane Arnold is the author of several children's books, including The Bravest of Us All, The Tail of the Skunk, and the multi-awardwinning HeartofaTiger, that depict a child's-eye view of the world with warmth and sensitivity.

Arnold grew up on a small farm in the middle of Kansas wheat fields where she had plenty of time for reading and dreaming. It was her two children's creativity, curiosity, and sense of humor, however, that eventually inspired Arnold to begin writing. Her first effort was a weekly column called "Homegrown Treasures" for her local newspaper. "The column, which I wrote for ten years, combined everyday life with the universal in a playful way," Arnold once told CA.

During these years Arnold also began experimenting with writing fiction for children. "After my children reached school age, I became a teacher's aide and enjoyed helping with the school's writing curriculum. By this time I had sold a few articles to children's magazines and was working on children's book manuscripts."

Arnold made her picture book debut in 1995 with Heart of a Tiger. This story, set in India, features a small gray kitten who must choose a name for himself before the Naming Day celebration that occurs one year after an animal's birth. All in attendance must agree that the name is appropriate, so the cat journeys into the jungle in search of a tiger, hoping to imitate its ways and adopt its name. A Kirkus Reviews critic called Arnold's first book "appealing," while School Library Journal contributor Lauralyn Persson similarly declared, "Arnold's picture book debut is, on the whole, impressive."

Arnold often seeks to imbue her children's stories with deeper meanings. In Heart of a Tiger, the author explained, "I try to teach children not to be afraid of failure. If we're busy trying to avoid failure, we can't get very far. Actually, failure is one of the ways we learn and eventually succeed. When I visit schools, I like to talk about rejection. That may seem like a depressing subject, but it's important for students to know that all of us feel rejected at times and that successful people are often the most rejected because they keep trying over and over again.

"The children love it when I read my rejection slips. They groan and moan with me and say things like, 'Ouch, that one hurt.' I tell them that the manuscript for Heart of a Tiger was rejected thirteen times, then I show them the beautiful cover Jamichael Henterley painted for the book. They can touch and see what came from my trying over and over again."

A "heartwarming story about an intergenerational bond" is how Booklist contributor Kathleen Squires characterized The Chicken Salad Club. In this story by Arnold young Nathaniel enjoys the stories spun by his great-grandfather—"Greatpaw"—about days gone by. When the boy attempts to form a Century Club of likewise elderly storytellers, the idea falls flat, but Nathaniel finally finds an appreciative audience for Greatpaw's stories. Another children's book, The Pumpkin Runner, is based on the true tale of a sixtyish Australian pumpkin farmer who undertook a 542-mile race in 1983, eventually beating out younger and more competition-oriented opponents. "Kids should enjoy the idea of someone running a race on pumpkin power," noted Elizabeth Drennan in Booklist.

A fancy feline is the title character of Arnold's 2001 book, Metro Cat. As the premiere kitty cover-model in Paris, Sophie le Becque enjoys all the material luxuries of life. Then one day Sophie and her silk-lined cat carrier are bounced out of her limousine, leaving the pampered puss to fend for herself on the streets of Paris. Sophie teams up with Jacques, a street musician, dancing to his music to raise money. At the same time, the cat discovers a new and simpler way of life in Jacques' humble but loving home. A Publishers Weekly contributor recommended the book for its "subtle message about the importance of making the best of a reversal of fortune."

"I was happy to leave Kansas for the sunny shores of California after graduating from Kansas State University in 1970," Arnold revealed in an essay posted on the Kansas Authors Web site. "But the wheat fields, windmills, and orange-purple sunsets are still part of me. As my writing career continues, I am more comfortable making them part of my writing as well." Images of Kansas appear in her 2000 book The Bravest of Us All, about life in the 1920s Midwest.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, July, 1988, Kathleen Squires, review of TheChicken Salad Club, p. 1884; November 1, 1998, Elizabeth Drennan, review of The Pumpkin Runner, p. 501; May 1, 2000, Hazel Rochman, review of The Bravest of Us All, p. 1676; June 1, 2001, Amy Brandt, review of Metro Cat, p. 1888.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, November, 1998, review of The Pumpkin Runner, p. 86; July, 2001, review of Metro Cat, p. 401.

Children's Book and Play Review, January, 2001, review of The Bravest of Us All, p. 14.

Children's Book Review Service, winter, 1999, review of The Pumpkin Runner, p. 61.

Kirkus Reviews, October 15, 1995, p. 1486; June 1, 1998, review of The Chicken Salad Club, p. 808; September 1, 1998, review of The Pumpkin Runner, p. 1282; April 15, 2001, review of Metro Cat,p. 580.

Publishers Weekly, October 5, 1998, review of ThePumpkin Runner, p. 89; April 16, 2001, review of Metro Cat, p. 64.

School Library Journal, January, 1996, Lauralyn Persson, review of Heart of a Tiger, p. 76; August, 1998, Beth Tegart, review of The Chicken Salad Club, p. 132; December, 1998, Harriett Fargnoli, review of The Pumpkin Runner, p. 75; May, 2000, Kate McClelland, review of The Bravest of Us All, p. 126.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 10, 2002, John Wehrle, "Author Excites, Captivates Children by Weaving Tales of Imagination," p. 2.

ONLINE

Authors and Illustrators Who Visit Schools Web site,http://www.authorsillustrators.com/ (August 18, 2003).

Kansas Authors Web site,http://www.manhattanlib.ks.us/ (August 27, 2002), "Marsha Diane Arnold." Marsha Diane Arnold Web site,http://www.marshadianearnold.com (April 13, 2003).