Bill Martin, Jr.

William Martin, Jr. (1916-August 11, 2004) was a teacher and children's book author of such acclaimed books as "Knots on a Counting Rope", "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" , "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" and "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?. The [http://www.kansasread.org/Bill_Martin_Jr_Award.htm Bill Martin Jr. Award] was established in his honor.

Growing up in Hiawatha Kansas, he graduated from the Kansas State Teacher's College in Emporia, Kansas and served in the Army Air Force during World War II. Martin began his writing career in 1967 and ended it with the publication of "Chicka Chicka 123" in 2004. A library on the campus of Texas A&M, Commerce is named in Bill Martin, Jr.'s honor. He passed away in Commerce, Texas in 2004.

In 2000, the Morrill Public in Hiawatha Kansas dedicated the Bill & Bernard Martin Children's Library in honor of Bill and his also-famous brother, Bernard. Bernard Martin is best known as a Midwest wildlife painter and print maker.

Knots on a Counting Rope

*This book, co-authored with John Archambault and illustrated by artist Ted Rand, is in the form of a dialogue between a boy, blind from birth, and his loving grandfather. In spite of his handicap, the boy has learned to ride a horse and was able to participate in a horse race. It is an inspiring and uplifting story.

External links

* [http://www.kansasread.org/bmj_bio.htm Bio from the Kansas Reading Association]