Only Margaret: A Story about Margaret Wise Brown

Candice Ransom

Oct 2021 · Eerdmans Young Readers

About this ebook

When Halley’s comet arrived in 1910, so did an extraordinary person: Margaret Wise Brown. Margaret had a boundless imagination and a gift for spinning stories. Most grown-ups thought children’s books were frivolous and silly, but Margaret didn’t agree. Could writing stories for children be important work—a incredible way to share truth, beauty, and wonder?  

Other people might call Margaret strange, and sometimes her own worries and doubts felt overwhelming. But only Margaret and her original ideas could lead to Goodnight Moon, The Runaway Bunny­, and other classics beloved by children around the world. 

From smuggling rabbits onto trains, to scribbling stories about island whispers, Margaret embraced adventure in life and on the page. This whimsically illustrated biography shares how an independent, fun-loving woman became a trailblazing pioneer of the picture-book form.

Alabama Department of Education Alabama Children's Choice Camellia Award 2-3 Nonfiction Nominee (2022-2023)

About the author

Candice Ransom has written over 150 books for young readers, including Bones in the White House and Amanda Panda and the Bigger, Better Birthday (both Doubleday). Candice lives in Virginia, where she teaches in the MA/MFA children's literature program at Hollins University. Visit her website at candiceransom.com.

Nan Lawson is a self-taught illustrator and freelance artist whose clients have included Netflix, Audible, Amblin Entertainment, and Warner Brothers. She is the illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Confidence Code for Girls (HarperCollins), as well as The Extraordinary Life of Rosa Parks (Kane Miller) and Sit with Me (Bala Kids). Nan lives in California. Visit her website at nanlawson.com or follow her on Instagram @nanlawson.