Bill Martin, Jr. (1916–2004)

Author of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

223+ Works 62,033 Members 2,230 Reviews 6 Favorited

About the Author

Children's writer Bill Martin, Jr. was born and raised in Hiawatha, Kansas. Ironically, the future early childhood educator had difficulty reading until he taught himself, before graduating with a teaching certificate from Emporia State University. After graduation, he taught high school drama and show more journalism in Kansas. He served in the Army Air Force as a newspaper editor during World War II. He wrote his first book, The Little Squeegy Bug, for his brother, Bernard, an artist, to illustrate while recuperating from war wounds. It was published in 1945 and the brothers would go on to collaborate on 10 more books by 1955. He earned a master's degree and doctorate in early childhood education from Northwestern University and became principal of an elementary school in Evanston, Ill., where he developed innovative reading programs. In 1962 Martin moved to New York City to become editor of the school division of Holt, Rhinehart and Winston where he developed the literature-based reading programs Sounds of Language and The Instant Readers. Martin returned to full-time writing in 1972 and ended up writing over three hundred children's books during his career. His titles include; Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See?, Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do you Hear?, The Ghost-Eye Tree, Barn Dance, and Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom. He died on August 11, 2004 at the age of 88. (Bowker Author Biography) show less

Includes the names: Bill Martin Jr., Bill Jr. Martin, Bill Martin Jr., Jr. Martin Bill, Martin. Bill Jr., Mr Bill Martin Jr, Bill Junior Martin, Comp. William Ivan Martin

Also includes: Bill Martin (1)

Series

Brown Bear and Friends

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Sounds of Language Readers

Works by Bill Martin, Jr.

Popular Recent

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (1967) 15,743 copies, 744 reviews

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (1989) 15,707 copies, 803 reviews

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? (1991) 6,228 copies, 124 reviews

Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 (2004) 3,812 copies, 82 reviews

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? (2003) 3,536 copies, 60 reviews

Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? (2007) 2,459 copies, 40 reviews

Knots on a Counting Rope (1987) 2,001 copies, 54 reviews

Here Are My Hands (1985) 1,383 copies, 32 reviews

Chicka Chicka ABC (1990) 1,262 copies, 47 reviews

Barn Dance! (1986) 1,106 copies, 16 reviews

Ten Little Caterpillars (2011) 1,066 copies, 19 reviews

The Ghost-Eye Tree (1985) 563 copies, 15 reviews

I Pledge Allegiance (2002) 502 copies, 20 reviews

Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up? (2008) 394 copies, 12 reviews

Listen to the Rain (1988) 390 copies, 14 reviews

The Maestro Plays (1994) 345 copies, 11 reviews

The Bill Martin Jr Big Book of Poetry (2008) 328 copies, 16 reviews

"Fire! Fire!" Said Mrs. McGuire (1970) 302 copies, 8 reviews

The Happy Hippopotami (1970) 273 copies, 3 reviews

Trick or Treat? (1970) 266 copies, 3 reviews

A Beasty Story (1999) 253 copies, 10 reviews

Adam, Adam What Do You See? (2000) 242 copies, 2 reviews

Spunky Little Monkey (2017) 220 copies, 7 reviews

Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Going to School? (2013) 192 copies, 1 review

The Turning of the Year (1970) 186 copies, 1 review

I Love Our Earth (2006) 168 copies, 2 reviews

The Little Squeegy Bug (2001) 162 copies, 5 reviews

Words (1993) 142 copies, 1 review

Old Devil Wind (1971) 142 copies, 6 reviews

White Dynamite & Curly Kidd (Owlet Book) (1986) 122 copies, 11 reviews

Up and Down on the Merry-Go-Round (1988) 121 copies, 5 reviews

Chicken Chuck (2000) 109 copies, 5 reviews

Rock It, Sock It, Number Line (2001) 107 copies

Chicka Chicka Sticka Sticka (1995) 101 copies, 1 review

A Beautiful Feast for a Big King Cat (1989) 88 copies, 3 reviews

Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Going to Sleep? (2011) 87 copies

Listen to Our World (2016) 77 copies, 3 reviews

The Magic Pumpkin (1989) 76 copies, 6 reviews

Monday, Monday, I like Monday, (A Bill Martin instant reader) (1970) 69 copies

Lift-the-Tab: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? 50th Anniversary Edition (Brown Bear and Friends) (2016) 66 copies

The Wizard (1970) 63 copies, 6 reviews

Swish! (1997) 62 copies, 2 reviews

I Am Freedom's Child (1993) 62 copies, 1 review

Sounds of Numbers (1966) 50 copies

Sounds Around the Clock (1972) 46 copies

Sounds of the Storyteller (1966) 43 copies

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? / Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? / Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do… (2003) 43 copies, 2 reviews

Sounds of Home (1966) 39 copies

The Joy of Drawing (1993) 39 copies, 1 review

Sounds of Laughter (1966) 39 copies

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? / Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? / Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do… (2008) 36 copies, 1 review

Sounds After Dark (1970) 35 copies

Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom...and Lots More Learning Fun [1999 film] (2001) — Writer — 34 copies, 2 reviews

Sounds of a PowWow (1970) 33 copies

Si Won's Victory (Little Celebrations) (1997) 32 copies, 1 review

Ten little squirrels;: An old rhyme (A Bill Martin instant reader) (1970) 31 copies

Morning Bells (New Dimensions in the World of Reading, Silver Burdett Ginn) (1993) 27 copies, 1 review

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Eric Carle (28-Jun-2007) Board book 27 copies

Bing! Bang! Chugga! Beep! (2023) 25 copies, 3 reviews

Yummy, Tum, Tee (1997) 24 copies

Sounds I Remember (1970) 24 copies

Noah, Noah, What Do You See? (2017) 24 copies, 1 review

Sounds of Mystery (1967) 22 copies

Armadillo Antics (2022) 21 copies, 2 reviews

Little Granny Quarterback (2001) 21 copies, 3 reviews

A Ghost Story (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc., 1970) (1970) 21 copies

Tatty Mae & Catty Mae, (1970) 21 copies

The Eagle has landed, (A Bill Martin instant reader) (1970) 21 copies, 1 review

Sounds of a Distant Drum (1967) 21 copies

My Days Are Made of Butterflies (Bill Martin Instant Reader) (1970) 20 copies

The bugs, the goats, and the little pink pigs (1987) 20 copies

Up and Down the Escalator (Bill Martin Instant Reader) (1970) 19 copies

When It Rains It Rains (Bill Martin Instant Reader) (1970) 19 copies

Sounds of an Owly Night (1990) 19 copies

I paint the joy of a flower, (A Bill Martin instant reader) (1970) 18 copies

The Haunted House (1970) 18 copies

Old Mother Middle Muddle, (A Bill Martin instant reader) (1970) 17 copies

I'm going to build a supermarket one of these days, (A Bill Martin instant reader) (1970) 17 copies

Whistle, Mary, whistle, (A Bill Martin instant reader) (1970) 17 copies

A Spooky Story (1970) 16 copies

By Bill Martin Jr.Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?[Board book] September 15, 1996 15 copies, 3 reviews

Captain Tom Cat (1987) 14 copies

Sounds of a Young Hunter (1967) 13 copies

Little Princess Goodnight (1967) 13 copies, 1 review

Welcome Home, Henry (1970) 12 copies

Sounds of a Hound Dog (1974) 12 copies

Caddie the Golf Dog (2002) 12 copies, 2 reviews

King of the mountain, (A Bill Martin instant reader) (1970) 11 copies

Chicka Chicka Box Box!: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom; Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3 (Chicka Chicka Book, A) (2013) 11 copies

Sounds Around the Mountain (1990) 10 copies

Sounds of Children at Play on the Hill (1981) 10 copies

Ants Underground (1975) 9 copies

The Brave Little Indian (1973) 8 copies

What to say and when to say it (A Bill Martin instant reader) (1970) 8 copies

David Was Mad (1973) 7 copies

Bing! Bang! Chugga! Beep! (2023) 7 copies

America, I Know You; a Freedom Book (1970) 7 copies

Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3... and More Stories About Counting [2006 film] (2006) 7 copies

Sounds of Home Teacher's Edition 0030861926 by Bill Martin Jr / Holt Sounds of Language Reading Program (1972) 6 copies

Chica Chica Uno DOS Tres (Chicka Chicka 1 2 3) (Chicka Chicka Book) (2020) 6 copies

Wordsong (1987) 6 copies

Once There Were Bluebirds (1970) 6 copies

Weather (1967) 5 copies

The Silent Wetlands Hold Back the Sea (Little Seashore) (1985) 5 copies

Poor old Uncle Sam;: A freedom book, (A Bill Martin freedom book) (1970) 5 copies, 1 review

A Mushroom is Growing (1975) 5 copies

The Wild Turkey and Her Poults (Bill Martin's Little woodland books read-along series) (1979) 5 copies

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Bill Martin (October 02,2012) 4 copies

Long Ago in Colonial Days (1964) 4 copies

Silver Stallion (1949) 4 copies

Teach me to Pray (1950) 4 copies

Which do you choose? (A Kin/Der owl book, KR10) (1967) 4 copies

Lightning, A Cowboy's Colt. (1948) 4 copies

The Sooty Shearwater Flies Over the Sea (Little Seashore) (1985) 4 copies

Sohn der blauen Pferde (1996) 4 copies

Fire! Fire! Said Mrs. McGuire by Bill Martin Jr (1996-03-01) (1862) 4 copies

Green Eyed Stallion 4 copies

By Bill Martin Jr.Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?[Board book] September 15, 1996 3 copies

Bears 3 copies

Smoky Poky, (1967) 3 copies

Chicka Chicka ABCs and 123s Collection (Boxed Set): Chicka Chicka ABC; Chicka Chicka 1, 2, 3; Words (Chicka Chicka… (2018) 3 copies

The Fox and the Fleas (Bill Martin's Little woodland books Read-along series) (1979) 3 copies

I reach out to the morning (1970) 3 copies

The Seafaring Seals (Little Seashore) (1985) 3 copies

A Skyway of Geese (Little Seashore) (1985) 3 copies

Wild Horse Roundup (1950) 3 copies

The Night-Hunting Lobster (Little Seashore) (1985) 3 copies

Counting Lightly (1971) 3 copies

The Gray Squirrel and the Red Intruder(Bill Martin's Little Woodland books (A Read-Along Series)) (1979) 3 copies

Rhymes About Fun Times (The Bill Martin Jr Library) 3 copies

The loggerhead turtle crawls out of the sea (Bill Martin's little seashore books) (1985) 3 copies

It's America for me;: A freedom book, (A Bill Martin freedom book) (1970) 3 copies, 1 review

City Scenes (1997) 3 copies

A Harvest of Oysters (Little Seashore) (1985) 3 copies

Bill Martin Paintings 1969-1979 (1979) 3 copies

Chicka Chicka 123... and More Counting Fun (Scholastic Storybook Treasures) (2009) 3 copies, 1 review

Sounds of language readers (1990) 3 copies

Color of Poetry (Bill Martin Junior Library/Big Book/J0314) (1992) 3 copies

Lost Legends (1995) 3 copies

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom—Learning the Alphabet: 26 Flash Cards and a Fold-Out Poster (2015) 2 copies

CHEERIOS Promotions -3 Book Set - MARSUPIAL SUE / CHICKA CHICKA BOOM BOOM /THE RELATIVES CAME (2001) 2 copies

Five little rabbits, 2 copies

Bill Martin's the Skunk and It Swoosher Book and Cassette (1979) 2 copies

A River of Salmon (1985) 2 copies

Vacuees (Act Now) (1983) 2 copies

Poppies Afield (1975) 2 copies

The singing whales (Bill Martin's little seashore books) (1985) 2 copies

Freedom's apple tree 2 copies

Messenger Bee (1975) 2 copies

Palomino Pony (1952) 2 copies

The Irritable Alligator (Little Seashore) (1985) 2 copies

My Crayons Talk 2 copies

Good Night Mr. Beetle (1958) 2 copies

11 And 3 Are Poetry (1971) 2 copies

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? and Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? 2 books wit 2 Cd's (2000) 2 copies, 1 review

Delight in Numbers (1971) 2 copies

Optical illusions 2 copies

Golden Arrow 2 copies

Polar Bear and Brown Bear: Two Board Book Bear Set (2003) 2 copies

Here Are My Hands (Paperback) - Common (2008) 2 copies

Frogs in a pond 2 copies

Chicka chicka boom boom 2 copies, 1 review

Sounds After Dark Teacher's Edition by Bill Martin Jr with Peggy Brogan 1972 (1972) 2 copies

Brauner Bär, wen siehst denn du? 2 copies

Wizard 2 copies

Teaching suggestions for Sounds jubilee and Sounds freedomring (Sounds of language / Bill Martin) (1975) 1 copy

The Turning of the Year by Bill Martin Jr (1998-09-01) (1699) 1 copy

Don't Be the Leaf (Bill Martin Junior Library/Big Book/J0311) (1992) 1 copy

Bill Martin's Sounds Around the Mountain (audio cassette) (1991) 1 copy

Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? [With Book(s)] [PANDA BEAR PANDA BEAR-W/BOOK D] [Compact Disc] 1 copy

Urso Castanho, Urso Castanho, o Que Vês Aqui? (2019) 1 copy

The Three Billy-Goats Gruff 1 copy

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom CD Trio- Set of Three Audio CDs Includes Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Boom Chicka Rock & Chicka… (2013) 1 copy

June Bugs 1 copy

Sounds of Numbers - California State Series (California State Series, Sounds of Numbers) 1 copy

Old Mother Middle Muddle 1 copy

Moon Cycle (1975) 1 copy

Spökträdet (1989) 1 copy

The wonder of words a classroom experience 1 copy

King of the Mountain 1 copy

Listen to the Rain 1 copy

Kleiner Bär, kleiner Bär, was siehst du da? (2007) 1 copy

Bill Martin's Instant Readers, Teacher's Guide, Level 1 (1972) 1 copy

Bill Martin's Instant Readers Teacher's Guide Level 3 1 copy

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom - Alphabet 1 copy

Polar Bear book and CD storytime set (MacMillan Young Listeners) by Bill Martin (2012-12-24) (1856) 1 copy

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe: Kin-Der Owl Books (1973) 1 copy

Sounds of Home Teacher's Edition 1 copy

Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You see? 1 copy

Susie Moriar 1 copy

Proud Peacock (1971) 1 copy

Strategies for Language Learning by Bill Martin, Jr. 1 copy

Oso pardo, oso pardo, ¿qué ves ahí? (Brown Bear and Friends) (Spanish Edition) by Martin, Bill (2002) Hardcover 1 copy

Old Old Witch 1 copy

Authors on Tape: Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault 1 copy

Butterflies Becoming 1 copy

Let's Eat 1 copy

Optical Illusions 1 copy

Which do you Choose? 1 copy

Beautiful Feast for a Big King Cat (1994) 1 copy

Happy Hippopotami: Book w/ Puppet 1 copy

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Slide and Find by Bill Martin Jr.(2005-10-20) 1 copy

POLAR BEAR, WHAT DO YOU HEAR? 1 copy

BROWN BEAR, WHAT DO YOU SEE? 1 copy

Chica Chica Boom Boom 1 copy

The Ghost-Eye Tree by Bill Martin (1985-09-15) (1761) 1 copy

The Bears and the Bees 1 copy

Sounds of the Storyteller Teacher's Edition 1 copy

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Pack: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom / Chicka Chicka 123 / Boom Chicka Rock (2013) 1 copy

Polar Bear Polar Bear What Do You Hear? 1 copy

Sounds of Our Heritage From the Pacific (1981) 1 copy

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Felt Story with book 1 copy

The Christmas Puppy 1 copy

Weather 1 copy

From Head to toe 1 copy

Sounds of Laughter - Cassette Recordings by Bill Martin, Jr. (1972) 1 copy

Sounds Of The Story Teller 1 copy

Is Won's Victory 1 copy

4 3S Are 12 (Young Owl) (1971) 1 copy

Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Going to Sleep? (2011) 1 copy

Sounds Around the Clock, Teacher's Edition (1966) 1 copy

Sounds Around the Campfire 1 copy

The Chicka Chicka ABC Magnet Book 1 copy

Work Explorer

Associated Works

The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud (1998) — Author — 1,664 copies, 14 reviews

Best in Children's Books 17 (1959) 84 copies, 1 review

Tagged

ABC (835) alphabet (1,870) alphabet book (254) animals (2,770) bear (333) bears (741) big book (199) board book (1,135) children (566) children's (878) children's book (211) children's books (193) children's literature (295) classic (166) collection:Fiction (349) color (163) colors (1,457) counting (633) Eric Carle (866) fantasy (178) fiction (1,407) five senses (189) Halloween (214) hardcover (399) kids (219) letters (384) math (351) music (160) numbers (468) picture book (2,586) poetry (646) preschool (171) repetition (979) rhyme (950) rhymes (220) rhyming (1,456) senses (331) shelf:Fiction (349) sounds (198) zoo (159)

Common Knowledge

Canonical name: Martin, Bill, Jr.
Legal name: Martin, William Ivan, Jr.
Birthdate: 1916-03-20
Date of death: 2004-08-11
Gender: male
Nationality: USA
Birthplace: Hiawatha, Kansas, USA
Place of death: Commerce, Texas, USA
Places of residence: Hiawatha, Kansas, USA
New York, New York, USA
Education: Emporia State University
Northwestern University (Ph.D|1961)
Kansas State Teachers College (BA)
Occupations: teacher
principal
editor
children's book author
publishing executive
Organizations: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
US Army Air Force (WWII)

Members

Reviews

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (Board Book) by Bill Martin Jr.

Its interactive and a great approach to learning the alphabet. It's a playful educational way toward early childhood literacy.

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IsisJai | 802 other reviews | Dec 12, 2024 |

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.

eading Level: Preschool-K

Awards: ALA Notable Children's Book:1992

Children's Literature Legacy Award:2003

New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book 1967

International Reading Association / Children's Book Council (IRA / CBC) Children's Choice:1984

Parents Magazine: Favorite Baby Books of All Time:2006

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DLlanosVSU24 | 743 other reviews | Dec 9, 2024 |

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is wonderful for introducing letters and rhyming words in a fun, creative way.

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sommerreaves | 802 other reviews | Dec 6, 2024 |

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

Multiple Award Winning. Rich Illustrations

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BDent114 | 802 other reviews | Dec 5, 2024 |

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