Marsha Wilson Chall

Marsha Wilson Chall (November 7, 1953 – March 29, 2026) was an American educator and author of children's picture books. Several of her books were inspired by her home state of Minnesota.

Life and career

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. She received a Smithsonian Notable Children's Book citation in 2000 for Bonaparte.

She worked at Metropolitan State University as an adult literacy instructor. She lived on a farm near Minneapolis.

Selected works Mattie. Illustrated by Barbara Lehman. 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.