Marilyn Sadler is a
children's writer
Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. In addition to conventional literary genres, modern children's literature is classified by the intended age of the reade ...
with a deadpan sense of humor. She was born November 17, 1950, in
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...
, Pennsylvania. One of her best known works was made into a television
Disney
The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...
movie, under the title ''
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century''. That book is about a
space
Space is a three-dimensional continuum containing positions and directions. In classical physics, physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions. Modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless ...
girl who is sent to
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to Planetary habitability, harbor life. This is enabled by Earth being an ocean world, the only one in the Solar System sustaining liquid surface water. Almost all ...
and the cultural clashes she finds in her new planet. Subsequently, two additional Zenon films were made, ''
Zenon: The Zequel'' and ''
Zenon: Z3''.
She is also the author of the Alistair books, including ''Alistair in Outer Space'' and ''Alistair Underwater'', ''Alistair's Elephant'', and ''Alistair's Time Machine''. This series concerns a boy
genius
Genius is a characteristic of original and exceptional insight in the performance of some art or endeavor that surpasses expectations, sets new standards for the future, establishes better methods of operation, or remains outside the capabiliti ...
whose activities include building a
time machine
A time machine is a fictional or hypothetical device that allows time travel.
Concept
A time machine is a device that makes time travel possible.
The ''Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' distinguishes between two different types of time ma ...
, exploring outer space, and ironing his shoelaces.
Other books written by Marilyn Sadler include ''
It's Not Easy Being a Bunny
''It's Not Easy Being a Bunny'' is a children's book written by Marilyn Sadler and illustrated by Roger Bollen, first published in 1983. In 2024, it was the No. 1 bestseller on ''Publishers Weeklys Easter children's picture book list.
Plot
...
'' and the rest of the P. J. Funnybunny series, which was followed by the Honey Bunny series starring P. J.'s little sister, and ''Elizabeth and Larry'', about a friendship between an old lady and a young alligator.
Marilyn is also one of the creators of the Disney Junior show ''Handy Manny''.
Marilyn's television credits also include two ''
Reading Rainbow
''Reading Rainbow'' is an American educational children's television series that originally aired on PBS and afterward PBS Kids from July 11, 1983 to November 10, 2006, with reruns continuing to air until August 28, 2009. 155 30-minute episodes ...
'' programs featuring Alistair, an Alistair program for the
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
, three ABC Weekend Specials featuring PJ Funnybunny and a show based on her children's book, Elizabeth and Larry for
Showtime
Showtime or Show Time may refer to:
Film
* ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film
* ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur
Television Networks and channels
* Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...
's ''
Shelley Duvall
Shelley Alexis Duvall (July 7, 1949 – July 11, 2024) was an American actress and producer. She is known for her distinctive screen presence, her portrayals of eccentric characters, and her later productions in children's programming. Her acco ...
's Bedtime Stories''.
She has also illustrated an educational book, produced by the Academy of Economic Education, on economics for kids titled ''Ump's Fwat: An Annual Report for Young People''.
Works
; Stand-alone titles
* ''Ump's Fwat: An Annual Report for Young People'' (1980)
* ''Happy Faces'' (1989)
* ''Chuck Wood and the Woodchucks in the Big Game'' (1990)
* ''The Copykitty'' (1990)
* ''Blue Barry Bear Counts from 1 to 20'' (1991)
* ''Nanny Goat and the Lucky Kid'' (1991)
* ''The Parakeet Girl'' (1997)
* ''Pass It On'' (2012)
* ''Ten Eggs in a Nest'' (2014) (Early Moments)
Series
; P. J. Funnybunny
* ''
It's Not Easy Being a Bunny
''It's Not Easy Being a Bunny'' is a children's book written by Marilyn Sadler and illustrated by Roger Bollen, first published in 1983. In 2024, it was the No. 1 bestseller on ''Publishers Weeklys Easter children's picture book list.
Plot
...
'', illustrated by
Roger Bollen
__NOTOC__
Roger (Rog) Bollen (July 27, 1941 – October 3, 2015) was an American writer and illustrator of comic strips and children's books, and a producer of television series that aimed at children.
Early life and death
Born in East Cleveland ...
(1983) (Early Moments)
* ''The Very Bad Bunny'' (1984)
* ''Coloring Fun with P. J. Funnybunny'' (1985)
* ''P. J. The Spoiled Bunny'' (1986)
* ''P. J. Funnybunny in the Great Tricycle Race'' (1988)
* ''P. J. Funnybunny in the Perfect Hiding Place'' (1988)
* ''Knock Knock, It's P. J. Funnybunny'' (1992)
* ''P. J. Funnybunny Camps Out'' (1994) (Early Moments)
* ''Bedtime for Bunnies'' (1994)
* ''P. J. Funnybunny and His Very Cool Birthday Party'' (1996)
* ''Honey Bunny Funnybunny'' (1997) (Early Moments)
* ''P. J. Funnybunny: Spring Fever!'' (2000)
* ''P. J. Funnybunny's Bag of Tricks'' (2004)
* ''Money, Money, Honey Bunny''! (2006) (Early Moments)
* ''Honey Bunny's Honey Bear'' (2007)
* It's Better Being a Bunny (2022)
* Bunny with a Big Heart (2023)
; Alistair Grittle
* ''Alistair's Elephant'' (1983)
* ''Alistair in Outer Space'' (1984)
* ''Alistair's Time Machine'' (1986)
* ''Alistair Underwater'' (1990)
* ''Alistair and the Alien Invasion'' (1994)
; Elizabeth and Larry
* ''Elizabeth and Larry'' (1990)
* ''Elizabeth, Larry and Ed'' (1992)
; Bob 'n John
* ''Bob 'n John at Lake Kitty Paw Paw'' (1995)
* ''Bob 'n John in Bad to the Bone'' (1996)
; Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century
* ''
Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century'', illus. Roger Bollen (1996)
* ''Bobo Crazy'' (2001)
* ''Zenon Kar, Spaceball Star'' (2001)
* ''The Trouble with Fun'' (2001)
* ''Stuck on Earth'' (2002)
References
External links
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sadler, Marilyn
1950 births
Living people
American women writers
21st-century American women
American women science fiction and fantasy writers