Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon

Paula Danziger was born in Washington, D.C., on August 18, 1944.

She received her Master's Degree in reading and began her career as a teacher. She has taught at the junior high, high school, and college levels.

Danziger is best known for a series of children's books about Amber Brown, including Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon, You Can't Eat Your Chicken Pox, Amber Brown, and Amber Brown Wants Extra Credit. Each of these books deals with a "crisis" in the life of young Amber Brown, such as her progressing to fourth grade. Danziger's writing is often inspired by conversations with her niece, Carrie, who is the model for Amber Brown. Other books by Danziger include The Cat Ate My Gymsuit, Remember Me to Harold Square, and Thames Doesn't Rhyme with James.

Danziger has become popular in Britain where she was nominated for the British Book Award for Children. She has also received several awards in America: the Parent's Choice Award, an International Reading Association-Children's Book Council Award, and an IRA-CBC Children's Choice Award. Danziger takes time out from writing to host a literary segment on a BBC children's show, called Live and Kicking.

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