Marjorie Flack
Encyclopedia
Marjorie Flack was an award-winning artist and writer of children's picture books.
Flack was born in Greenport, Long Island, New York
in 1897. She was best known for The Story about Ping
(1933
), popularized by Captain Kangaroo
, and for her stories of an insatiably curious Scottish terrier
named Angus, who was actually her dog. Her first marriage was to artist Karl Larsson; she later married poet William Rose Benet
.
Her book Angus Lost was featured prominently in the movie Ask the Dust
(2006), starring Colin Farrell
and Salma Hayek
, in which Farrell's character teaches Hayek's character, a Mexican, to read English using Flack's book.
Marjorie Flack's grandson, Tim Barnum, and his wife, Darlene Enix-Barnum, currently sponsor an annual creative writing award at Anne Arundel Community College
. The award, called The Marjorie Flack Award for Fiction, consists of a $250 prize for the best short story
or children's storybook
written by a current AACC student.
Picture book
A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. The images in picture books use a range of media such as oil paints, acrylics, watercolor and pencil.Two of the earliest books with something like the format picture books still retain now...
Flack was born in Greenport, Long Island, New York
Greenport, Suffolk County, New York
Greenport is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is located on the north fork of Long Island. The population was 2,048 at the 2000 census....
in 1897. She was best known for The Story about Ping
The Story about Ping
The Story About Ping is a popular children's book. First published in 1933, Ping is a colorfully illustrated story about a domesticated Chinese duck lost on the Yangtze River.-Publication information:...
(1933
1933 in literature
The year 1933 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* February 17 - The magazine Newsweek is published for the first time.* James Joyce's Ulysses is allowed into United States.-New books:...
), popularized by Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
, and for her stories of an insatiably curious Scottish terrier
Scottish Terrier
The Scottish Terrier , popularly called the Scottie, is a breed of dog. Initially one of the highland breeds of Terrier that were grouped under the name of Skye Terrier, it is one of five breeds of terrier that originated in Scotland, the other four being the modern Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, and...
named Angus, who was actually her dog. Her first marriage was to artist Karl Larsson; she later married poet William Rose Benet
William Rose Benét
William Rose Benét was an American poet, writer, and editor.He was the older brother of Stephen Vincent Benét....
.
Her book Angus Lost was featured prominently in the movie Ask the Dust
Ask the Dust (film)
Ask the Dust is a 2006 film based on the book Ask the Dust by John Fante. The movie was written and directed by Robert Towne. Tom Cruise served as one of the film's producers. The film was released on a limited basis on March 17, 2006...
(2006), starring Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell
Colin James Farrell is an Irish actor, who has appeared in such film as Tigerland, Miami Vice, Minority Report, Phone Booth, The Recruit, Alexander and S.W.A.T....
and Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek
Salma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez de Pinault is a Mexican film actress, director and producer. She received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role as Frida Kahlo in the film Frida.-Early life:...
, in which Farrell's character teaches Hayek's character, a Mexican, to read English using Flack's book.
Marjorie Flack's grandson, Tim Barnum, and his wife, Darlene Enix-Barnum, currently sponsor an annual creative writing award at Anne Arundel Community College
Anne Arundel Community College
Anne Arundel Community College, founded in 1961, is located in Arnold, Maryland. The college was named "Community College of the Year" by National Business Alliance in 2000. AACC has also received many other in recent years...
. The award, called The Marjorie Flack Award for Fiction, consists of a $250 prize for the best short story
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
or children's storybook
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
written by a current AACC student.