JIM!: Six True Stories about One Great Artist: James Marshall

by Jerrold Connors

A picture book biography of the late, great James Marshall—illustrator of Miss Nelson is Missing and the George and Martha series—and as clever, delightful, and daring as Jim himself

Author and illustrator James Marshall let kids in on the joke. He knew little kids were smart, and he didn't talk down to them in his stories. He was right—kids loved his picture books. Decades after his death, the characters he illustrated—Miss Nelson, Viola Swamp, George and Martha, Goldilocks, Fox and His Friends—are still beloved. James Marshall should be at least as famous as his characters, and now he is, in his own picture book biography. Created in an irreverent style reminiscent of James Marshall's own art and storytelling, this delightful biography, featuring James as a fox, celebrates in both form and content what made James—“Jim” to his friends—so talented, funny, and special, and what has made his tales last. This time, Jim is the main character.

Genres: Picture Books, Biography, Art, Nonfiction, LGBT, Humor, Childrens

80 pages, Hardcover

Published May 20, 2025

Reviews

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is how you pay tribute to the greats. What a feat for Jerrold Connors to craft such a reverential portrait of one of the most important and recognizable contributors to children's lit while also carving out his own artistic lane and voice in this pitch-perfect picture book debut.

[Sarah BT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh I adore James Marshall and this book is a beautiful way of honoring him and his work. Written like George and Martha, there are so many fantastic easter eggs hidden throughout. For a biography, it's pretty sparse, but as a loving homage to one of the best picture book creators, it's brilliant. Connors creates an incredible loving way to honor Marshall and his excitement and interest in Marshall's work carries through in the text and art. An exceptional homage that will inspire readers to seek out James Marshall's work and maybe even read more about him.

[wildct2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspired bio of the author in true Marshall form.

[kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff

[Emily Keifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim! Six True Stories About One Great Artist: James Marshall written and illustrated by Jerrold Connors is a creative gold mine. The six stories are perfectly bite sized for picture book readers. Each story is a wonderful snippet into James Marshall’s life and work, and is paired with masterful illustrations. There are many Easter eggs to be found among the illustrations, and new details to be discovered each time you read. The last story is especially touching and well-done. Don’t skip the Author’s Note in the back! There is a plethora of information that adds to already amazing stories in the rest of the picture book. This book does such justice to the great artist that James Marshall was, I highly recommend it!

[Elayne Crain · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I didn't know much about illustrators as a kid, there were a handful whose work I could recognize from 50 paces. In Little Elayne's mind, Shel Silverstein was the freaky one, Quentin Blake was the scribbly one--and James Marshall was the FUNNY one. His cover art promised the kinds of laughs that, days later, might bring forth a fresh chuckle upon recall--a promise as reliable as a medal-sticker (which, let's be honest, almost always promised the opposite). His characters (whether folx, fauna, flora, or hand-lettered font) tended toward bubbly, and he was an early master of the illustrated side-eye. This is all to say: he was thought of by many of us as a friend of sorts, like the reliably "always up to play" ghost man within your neighborhood baseball crew.

So, it's perfect that the name of the book I want to talk about today is titled with the name his friends called him. In "JIM! Six True Stories About One Great Artist: James Marshall," Jerrold Connors has meticulously crafted the kind of rare PB homage that somehow nails not only the style but also, impressively, the voice of the creator.

But, most impressively of all--it nails the ethos.

With disarming honesty, adroitly-dropped story references, and even a suspiciously butt-cracky peach sunset, Jerrold 'Marshalls' every resource at his debut's disposal, presenting the reader a rich gift of six stories to ponder: The Book, "How Cute!", Friendly Competition, The Award, The School Visit, and The Hospital. Each deceptively simple story builds a compelling picture of an artist who, as Maurice Sendak noted, "award givers were foolish enough to consider...a charming lightweight." Jerrold corrects this historical oversight in suitably subtle and lovely ways, slowly laying bare what his readers instinctively felt: that Jim, our Jim, was channeling all of himself with each pen stroke.

In fact, after reading it, don’t be surprised if you will feel compelled to comb through all your old Marshallian favorites--noticing details (for me, in his The Night Before Christmas and, of course, George and Martha) that I had previously missed. In this way, the book not only honors Jim but also the witty, charming, and proudly unpatronizing worlds he built.

It's impressive enough to create a picture book that makes a reader want to get lost in it; it's another to create stories so obviously full of enjoyment that it makes a reader want to CREATE, too. James Marshall's work had that special something--and so does this one.

[Roben · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot about James Marshall from reading this book! As the title suggests, this book includes six short, accessible, illustrated stories about the life of James Marshall, who illustrated such favorites as Miss Nelson is Missing, George and Martha, and Fox and His friends.

At the end the author adds some explanations. He used a fox to represent James Marshall because that was the character Jim thought represented him the best. There are lots of other little references hidden throughout the book also. This is a wonderful tribute to an illustrator who made great contributions to children's lit. George and Martha books have always been my favorite but I enjoy his fairy tale adaptations also. Plus it was nice to know about his inspiration for Viola Swamp. The stories are listed below with a brief synopsis.



Story number one is about how Miss Nelson is Missing made its appearance into the world.

Story number two is about playing the viola.

Story number three is called Friendly Competition. It is about Arnold Lobel and Maurice Sendak - two of James' friends. (Note that Maurice's shirt says Wild Thing). The three of them got up to some wild shenanigans.

Story number four is The Award. A lot of readers and critics called James Marshall's art "cute". He was not very fond of that opinion. He thought maybe if he won an award people would take his art more seriously. So he threw himself into a new book project. His partner thought it was great! (He did eventually win a Caldecott Honor)

Story number five is The School Visit and talks about a time Jim visited a school to talk to students. This is a very good story about where Jim got the idea for Viola Swamp.

Story number six, The Hospital, is a sad story on so many levels because Jim was very sick. He died from AIDS in 1992.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved James Marshall’s books and really enjoyed this biography of his life. Things that I learned: 1. James was born in San Antonio, TX.
2. He drew a picture of a pecan tree in second grade and his teacher said he would never be an artist. (Hence the awful substitute teacher, Miss Viola Swamp, in the Miss Nelson books!)
3. James Marshall met Harry Allard when they were in college together and James illustrated ten books that Harry wrote. Harry also gave James the idea for the Miss Nelson books.
4. James Marshall received the Caldecott Honor Award in 1989 for his book, Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
5. James was gay, but not many people knew that. He died of AIDS on October 13, 1992.

Jerrold Connors wrote and illustrated this book about James Marshall and it is the PERFECT TRIBUTE for James’ life.
Jerrold also hid lots of little “Easter Eggs” (fun drawings) in this book, that will make you laugh. Look closely for the surprise appearances of James Marshall characters or clues about Jim himself!

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, rounded up.

This unconventional picture book biography illustrates James Marshall as his classic fox character, and shares six brief anecdotes from his life. These stories are very short and often end abruptly, and they lack the kind of context someone would expect from a biography. I feel inspired to read and reread more of Marshall's books, but I frequently found this biography confusing, and I wanted more details. This will appeal most to devoted fans of Marshall's work, who will best be able to connect all the dots. Kids will surely find this much more confusing than I did.

The author's note shares some more detail about each brief vignette, and also includes a timeline of some key moments from Marshall's life. The author's note also mentions that Marshall was gay, was in a committed partnership, and died of AIDS. This was all strongly implied in the story, but never stated outright.

[Zan Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author and illustrator James Marshall let kids in on the joke. He knew little kids were smart, and he didn't talk down to them in his stories. He was right--kids loved his picture books. Decades after his death, the characters he illustrated--Miss Nelson, Viola Swamp, George and Martha, Goldilocks, Fox and His Friends--are still beloved. James Marshall should be at least as famous as his characters, and now he is, in his own picture book biography. Created in an irreverent style inspired by James Marshall's own art and storytelling, this delightful biography, featuring James as a fox, celebrates in both form and content what made James--'Jim' to his friends--so talented, funny, and special, and what has made his tales last. This time, Jim is the main character"--

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

After decades as an educator, JAMES MARSHALL will always be a hero of mine. Kids developing early reading would inevitably find favorites among his characters and stories. He often worked with other authors, but also created both text and illustrations for several series. This homage/memoir to Jim and the process through which he found and expressed his talent is a unique approach that, to a degree, imitates early chapter books, employing extended metaphors for relationships, and reveals the complexity of behind-the-scenes processes in the worked of book publishing for kids.
This will appeal to peearwaly elementary kids, but can also serve well as a readable-accessible source for older kids doing author/artist reports.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly irresistible picture book biography / homage to the author and illustrator James Marshall. Depicting Marshall as a fox, similar to the Fox in his Fox and Friends stories, Connors tells Marshall's life story with humor while embedding characters from Marshall's books in the illustrations. The first five stories are silly and joyful and give you a real sense of what Marshall was really like and why he was so beloved by many. The last story is serious and sad and tells of Marshall death from AIDS. This is a poignantly beautiful book that is a must-read for fans of Marshall's books, readers who enjoy children literature, and just about everyone else.

"Kids are really smart these day."

[Kim-Hoa Ung · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing picture book biography about James Marshall! The best ever! Jerrold Connors artwork is just so beautiful, adorable, and fun to look at. The short stories give us snippets of Jim’s remarkable life in just the perfect amount. So inspiring! Love the back matter too, especially the timeline. Many fun Easter egg surprises to search for! Truly the best picture book biography style ever made. Highly recommended! Can’t wait to have more of Jerrold Connors’s books! Love his style and creativity!

[Isabel Bryan [the Bookmark Hoarder] · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the George and Martha books as a kid, so I was interested in learning more about the guy who created the series. The book gave a brief overview of Marshall's life, told in (very) short stories. For a picture book biography (maybe memoir is more apt?), I felt like it needed more info. I read the additional information in the back, but it still seemed like the book was lacking something.

I also did not like that all the characters were cartoon animals instead of humans in the illustrations - I think this could be confusing for kids. It was distracting me from the story anyway, ha ha.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dare I say it? The art is cute. (Well, it is, Jim—deal with it!) This book is unusual and original: a biography that often feels like an autobiography, the kind Jim Marshall himself might have made. But who’s the audience? Kids may not quite get it, while adults will find both charm and sorrow here. The art is undeniably delightful, yet the story carries a tragic undercurrent that makes it less of a bedtime pick. Tragi-comic and tender, Jim stands out as a heartfelt tribute with a bittersweet edge.

[BookSweetie]

A fun and touching picture book tribute to a wonderfully creative and humorous picture book author/illustrator named James Marshall. Loved the background about the memorable storybook Miss Nelson is Missing.

Sometimes when teachers (or other adults) “get it wrong” and make predictions about someone else’s future, a kid grows up and (years later) proves them wrong!! Look for the teacher comment about a Pecan tree drawing of James Marshall’s when he was in second grade to see how wrong one teacher’s prediction turned out to be.

[Holly Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Outside In and the Inside Out about Arnold Lobel back to back with this one. Here is my review of Outside In:
I read this and Jim! Six True Stories About One Great Artist: James Marshall back to back. Lobel was about 10 years older than James, but in Jim!, they mention that they were friends. I didn't know this, but they both died of AIDs. Both books were very respectful, honest, and sensitive about relaying this in the books. They were both about creative men who loved art and stories, and have created legacies of delightful books that will live on forever. I enjoyed both.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connors does a great job capturing the essence and feeling of Marshall's art without directly copying it. And this is a quirky, fun, but serious story about Marshall's life - a picture book creator who does not get enough recognition.

But I'm not sure if the animal characters work for me or the pace of the story. Still, I give it credit for telling Marshall's story and it is an ode to a great artist.

[Carmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cute and zany (sorry, Jim) and captured his spirt. James Marshall was one of the all-time, top, most best, greats of youth literature in my opinion. The only thing I wish this book had was the story about how James Marshall pretended to know Spanish for a teaching job, which I find absolutely hilarious. Oh to have been a fly on the wall when he and Sendak and Lobel got up to hijinks. That would have been something!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connors tells the story of James Marshall's career through six short stories. Each offers further information about the author's life. I like how Connors used Marshall's characters to represent the various people in Jim's life. We see his two friends as characters in their own books and travel along on their adventures together. Elementary level readers will easily follow the stories and learn as they read. More informative text and a timeline is included at the end.

[Michele Knott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed James Marshall stories since I was young and when teaching. I appreciated this biography told in the format of Marshall's stories and there are so many Easter eggs within the chapters. At the end of the book is an explanation of each chapter, and honestly, the chapters make a lot more sense if you read these explanations.

[Ellon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars (it was okay)

I wanted to like this more than I did. It felt like you had to know a lot about Marshall already in order to understand what Connors was hinting at. The 6 stories don't really flow. I did learn a bit about Marshall that I didn't know (like how he was friends with Lobel and Sendak) but I just expected more from a biography.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very sweet and I really clever homage to James Marshall. I did think it was a little weird that his relationship with Billy felt glossed over until the author's note. Almost like it was trying to keep their relationship secret? Which did feel a little strange to me. Still, read the author's note and this is an excellent tribute.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a clever way to write a picture book biography about a storyteller - to tell little stories from their life. A fetching, lovely book and remembrance - all heart, great illustrations by the author, and brief but effective back matter giving the life experiences that were references for the stories. Wonderful.

[Yapha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic picture book biography of a children's literature great. I wish that the author had included that James Marshall DID win a big award. I served on the committee that award him the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (now called The Children's Literature Legacy Award) in 2007. Highly recommended for grades 2 & up.

[CYBILS Awards]

Learned about this book in an interview Betsy Bird (aka Fuse #8) did with the author: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2025...

[Leslie Kimmelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wondered whether any book of this kind could do justice to the brilliant James Marshall. This one did. It was original, very funny, and extremely moving. The last story blew my mind. Highly recommended for James Marshall fans.

[Suzy Levinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't imagine a more perfect biography of James Marshall! An incredible story (or rather six stories) about friendship, family, love, kids being really smart, an artist's journey, and more - in short, a wonderful life! Jerrold Connors has written and illustrated a sure winner!

[Chiara Colombi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A more clever, beautiful, sincere, and fitting biography of James Marshall could not be created. This book is a masterpiece and an ideal tribute. A must for anyone who appreciates picture books, young and old alike.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique approach to a children's biography of a man, James Marshall, well-known for his creations and friendships with famous creators like Loeb and Sendak.

It's wholly unique and full of bright colors and illustrations.