Marsha Wilson Chall (born November 7, 1953) is an American educator and author of children's picture books. Several of her books were inspired by her home state of Minnesota.[1]
Chall was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on November 7, 1953.[2] 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.[3][1]
Chall published her first book, Mattie, in 1992.[4] She received a Smithsonian Notable Children's Book citation in 2000 for Bonaparte.[3] Bonaparte received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which said the book was "fresh as a newly baked croissant" and "Chall's narrative strikes just the right balance between humor and feelings of loss in this captivating dog-loses-boy, dog-gets-boy tale".[5]
Chall works at Metropolitan State University as an adult literacy instructor.[1][3]
Chall is married and has two children.[3][6] She lives on a farm near Minneapolis.[6]