With a degree in art, Marilyn always assumed she would be an illustrator. But when, early in her career, she was presented with an opportunity to write, she seized it and quickly discovered that she had found her true love. No sad, sappy stories for her, however. She likes to make herself laugh and with that her characters usually end up looking pretty silly for one reason or another.

Her first children's book featured a fastidious little English boy named Alistair Grittle and was originally created for the English publisher, Hamish Hamilton, as well as for Simon & Schuster in the United States. Having created a boy with such perfect behavior, she then turned her attention to a not so perfectly behaved little boy. His name was P.J. Funnybunny, and he has existed for many years in a series of books for Random House, including highly prestigious spots in the Dr. Seuss Cat In the Hat series.

Marilyn's television credits include two PBS Reading Rainbow programs featuring Alistair, an Alistair program for the BBC, three ABC Weekend Specials featuring P.J. Funnybunny, and a show based on her children's book, "Elizabeth and Larry", for Showtime's Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories.

Between 1999 and 2004, The Disney Channel produced three Original Movies based on Marilyn's book, "Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century". Each of Disney's Zenon movies had exceptionally high ratings, with "Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century" and "Zenon the Zequel" among the highest rated shows in the history of The Disney Channel.

In 2004, Playhouse Disney began production on Marilyn's animated series, "Handy Manny". "Handy Manny" premiered September 16, 2006, as the highest rated Playhouse Disney series premiere of all time. Since its debut, "Handy Manny" has averaged approximately 2 million viewers a week, has generated consistent critical acclaim and has developed a deeply loyal audience.

In 2009, Marilyn was nominated for an Emmy Award as Executive Producer of Handy Manny in the category of "Outstanding Special Class Animated Program".

In September of 2015, Eric Comstock and Marilyn's Charlie Piechart mystery-math series was launched by Harper Collins Publishers with the release of their first book, "Charlie Piechart and the Case of the Missing Pizza Slice".

Published Books

Charlie Piechart and the Case of the Missing Pizza Slice (Harper Collins)

Tony Baroni Loves Macaroni (Blue Apple Books)

Alice from Dallas (Abrams Publishing)

Ten Eggs in a Nest (Random House)

Pass It On (Blue Apple Books)

The Parakeet Girl (Random House)

It's Not Easy Being a Bunny (Random House)

The Very Bad Bunny (Random House)

Honey Bunny Funnybunny (Random House)

Money Money Honey Bunny (Random House)

Honey Bunny's Honey Bear (Random House)

PJ The Spoiled Bunny (Random House)

PJ Funnybunny Camps Out (Random House)

PJ Funnybunny's Bag of Tricks (Random House)

Bedtime for Bunnies (Random House)

PJ Funnybunny and His Very Cool Birthday Party (Random House)

Knock Knock, It's PJ Funnybunny (Random House)

Bobo Crazy (Random House)

Stuck on Earth (Random House)

Spaceball Star (Random House)

Trouble With Fun (Random House)

Alistair's Elephant (Simon and Schuster)

Alistair in Outer Space (Simon and Schuster)

Alistair's Time Machine (Simon and Schuster)

Alistair Under Water (Simon and Schuster)

Alistair and the Alien Invasion (Simon and Schuster)

Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century (Simon and Schuster)

Elizabeth and Larry (Simon and Schuster)

Elizabeth, Larry and Ed (Simon and Schuster)

PJ Funnybunny in The Perfect Hiding Place (Golden Books)

Blue Barry Bear Counts From 1 to 20 (Golden Books)

PJ Funnybunny in The Great Tricycle Race (Golden Books)

Chuck Wood and the Woodchucks in The Big Game (Golden Books)

The Copykitty (Golden Books)

Nanny Goat and the Lucky Kid (Golden Books)

Bob and John at Lake Kitty Paw Paw (Troll Publishing)

Bob and John in Bad to the Bone (Troll Publishing)

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more