Clifford B. Hicks

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Clifford B. Hicks (August 10, 1920 – September 29, 2010) was an American writer and magazine editor, best known for his children's books chronicling the adventures of Alvin Fernald.

Biography[]

Hicks was born in Marshalltown, Iowa in 1920.[1] He graduated cum laude from Northwestern University, then served as a U.S. Marine during World War II, earning the Silver Star. In 1945, he joined the staff of Popular Mechanics magazine, and became a special projects editor in 1963. He wrote the magazine's Do-It-Yourself Materials Guide and edited the Do-It-Yourself Encyclopedia.[1]

In 1959, Hicks penned his first children's book, First Boy on the Moon, which was dubbed Best Juvenile Book of the Year by the . The next year, he wrote The Marvelous Inventions of Alvin Fernald,[1] the first of a series of books about a boy who relies on his "Magnificent Brain" to solve problems.[2] The books inspired a pair of two-part Disney television movies: The Whiz Kid and the Mystery at Riverton (1974), and The Whiz Kid and the Carnival Caper (1976).[3]

Hicks wrote one non-fiction children's book, The World Above (1965), which discusses the Earth's atmosphere and the universe beyond.[4] In 1971, he began the Peter Potts series,[1] which follows the misadventures of a small town boy who often gets into trouble "by accident".[5] Hicks also wrote a two-act play, Alvin Fernald, Mayor for a Day (1992), which was based on one of his Alvin Fernald books.[1]

On September 29, 2010, Hicks died at his home in Brevard, North Carolina, at the age of 90.[6]

Children's books authored by Clifford Hicks[]

Alvin Fernald series[]

  • The Marvelous Inventions of Alvin Fernald – 1960 (illustrated by Charles Geer)
  • Alvin's Secret Code – 1963
  • Alvin Fernald, Foreign Trader – 1966
  • Alvin Fernald, Mayor for a Day – 1970
  • Alvin Fernald, Superweasel – 1974
  • Alvin's Swap Shop – 1976
  • Alvin Fernald, TV Anchorman – 1980
  • The Wacky World of Alvin Fernald – 1981
  • Alvin Fernald, Master of a Thousand Disguises – 1986
  • Alvin Fernald's Incredible Buried Treasure – 2009

Peter Potts series[]

  • Peter Potts – 1971
  • Pop and Peter Potts – 1984
  • Peter Potts Book of World Records – 1987

Other children's books[]

  • First Boy on the Moon – 1959
  • The World Above – 1965

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Hicks, Clifford B." Contemporary Authors Online. August 28, 2001. Retrieved on January 27, 2010.
  2. ^ Matt Blum. "GeekDad Wayback Machine – The Geekly Reader: Danny Dunn and Alvin Fernald". Wired. July 30, 2008. Retrieved on January 25, 2010.
  3. ^ Dave Smith. Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia. Disney Editions, 2006. 734–735. ISBN 0-7868-4919-3
  4. ^ Polly Goodwin. "The Junior Bookshelf". Chicago Tribune. September 12, 1965. J15.
  5. ^ Nancy Polette. Picture Books for Gifted Programs. Scarecrow Press, 1981. 139.
  6. ^ "Clifford B. Hicks, 90". The Times-Republican. October 2, 2010.

External links[]

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