He returned to Texas, where he attended San Antonio College, and later transferred to Southern Connecticut State University where he received degrees in French and history.
In 1999, George and Martha became the stars of an eponymous animated TV show, which aired on HBO Family and Canadian YTV.
In introduction to the collected George and Martha, Sendak called him the "last of a long line of masters" including Randolph Caldecott, Jean de Brunhoff, Edward Ardizzone, and Tomi Ungerer.
[2] Beside the lovable hippos George and Martha, James Marshall created dozens of other uniquely appealing characters and illustrated over 70 books.
With only two minute dots for eyes, his illustrated characters are able to express a wide range of emotion, and produce howls of laughter from both children and adults.