Alda was born Arlene Weiss in New York City.

Alda's most recent work as an author, Did You Say Pears? was published by Tundra Books in 2006. Previous books published by Tundra include "The Book of ZZZs" (2005) and Morning Glory Monday (2003). She also wrote the popular Hurry Granny Annie was published by Tricycle Press in 1999. She wrote the popular Hold the Bus (published by Troll Press in 1996). For much, but not all, of her career as an author, she has provided her own illustrations as a photographer.

Alda is married to actor Alan Alda, of the hit CBS-TV show M*A*S*Hfame. They wed on March 15, 1957, and they have three daughters: Eve, Elizabeth and Beatrice, and seven grandchildren, two of whom attended the 2005 Academy Awards (Emilia Alda and Scott Coffey).