"…belongs in every library," said a review in School Library Journal about Young Thomas Edison. Michael belongs in a library too. And that is just where you will find him most of the time researching history–stepping back in time as he calls it. He has always been fascinated with the past. He lives in a house built in 1919, likes antique furniture and watches old movies. He even has old friends. His wife Jane jokes that, "he's stuck in the 70's, the 1770's and 1870's." Michael is the illustrator of over 50 books–many on historic subjects. He has illustrated picture books, chapter books and many middle grade novels.

Born in 1958, Michael grew up in the small town of Marlton, New Jersey surrounded by peach and apple orchards. He played baseball, built tree houses, had snowball fights and a paper route. He also loved to read and draw–a combination that eventually led to illustrating children's books. His mother Patricia always encouraged him to draw and more often than not he could be found 'doodling' away. He even had a dog Doodles.

Growing up Michael loved adventure stories, mystery, and especially characters in costume like Sherlock Holmes and Blackbeard. Today, many years later he still likes characters in costume. He and his wife Jane have acquired a collection of vintage clothes and costumes, which they may cut, shape or sew into something suitable for a pirate or one of Santa's elves. "Everyday at my house is like Halloween," Michael says. In fact, he poses for many of the characters in his books. His family and friends also pose in costume for many of the characters. The covers and pages of his books are adorned with illustrations of his daughters Rachel and Lisa and the neighborhood children.

Michael graduated in 1988 with a Master's Degree in Illustration from Syracuse University and since then has been a member of the Society of Illustrators in New York. To this day Michael maintains a deep appreciation for the Golden Age of Illustration (1880-1920) and is well versed in the history of illustration.

His clients over the past 20 years have included Reader's Digest, The United States Post Office, Scholastic, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, HarperCollins, Philomel, Puffin Books, McElderry Books, Henry Holt, Holiday House, Beechtree, Atheneum, Disney and many others.

Although his daughters have grown up and moved away Michael and his wife Jane still live in the same old Victorian house in Audubon, New Jersey. But if you knock on his door he will probably not answer. Most likely, he's at the library.