Michael Burgan

A prolific writer of nonfiction for younger readers, Michael Burgan has contributed to numerous book series since beginning his publishing career in the mid-1990s. Although he has produced fiction and adaptations of several literary works, Burgan focuses for the most part on American history and on writing biographies of notable men and women from history. In addition to conventional histories such as The Trail of Tears, which was dubbed "concise" and objective by School Library Journal contributor Ann Welton, he has also helped encourage reluctant readers by penning boy-centered books such as The World's Fastest Military Airplanes, Great Moments in Basketball, biographies of professional wrestlers "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and The Rock, and several titles in Capstone Press's "Graphic History" series. Presenting factual topics in a fully illustrated graphic-novel format, book such as Burgan's The Curse of King Tut's Tomb were praised by School Library Journal contributor Peg Glisson as "historically accurate" as well as "fun and interesting reads" capable of inspiring further research into their "high-interest subject matter."CareerWeekly Reader Corp., Middletown, CT, editor, 1988ndash;94; freelance writer, 1994ndash;. Hartford Food System, member of board of directors, 1997ndash;.