Background
Michael Garland was born in Manhattan's French Hospital in 1952 and grew up in Staten Island. Michael began drawing as a very young child.
2013
8025 Mitchell Ranch Rd, New Port Richey, Florida 34655, United States
Michael Garland visits Seven Springs Elementary School, New Port Richey, Florida.
2014
Michael Garland painting.
2014
Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
Kevin Garland, Katie Garland, Peggy McDermott Garland, Alice Garland, and Michael Garland on Alice's graduation day from the University of California, Los Angeles.
2016
Branchburg, New Jersey 08876, United States
Michael Garland on the Authors' Day event in Branchburg, New Jersey.
2016
40 Olivia St, Port Chester, New York 10573, United States
Michael Garland and Cheryle Pervis Washington visit John F Kennedy Magnet School, Port Chester, New York.
2017
128 E 63rd St New York 10065, United States
Michael Garland with his wife at the Society of Illustrators Members Show Opening "Food Fight."
2017
540 Hoyt St, Darien, Connecticut 06820, United States
Michael Garland played in the Concern Charity Golf Outing at the Woodway Golf Club in Darien, Connecticut.
2018
2 Siwanoy Blvd, Eastchester, New York 10709, United States
Michael Garland visits Cottle School in Eastchester, New York.
2019
801 Matous Dr, Bryan, Texas 77802, United States
Michael Garland visits Henderson Elementary School, Bryan, Texas.
2019
1400 Pecan St, Bryan, Texas 77803, United States
Michael Garland visits Jones Elementary School, Bryan, Texas.
2019
141 W Newell St, Syracuse 13205, New York, United States
Michael Garland visits Mckinley Brighton Elementary School, Syracuse, New York.
2019
141 W Newell St, Syracuse, New York 13205, United States
Michael Garland visits Mckinley Brighton Elementary School, Syracuse, New York.
2019
200 Old Tarrytown Road, White Plains, New York 10603, United States
Michael Garland and Artie Bennett visit Mohawk Country Day School, New York.
2019
Michael Garland at the Sleepy Hollow Lit Fest.
2019
Chappaqua, New York, United States
Michael Garland at the Chappaqua Book Festival.
2019
1200 Baker Ave, Bryan, Texas 77803, United States
Michael Garland visits Fannin Elementary School, Bryan, Texas.
2019
1200 Baker Ave, Bryan, Texas 77803, United States
Michael Garland visits Fannin Elementary School, Bryan, Texas.
2900 Amboy Rd, Staten Island, New York 10306, United States
Michael Garland graduated from Monsignor Farrell High School in 1970.
200 Willoughby Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11205, United States
Michael also studied at Pratt Institute and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1974.
Michael Garland
Michael Garland
Michael Garland with his wife and children.
Michael Garland and his wife Peggy.
(Vivid illustrations and a straightforward text capture th...)
Vivid illustrations and a straightforward text capture the unique world of a traveling circus family, from the parade through town, to the rehearsals, to the big show itself, with its clowns, acrobats, animals, and more.
https://www.amazon.com/Circus-Girl-Garland/dp/0525450696
1993
(Colorful paintings inspired by Magritte complement the st...)
Colorful paintings inspired by Magritte complement the story of a young boys' escape from boredom to the house of his neighbors, Rene, Magritte, and his wife, and the world they share with Salvador Dali and other artists.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525453369/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p3_i7
1995
(Leah's pony was swift and strong. Together they would cro...)
Leah's pony was swift and strong. Together they would cross through cornfields and over pastures, chasing cattle as they galloped under summer skies. Then came the year the corn grew no taller than a man's thumb. Locusts blackened the sky. The earth turned to dust. Gone were the cornfields and pastures where Leah and her pony once rode. It was the beginning of the great drought. Now Leah's papa faced losing the family farm. Set in the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, Elizabeth Friedrich's deeply felt story, vividly portrayed through Michael Garland's stunning oil paintings, tells of one child and what she would sacrifice for the love of her family.
https://www.amazon.com/Leahs-Pony-Elizabeth-Friedrich/dp/1563978288
1996
(Racing over bridges and castles, flying above lakes and r...)
Racing over bridges and castles, flying above lakes and rivers, and circling the Earth in the thrilling embrace of Santa's swift sleigh, Mouse's wish to catch a peek at the jolly old man comes true, in this charming fantasy adventure.
https://www.amazon.com/Mouse-Before-Christmas-Michael-Garland/dp/0142300055
1997
(Sent by her mother to the bakery for charlotte russe, a d...)
Sent by her mother to the bakery for charlotte russe, a dessert made of little cakes topped with whipped cream, Electra returns sans whipped cream and full of stomach pains.
https://www.amazon.com/Electra-Charlotte-Russe-Corinne-Demas/dp/1563974363
1997
(He was only a drummer boy, but Orion Howe's courage under...)
He was only a drummer boy, but Orion Howe's courage under fire helped General Sherman break the Rebel hold on Vicksburg. It is April 1861, and there is talk of war in the Howes' Illinois home. When President Lincoln asks for more soldiers, Orion's father and brother enlist. Hating to be left behind, twelve-year-old Orion soon joins them to be a drummer boy in the Union Army. As the war wears on, Orion bravely endures hunger, sickness, and fatigue, facing battles with nothing but his drum and sticks. But the biggest test of his courage is yet to come. On May 19, 1863, Orion's company is pinned down outside Vicksburg under heavy fire. Colonel Malmborg sends him to request more ammunition. Suddenly Orion is struck in the leg by enemy fire. Can he still get to the rear wagons? When he runs into General Sherman, will he remember the message he has been sent to deliver? Diary of a Drummer Boy is a fictionalized diary based on the true story of Orion Howe, recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
https://www.amazon.com/Diary-Drummer-Marlene-Targ-Brill/dp/1732027641
1998
(After falling asleep and being delivered along with a toy...)
After falling asleep and being delivered along with a toy airplane on Christmas morning, Tingle, a hard-working elf, tries to make his way back to the North Pole.
https://www.amazon.com/Elf-Christmas-Michael-Garland/dp/0525462120
1999
(After having watched his father live a life of regrets wh...)
After having watched his father live a life of regrets while saddled with a huge stone he feels he must carry around with him, a son finds happiness by choosing to follow his own path rather than his father's.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761312617/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p3_i5
1999
(Although he knows that his ambition to fly is silly, Icar...)
Although he knows that his ambition to fly is silly, Icarus the pig who is a cobbler by trade sets out to design, build, and test a set of wings.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807534951/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p3_i4
2000
(Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle. Some histori...)
Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle. Some historians trace these figures back to a man who lived in Asia Minor more than one thousand years ago. His name was Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra. Over time, the facts of his life merged with a legend. But behind the legend lies a remarkable life. The dramatic and simply told biography presents the life of Nicholas through a skillful blending of fact and legend, while Michael Garland's mosaic art beautifully reflects the Mediterranean world of the fourth century. Whenever we remember the needy at Christmas or give a gift to a loved one, we are living in the spirit of Saint Nicholas, who lives on in the spirit of Christmas.
https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Nicholas-Ann-Tompert/dp/1590783360
2000
(When lonely Emily tiptoes out of bed on Christmas Eve, sh...)
When lonely Emily tiptoes out of bed on Christmas Eve, she witnesses wild holiday enchantment in action-her cat and dog have learned how to sing "Jingle Bells," a rowdy crowd of mice are baking pies in the kitchen, and the snow-woman Emily built earlier in the day to keep her company has come to life! The best magic of all, however, is in Emily's brand-new friendship with the shy boy next door, which begins when they realize that they alone have witnessed the fantastical late-night happenings.
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Magic-Michael-Garland/dp/0525467971
2001
(A quiet night at the zoo turns into a wild adventure as t...)
A quiet night at the zoo turns into a wild adventure as the animals put their heads together and come up with a plan for a night on the town. Decked out in disguises from the Lost and Found, this zany bunch manages to take the bus downtown, have dinner at a French restaurant, and top it all off with a night of dancing at the Club Boogie.
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Night-Zoo-Michael-Garland/dp/1590781678
2001
(When Tommy goes to visit his Aunt Jeanne at her mansion, ...)
When Tommy goes to visit his Aunt Jeanne at her mansion, he finds a series of notes that are clues to an unnamed puzzle meant to be solved by Tommy and the reader.
https://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Mansion-Michael-Garland/dp/0142500844
2001
(This Bible is aimed at children ages 4 to 7. It's wonderf...)
This Bible is aimed at children ages 4 to 7. It's wonderful for families choosing to read the Bible to their children with the time-honored King James Version. It also provides opportunities to explain key Bible stories and give children a historical overview of the Bible and world events, with the one-of-a-kind unfolding timeline.
https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Childrens-Illustrated-Beautiful-Scriptures/dp/0718000838
2001
(When President William Howard Taft arrives in their quain...)
When President William Howard Taft arrives in their quaint little town in 1909, he soon becomes enamored with the fragrant smells that waft on the summer breeze, causing him to follow a young boy on a delectable tour through the best culinary concoctions in town until he discovers the source of the pleasant aroma.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142401463/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p3_i0
2002
(When Tommy gets a special invitation from his unusually u...)
When Tommy gets a special invitation from his unusually unique Aunt Jeanne, he jumps into the magical taxi without a second thought and is soon whisked away on a grand adventure through the streets of Christmas City where strategic clues are placed to lead him to his wonderful destination.
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-City-Look-Again-Book/dp/0525469044
2002
(A determined boy tries to find the perfect place to curl ...)
A determined boy tries to find the perfect place to curl up with his new book in this hilarious and heartwarming story. From bedroom to den, from the kitchen to the backyard, our eager reader dodges his baby sister's messes, a lawn full of spraying sprinklers, and more - all in a quest for the best place to read.
https://www.amazon.com/Best-Place-Read-Debbie-Bertram/dp/0375837574
2003
(When Zack meets his second-grade teacher, Miss Smith, he ...)
When Zack meets his second-grade teacher, Miss Smith, he can tell right away that her class will be different. But he has no idea just how different it will be! Miss Smith has a knack for telling tales when she reads from her incredible book, the stories literally spring to life! Then one day Miss Smith is late for school. The principal takes over and things get out of hand. The classroom is swarming with storybook characters from princesses to pirates to the three little pigs? All it takes is one spectacular teacher.
https://www.amazon.com/Smiths-Incredible-Storybook-Michael-Garland/dp/0142402826
2003
(She was a peasant, who was born in a village in France. S...)
She was a peasant, who was born in a village in France. She was a soldier, who commanded an army. In time, she was pronounced a saint. Joan of Arc's life seems like a fable. Her death reads like a tragedy. However, history records that she took command of French forces and drove the English from the city of Orleans.
https://www.amazon.com/Joan-Arc-Heroine-Ann-Tompert/dp/1590780094
2003
(A fresh new twist to the classic story follows Goldilocks...)
A fresh new twist to the classic story follows Goldilocks, who, tired of her boring existence, travels to outer space where she explores a Martian home and discovers that there is no place quite like home on Earth.
https://www.amazon.com/Goldilocks-Three-Martians-Stu-Smith/dp/0525469729
2004
(When Warrie Ransom, the Big Boss of the Exmas Express Com...)
When Warrie Ransom, the Big Boss of the Exmas Express Company, decides to buy Christmas and rename it Exmas, the Claus family can't believe their eyes. Everything at the North Pole seems to change overnight-the elves stop making kids' favorite toys, the Christmas doves won't fly or sing, and no one seems to laugh anymore. It looks like Christmas is going to be ruined. But then the Claus family's daughter, Chrissie, remembers something she had learned from her dad: you must believe in something bigger than yourself. With a little help from her dad's helpers, Chrissie, as Santa Kid delivers presents to children on Christmas eve, sending Warrie Ransom back to where he came from! After all, when you believe in something, magic can happen.
https://www.amazon.com/SantaKid-James-Patterson/dp/0316000612
2004
(Three Christmas stories present the holiday adventures of...)
Three Christmas stories present the holiday adventures of a mouse who goes along for the ride with Santa, an elf who is accidentally delivered along with a Christmas gift, and a little girl who witnesses amazing events on Christmas Eve.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525474986/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i11
2004
(For a young bulldog named Noelle, the joy of being adopte...)
For a young bulldog named Noelle, the joy of being adopted by her very own little girl is overshadowed by the worry that she won't fit into her wonderful new home. What can an odd-looking brown pup possibly have to offer in a world where shimmering fish, glittering fireflies, and beautiful Dalmatians play games that Noelle's short legs can barely keep up with?
https://www.amazon.com/Magically-Mysterious-Adventures-Noelle-Bulldog/dp/0060826231
2005
(Bart loves his owner Max, but it’s Christmas time in the ...)
Bart loves his owner Max, but it’s Christmas time in the city, and Bart longs for some adventure. So when Max is busy bringing in his Christmas tree, Bart gets his chance and becomes a pooch on the loose! From a dance with the famed Rockettes to skating in Central Park, Bart experiences the dazzling New York sights and learns along the way that at home with Max is where Bart truly belongs.
https://www.amazon.com/Pooch-Loose-Christmas-Steven-Kroll/dp/0761454438
2005
(Noelle the Bulldog is back for another magically mysterio...)
Noelle the Bulldog is back for another magically mysterious adventure! She's on a holiday visit with her family to the exotic Treasure Coast of Florida when she hears exciting news. There's a long-lost pirate ship full of treasure under the sand! Noelle can't wait to find it. On her high-spirited journey, she befriends a crusty but lovable crab and other mysterious new animals. And, most importantly, she discovers the "real" treasure of the Treasure Coast.
https://www.amazon.com/Noelles-Treasure-Tale-Magically-Mysterious/dp/0061126144
2006
(Miss Smith's incredible storybook opens the portal to mag...)
Miss Smith's incredible storybook opens the portal to magic and adventure once again. Zack can't wait for school with Miss Smith. Her incredible storybook promises a new expedition each time she reads. This time, the class is off on a fantastic journey to a Lost World. Zack and his friends are having a wonderful time until a Tyrannosaurus rex appears out of the jungle! Where is the magic book that can take them home? This spellbinding tale is bursting with action, adventure, and the joyful magic of reading.
https://www.amazon.com/Smith-Reads-Again-Michael-Garland/dp/014241140X
2006
(Ten hungry mice set off to find food, collecting cherries...)
Ten hungry mice set off to find food, collecting cherries and tomatoes in the meadow and corn in the field. However, they’re not the only animals searching for food! The mice have to run away from crows, a fish, a fox, and an owl, losing more of their food with each encounter. Will the mice ever get to enjoy their meal? And if they do, will they have enough food? As your young ones join the mice on their adventure, they’ll be able to practice their elementary math skills as they help the mice count their spoils with each new page.
https://www.amazon.com/How-Many-Mice-Combien-souris/dp/1683040961
2007
(While making a trip to his Aunt Jeanne's house, young Tom...)
While making a trip to his Aunt Jeanne's house, young Tommy stumbles upon a magical Easter egg factory where jelly beans, chocolate bunnies, and all kinds of tasty treats for Easter are being made, in a book with puzzles and clues that lead young readers on a hide-and-seek adventure to more than two hundred hidden objects.
https://www.amazon.com/Great-Easter-Hunt-Look-Again/dp/0142407534
2007
(This magical story will set Irish eyes a-smiling! The hap...)
This magical story will set Irish eyes a-smiling! The happy Irish farmer Seamus and his pet goat, Finny, seek the chance of a lifetime at the King Puck Festival. And as Seamus and Finny's adventure unfolds, you'll adore finding the fairies hidden in each of the radiant illustrations. Set against the backdrop of Ireland's oldest and most unusual fair, king puck is a jig-reeling, kid-appealing tale of friendship, fun, and fairy magic.
https://www.amazon.com/King-Puck-Michael-Garland/dp/0060848111
2007
(Celebrate the Fourth of July in a vibrant seek-and-find a...)
Celebrate the Fourth of July in a vibrant seek-and-find adventure. This fun-filled ode to America brims with patriotic spirit and more than 200 hidden objects to find. Tommy, star of the bestselling Look Again series, awakes on July Fourth to find a note from his eccentric Aunt Jeanne, promising a spectacular surprise if he unravels clues she has hidden for him. Tommy?s clues lead him on a magical cross-country trip through America's great places and iconic traditions. From Times Square to Mount Rushmore, from a Mississippi riverboat to the Golden Gate Bridge, spectacular scenery and colorful details are sure to delight eagle-eyed young readers.
https://www.amazon.com/Americana-Adventure-Michael-Garland/dp/0525479457
2008
(A wonderful Halloween adventure with Miss Smith and her s...)
A wonderful Halloween adventure with Miss Smith and her students Miss Smith's students know to expect the unexpected when she reads from her magical book. This time, Miss Smith takes her kids to the eerie library down the block and introduces them to the weird librarian, Virginia Creeper. But per usual, storytime is never ordinary when reading from Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook. And what starts out as a run-of-the-mill field trip soon becomes a full-out monster bash!
https://www.amazon.com/Smith-Haunted-Library-Michael-Garland/dp/0142421227
2009
(It's a snow day! When Tommy wakes up, he finds a note fro...)
It's a snow day! When Tommy wakes up, he finds a note from his eccentric Aunt Jeanne, promising a surprise if he unravels clues she has hidden for him all over town. Tommy follows the clues through a gorgeous winter wonderland, from sledding and skating to magical ice palaces and forests full of winter creatures. Colorful artwork chock-full of hidden objects to seek and find will delight eagle-eyed youngsters and make for hours of fun.
https://www.amazon.com/Super-Snow-Day-Seek-Find/dp/0525422455
2010
(Miss Smith's class can't wait for storytime. When their t...)
Miss Smith's class can't wait for storytime. When their teacher reads from her incredible storybook, the worlds she describes come alive-literally! So when the class takes a field trip to the local aquarium, reading magic brings favorite nautical characters to life, including Long John Silver and the Swiss Family Robinson. From swimming with the Little Mermaid to rescuing their treasured storybook from scurvy pirates, it's another rollicking reading adventure Miss Smith's class and readers won't soon forget.
https://www.amazon.com/Smith-Under-Ocean-Michael-Garland/dp/0525423427
2011
(It is an upbeat and humorously sweet holiday story about ...)
It is an upbeat and humorously sweet holiday story about Santa's soon-to-be-classic wild and crazy sleigh ride one special Christmas Eve.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/054539533X/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p2_i3
2011
(The Night Santa Got Lost begins on a blustery and treache...)
The Night Santa Got Lost begins on a blustery and treacherous Christmas Eve as Santa sets off to deliver toys to good little boys and girls everywhere. As always, NORAD is faithfully tracking him to make sure no harm comes his way. But when Santa disappears from their radar screen, NORAD's skills and resources are put to the test as they scramble to find Santa and save Christmas.
https://www.amazon.com/Night-Santa-Got-Lost-Christmas/dp/1621573982
2012
(Fish has a wish. He wishes he were a bird so he could fly...)
Fish has a wish. He wishes he were a bird so he could fly. He wishes he were a skunk so he could make a big stink or a snake that says. But after enjoying a delicious mayfly snack, Fish realizes he's happy exactly as he is.
https://www.amazon.com/Fish-Had-Wish-Like-Read/dp/0823427579
2012
(A hilarious school story that explores all the possible p...)
A hilarious school story that explores all the possible places your homework might be hiding! When a young boy's homework goes missing, who is to blame? Of course, the aliens beamed it up, or perhaps the pirates plundered the pages, or maybe the wicked witch turned his homework into a frog! Or did a dog actually eat it? A hilarious school story that explores all the possible places your homework might be hiding.
https://www.amazon.com/Wheres-My-Homework-Michael-Garland/dp/0545436559
2014
(The powerful little tugboat can do big jobs such as pulli...)
The powerful little tugboat can do big jobs such as pulling an ocean liner, a cargo ship, barges, even a bridge! It maneuvers the tall ships and tugs the fireworks barge.
https://www.amazon.com/Tugboat-Michael-Garland/dp/0823428664
2014
(Life is a challenge for a city mouse. Dogs, cats, and peo...)
Life is a challenge for a city mouse. Dogs, cats, and people are daily dangers. But when the whiskered hero of this story uncovers one of the greatest treats New York City has to offer a forager, a discarded slice of pepperoni pizza, the danger is all worth it! Now it’s up to the tiny Pizza Mouse to get the slice safely home to his family, via the train, of course.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0823438538/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i4
2017
(This evocative tale of the African-American odyssey in se...)
This evocative tale of the African-American odyssey in search of a better life is also a homage to the uniquely American music that developed from African music and American spirituals, work songs, and folk ballads.
https://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Played-Blues-Michael-Garland/dp/0884485889
2017
(Big is an elephant, Little is a mouse. Big enjoys soft mu...)
Big is an elephant, Little is a mouse. Big enjoys soft music, warm weather, and small bites of savory foods. But Little prefers a loud drum jam, icy skiing weather, and mass quantities of sweets! Can two who are so different be best friends? This charming, rhyming concept book about opposites reminds us that in the end, best friends can be different as night and day and they don't need to change for anyone.
https://www.amazon.com/Big-Little-Are-Best-Friends/dp/0545870976
2017
(An illustrated introduction to where birds make their hom...)
An illustrated introduction to where birds make their homes, all across the globe. Birds make many kinds of nests in many kinds of places, to keep their eggs safe and to raise their chicks. In this colorful picture book, acclaimed artist Michael Garland introduces more than twenty species of birds and the intriguing homes they make, from puffins' burrows to orioles' hanging nests.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0823441768/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i3
2017
(Tug is a little boat with a big job! He pulls cruise ship...)
Tug is a little boat with a big job! He pulls cruise ships, tall ships, and even a fireworks barge! This charming board book follows a day in the life of a New York City tugboat.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/082343785X/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i5
2017
(Michael Garland displays his impressive illustration rang...)
Michael Garland displays his impressive illustration range with the stylized, country-quilt, digital collage illustrations of A Season of Flowers. Snowdrops and crocuses yield to tulips and hyacinths, then dogwood blossoms, iris, lupine, daisies, morning glories, daylilies, geraniums, peonies, sunflowers, roses, and chrysanthemums as spring passes to summer, then autumn. At last, the garden slumbers into winter under a blanket of snow, preparing next year’s procession of blooms. Like actors crossing a stage, flowers narrate the passing seasons in the first person, each one briefly proclaiming its unique and vital role in the natural world.
https://www.amazon.com/Season-Flowers-Tilbury-House-Nature/dp/0884486230
2018
(It is December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attack...)
It is December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt leads a nation in crisis. He must make a speech to a joint session of Congress that will build support for America’s entry to World War II, but to do that he needs an armored vehicle in which to make the short trip from the White House to the Capitol Building. According to legend, the car Roosevelt rode in that day, borrowed from the FBI’s impound lot, was an armored Cadillac V-8 built for gangster Al Capone in the late 1920s to shield himself from enemies. Is the legend true, or is it an American tall tale in the tradition of Paul Bunyan or John Henry? Either way, it’s an ideal vehicle to compare and contrast the lives of two American men who grew up within miles of one another: one a great president, the other an infamous villain.
https://www.amazon.com/Two-Men-Car-Franklin-Roosevelt/dp/0884486206
2019
Michael Garland was born in Manhattan's French Hospital in 1952 and grew up in Staten Island. Michael began drawing as a very young child.
Michael Garland graduated from Monsignor Farrell High School in 1970. Michael also studied at Pratt Institute and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1974.
Michael Garland is an author, illustrator, and painter. He began his career as an illustrator of children's books. A few months after graduating True Confessions Magazine purchased his first illustration directly from his portfolio. It was a gothic paperback sample of a pretty girl running away from a haunted house. Gradually, Michael was able to build a portfolio of printed samples that helped to establish credibility among potential art buyers. Garland has written and illustrated works for the young in a number of areas, including biography, picture books, and puzzle-and-story combinations. Both as an author and illustrator, his work is known for its imagination and charm. He often used surrealism, which was considered to be a substantial enrichment to the visual aspect of the books he illustrates. Sonora the Beautiful by Lucille Clifton and The Frog People by Dale Carlson, both issued by Dutton, were the first titles containing his artwork.
Published in 1989, My Cousin Katie marked Garland's debut as both author and illustrator. His daughter Katie was the model for the character. Since then, he has divided his time between the illustration of other authors' works and writing and illustrating his own books. Michael's early work employed both painting and drawing. He is particularly well known for his skill in acrylic painting. Electra and the Charlotte Russe and The Mouse before Christmas were his first foray into computer-assisted illustration. He made huge investments in equipment, which was quite expensive at that time, took an evening Photoshop course at a local community college but he didn't know if any of his clients would accept digital illustration. Garland would have to guarantee if they weren't satisfied, he would do the work over with traditional materials. Michael continues to use both traditional methods - painting and drawing, as well as computer techniques in his art. Garland has been a frequent recipient of the Society of Illustrators' certificate of merit. My Cousin Katie is the story of a young child and her life on a farm. Critics have commented on Garland's use of a realistic style imbued with a certain idealism that conveys a romantic vision of rural farm life. Suitable for a small child, this book received the National Council of Social Studies/Children's Book Council Notable Children's Trade Book Award in the social studies category and was also a Booklist Editors Choice. Like My Cousin Katie, Circus Girl (1993) presents a child's life that is substantially different from the more familiar urban or suburban model. Garland's daughter Alice was the model for Circus Girl. There is no plot, but rather a group of scenes depicting everyday activities that make up life in the circus. Garland has again employed a realistic style, with a bright palette of acrylic paints. The illustrations are large with full-page and double-page formats.
Garland has also produced several "search-and-find" combination stories and puzzle books. Michael has illustrated for celebrity authors like James Patterson and Gloria Estefan. His illustrations for Patterson's Santa Kid (2004) were the inspiration for Saks Fifth Avenue's Christmas holiday window display in New York City. Garland's Christmas Magic has become a season classic and is currently being developed for a TV special. Christmas Magic (2001) and Mystery Mansion: A Look Again Book (2001) both are structured around a boy named Tommy and his aunt Jeanne. The aunt leads Tommy on mysterious searches by means of rhymed clues, and at the end of the hunt is a lovely surprise. These books received favorable notice for their opulent and complex illustrations and were recognized for presenting challenges both to the intellect and the imagination. A reviewer for Publishers Weekly noted of Mystery Mansion that the digital art adds considerably to the attractiveness of the book and the experience it evokes.
Garland's work often has a fanciful quality to it. The President and Mom's Apple Pie (2002), a tale of President Taft's legendary appetite, and Icarus Swinebuckle are both stories recognized for their charm and humor. Dinner at Magritte's, written and illustrated by Garland, is a clear acknowledgment of the author and illustrator's long-held interest in surrealism. Michael's son was the model for Dinner at Magritte's. In the New York Times Book Review, the book was complimented for its wit and value as sophisticated entertainment. Garland's Miss Smith's Incredible Storybook won the California and Delaware State Reading Awards. Some of Michael's best-loved books include Birds Make Nests, Pizza Mouse, Lost Dog, Tugboat, Car Goes Far, Fish Had A Wish, Daddy Played the Blues, A Season of Flowers, Big And Little Are Best Friends, Oh, What A Christmas!, Where's My Homework?, Grandpa's Tractor, and the Haunted Library.
Michael Garland continues a long tradition of producing outstanding landscapes, still life, and portrait oil paintings from his studio easel, Garland Studio. He also worked for many Scholastic magazines and Highlights as well and became an adjunct professor at Marist and Mount Saint Mary Colleges.
(When lonely Emily tiptoes out of bed on Christmas Eve, sh...)
2001(A hilarious school story that explores all the possible p...)
2014(While making a trip to his Aunt Jeanne's house, young Tom...)
2007(When President William Howard Taft arrives in their quain...)
2002(When Tommy gets a special invitation from his unusually u...)
2002(Three Christmas stories present the holiday adventures of...)
2004(Racing over bridges and castles, flying above lakes and r...)
1997(Colorful paintings inspired by Magritte complement the st...)
1995(Vivid illustrations and a straightforward text capture th...)
1993(This evocative tale of the African-American odyssey in se...)
2017(A fresh new twist to the classic story follows Goldilocks...)
2004(After having watched his father live a life of regrets wh...)
1999(Noelle the Bulldog is back for another magically mysterio...)
2006(Tug is a little boat with a big job! He pulls cruise ship...)
2017(Sent by her mother to the bakery for charlotte russe, a d...)
1997(The powerful little tugboat can do big jobs such as pulli...)
2014(It's a snow day! When Tommy wakes up, he finds a note fro...)
2010(When Tommy goes to visit his Aunt Jeanne at her mansion, ...)
2001(For a young bulldog named Noelle, the joy of being adopte...)
2005(After falling asleep and being delivered along with a toy...)
1999(This magical story will set Irish eyes a-smiling! The hap...)
2007(A wonderful Halloween adventure with Miss Smith and her s...)
2009(When Warrie Ransom, the Big Boss of the Exmas Express Com...)
2004(The Night Santa Got Lost begins on a blustery and treache...)
2012(Michael Garland displays his impressive illustration rang...)
2018(Although he knows that his ambition to fly is silly, Icar...)
2000(A quiet night at the zoo turns into a wild adventure as t...)
2001(It is December 8, 1941, the day after the Japanese attack...)
2019(It is an upbeat and humorously sweet holiday story about ...)
2011(A young woman frantically searches for a way to prevent a...)
1982(He was only a drummer boy, but Orion Howe's courage under...)
1998(A determined boy tries to find the perfect place to curl ...)
2003(The little boy who loves to read is back, and this time h...)
2008(When Zack meets his second-grade teacher, Miss Smith, he ...)
2003(Ten hungry mice set off to find food, collecting cherries...)
2007(Katie's cousin looks forward to all the wonderful things ...)
1989(Bart loves his owner Max, but it’s Christmas time in the ...)
2005(Miss Smith's incredible storybook opens the portal to mag...)
2006(An illustrated introduction to where birds make their hom...)
2017(A child follows a firefly in the night, wondering what it...)
2004(Celebrate the Fourth of July in a vibrant seek-and-find a...)
2008(A touching story of a young boy who befriends a Christmas...)
1996(She was a peasant, who was born in a village in France. S...)
2003(Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle. Some histori...)
2000(This Bible is aimed at children ages 4 to 7. It's wonderf...)
2001(Miss Smith's class can't wait for storytime. When their t...)
2011(Big is an elephant, Little is a mouse. Big enjoys soft mu...)
2017(Life is a challenge for a city mouse. Dogs, cats, and peo...)
2017(Leah's pony was swift and strong. Together they would cro...)
1996(Fish has a wish. He wishes he were a bird so he could fly...)
2012Michael Garland is frequently asked to speak at schools, literary conferences, and festivals across the country. Garland also attends other different charity events.
Quotations: "The way to become a successful illustrator is to work very hard, be flexible, open-minded, and adaptable. Also, try and develop a very thick skin. You're going to need it."
Michael Garland describes himself as the eternal optimist. He likes to try new things. Garland enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, and golfing.
Michael Garland is married to Peggy Garland. They have three children: Katie, Alice, and Kevin.