Born in Queens, New York, Richard Panchyk is the author, editor, or translator of 53 books, featuring more than 5,000 illustrations and 700 interviews. His books, totaling over 6,000 pages, include a novel, 12 books in the "For Kids" series published by Chicago Review Press, 30 history books on New York City and Long Island, and three translations of 1930s German novels into English. His works can be found in library systems in all 50 states and 15 countries, and have been translated into Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Persian, and Portuguese. Among the figures he has interviewed for his books are: Kurt Vonnegut, Rudy Giuliani, John Anderson, George McGovern, Walter Mondale, Edwin Meese III, Morley Safer, Ken Starr, Robert Morgenthau, Mario Cuomo, Carl Erskine, and Ralph Nader. Some of our most illustrious leaders have contributed forewords, introductions, and quotes for his books, including Former President Bill Clinton, Senators John McCain, Edward Kennedy, Bob Dole, and John Kerry, Governor Michael Dukakis, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Edward Cardinal Egan (former Archbishop of New York), and Reeve Lindbergh (Charles Lindbergh's daughter). His book World War II for Kids was named a Notable Book of 2003 by the National Council for the Social Studies.