Dan Gutman

Dan Gutman (born 19 October 1955 in New York City) is an author from New Jersey. A prolific writer, with over a dozen works set to be released in 2006 alone, Gutman has written over 60 books, both fictional and non-fictional. He has had works released by such publishers as Penguin Books, Macmillan, Scholastic Press, and HarperCollins. Many of his books revolve around baseball, a sport which he has played and extensively followed throughout his life.

His writing almost exclusively consisted of non-fiction work until 1992, when he was inspired by his then-two-year-old son to start writing children's books. Perhaps his most famous works are his series of & Me novels for children, which started with his 20th published work, Honus & Me, a story that was originally rejected by at least a half-dozen publishers. Each book in the series revolves around a child travelling back in time to meet a baseball legend; the first work was based on the premise of a boy finding a Honus Wagner T206 baseball card in an attic of his neighbor. Further books in the series feature Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Dorothy "Mickey" Maguire (the main character, Joe Stoshack, was supposed to meet Mickey Mantle, but there was an accident and he went back to the times of the AAGPBL instead), Abner Doubleday, and Satchel Paige. According to Dan's official website, Jim & Me will be released in 2008 and that he currently writing at least another two entitled Ray & Me and Roberto & Me. The original story, Honus & Me, was made into a Turner Network Television made-for-TV picture entitled The Winning Season, starring Matthew Modine.

His other major series of children's literature is a set of twenty books (of which four are yet to be released) entitled the My Weird School series.

In addition, Gutman was also briefly a syndicated newspaper columnist and videogame magazine editor in the 1980s. He also wrote the book The Million Dollar Shot about a boy who gets the chance to win a million dollars by making a foul shot.

His latest book, "Getting Air" involves a 14 year old boy who has to survive in crude conditions after his plane was crashed by terrorists. The book is usually on most summer/semester reading lists now.

A graduate of Rutgers University, Gutman lives in Haddonfield, New Jersey with his wife and two children.

Mikael Walden Ordinary life of Mikael Walden. Mikael Walden was born on July 6, 1996. Mikael went to “Child Care Net Work,” a Day Care. Mikael was so easily attracted to his pacifier that he kept it for two years to three years. When he graduated from preschool he celebrated by going Chuck E Cheese. Mikael first walked when he was about 24 months old. Mikael’s favorite baby items were his pacifier, Barney, apple juice, cookies and his “Clifford the Big Red Dog” books and videos. When Mikael was three, he ran outside thinking he had on pants! Mikael Went to Oak Grove Elementary when he was seven years old, and that was the beginning of his big boy years because when he when he was seven he got his first motorcycle. He still rides it to this very day. Mikael also saw Sean May, a Carolina basketball star, when he was seven years old. Mikael’s favorite trip was when he went to “Disney World” when he was eight tears old, he stayed there for two weeks! As Mikael Went to school he noticed that he liked his third grade teacher, Ms.Wiggins, and his forth grade teacher, Mr. Nix but he also noticed that that he did not like his substitute so well, her name is Ms.Auther and she was his substitute for every grade. One day outside at resses Mikael was running, and he fell in the mud, and then he went home because he didn’t have any extra clothes, and he was also embarrassed. In forth grade Mikael decided that he would like to join a basket ball team and later on would join a base ball team. Finally when school let out after graduation, Mikael and his family went out to eat, to celebrate. Later on that summer Michael went ran track and he went camping. There was some built up inside of him making him madder and madder about coming to a private school, all boys school, and having to wear uniform. Now Mikael is glade he made the choice to attend Durham Nativity School because he has some more friends and is having a lot of fun. Mikael currently is 11 and a half years old. He attends Durham nativity School and he loves all of the teachers but his favorite teachers are Dr.Vanelle, Mr.Linney and Mr.Jimerson. Mikael’s best friends are Elijah, Torian, Boone, Sanders and Jerrick. Mikeals favorite color is unc blue so obviously he is a Carolina fan. Mikael loves to go to the track because he loves Drag Racing. His Favorite Movie is “The Lion King,” he likes Froot Loops, Polo shirts, Nike shoes, and Chevrolet cars. Mikael’s food is General chicken but he doesn’t like broccoli. When Mikael grows up, he wants to be a businessman and a multi-millionaire. If Michael had the choice not to live in the United States of America, he would live in Brazil or Paris. This is the ordinary life of Mikael Walden.