17 May 2022

Author Michael Sampson on his new children's book - and fleeing Ukraine

From Nine To Noon, 10:05 am on 17 May 2022

When Dr Michael Sampson embarked on a Fulbright Scholarship late last year he was expecting to continue the research and teaching he's devoted his life to.

Instead his time in Ukraine was cut short by the Russian invasion and he was forced to flee to Poland.

In addition to an academic career - most recently as the Dean of the School of Education at New York's St Johns University - he is also a children's writer.

He had a long collaboration and friendship with prolific author Bill Martin Junior, with the pair writing 40 books together - including Chicka Chicka 1,2,3 and Panda Bear Panda Bear, What Do You See?

Sadly Bill died in 2004 - but their work together is continuing: Michael has just published another book they wrote together: Armadillo Antics.

Michael joins Kathryn from the border with Ukraine, where has plans to see out the rest of his Scholarship time teaching Ukrainian children who have had to flee their homeland.

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Photo: Supplied