Michael McCurdy was born in New York City on February 17, 1942. He studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston between 1960 and 1966. He received a B.F.A. in 1964 and a M.F.A. in 1971 from Tufts University. He taught drawing and printmaking at Concord Academy and Wellesley College. He also founded Penmaen Press.
His wood engravings and scratchboard drawings have been published in more than 200 books for children and adults. His first illustrated children's book, Please Explain by Isaac Asimov, was published in 1973. His other illustration credits include The Owl-Scatterer by Howard Norman, The Seasons Sewn: A Year in Patchwork by Ann Whitford Paul, An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott, American Tall Tales by Mary Pope Osborne, and The Sailor's Alphabet. He died on May 28, 2016 at the age of 74.
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