Michael Sampson was still in elementary school in Tom Bean, Texas, when his first work was published. By the time he reached fifth grade, he had read nearly every title in his hometown library, written a book series based on Frank and Joe of the Hardy Boys, and had a poem featured in a national magazine. Now a Fulbright Scholar and bestselling author, Sampson writes, conducts school visits, and provides teacher in-services across the nation and around the globe.

Sampson’s professional journey began with his undergraduate studies at East Texas State University, where he majored in political science and received his elementary teaching certificate. After graduation, Sampson taught kindergarten through sixth grades, and received much press coverage for his innovative teaching concepts. Sampson continued his studies at The University of Arizona, where he earned a PhD in reading while working under Dr. Roach Van Allen and Dr. Kenneth Goodman. During that time, in 1977, he met children’s author Bill Martin Jr, who would become his lifelong friend, mentor, and collaborator.

In 1980, Sampson accepted a faculty position at Texas A&M University-Commerce, and by 1986, he had published his first professional book, The Pursuit of Literacy. Four years later, he published the creative, theme-based literature program, Experiences with Literacy, co-authored by Bill Teale and Dr. Roach Van Allen. In 1992, Holt, Rinehart and Winston published his book on the language arts, Pathways to Literacy, which became the first in a series of three editions that included Pathways to Literacy: Process Transactions and Total Literacy.

The 1990s saw Sampson move into the children's market as an author, with he and Martin teaming up to write together. Martin soon left New York to join Sampson in Commerce, building a home next to his co-author on the South Sulphur River and establishing the landmark property that became known as “Woodfrost.” For the next 11 years, Martin and Sampson wrote daily, creating over 30 bestselling and award-winning children’s titles including: Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?, Swish!, which quickly became a must-read for young girls; a numbers book, Rock It, Sock It, Number Line!; the beloved bedtime story, The Little Squeegy Bug; Little Granny Quarterback, a football comedy; Trick or Treat?; I Pledge Allegiance; and the enduring classic that was named Parenting Magazine’s 2004 Book of the Year, Chicka Chicka 1,2,3. Martin and Sampson’s partnership extended beyond their literary work as well, with the duo conducting annual workshops for educators and training over 100,000 teachers through their Pathways to Literacy program, which continues to thrive today.

Sampson additionally penned several of his own children’s books throughout this period, including the classroom favorites: Caddie the Golf Dog, Star of the Circus, and The Football That Won, which was inspired by his days as a captain on the Tom Bean Tomcats football team and a member of the Class B Texas State All Star Team. By 2005, Sampson was the author or co-author of 29 published children’s books. 

After Martin passed away in 2004, Sampson carried on their literary tradition by introducing previously unpublished titles. Their book I Love This Earth was released in 2006, and Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See? debuted as an instant New York Times bestseller the next year. Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Waking Up? followed in 2008, along with The Bill Martin Jr Big Book of Poetry. The Kitty Cat series then continued with Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Sleeping? in 2011 and Kitty Cat, Kitty Cat, Are You Going to School? in 2013. A few years later, two more bestsellers launched with Listen to Our World in 2016 and Spunky Little Monkey in 2017.

Throughout the mid-2000s, Sampson also expanded his career in academics, teaching for three years at the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg and becoming Dean of the School of Education at Southern Connecticut State University in August 2010. Sampson joined Northern Arizona University as the Dean of the College of Education in 2012, and transitioned to New York in 2014 as the Dean of the School of Education for St. John’s University. Sampson began serving abroad as a Fulbright Scholar to Ukraine in the fall of 2021 before he was evacuated to Poland in advance of the Russian invasion.

Currently, he is working on a book about Martin’s life, writing the story of JoJo the Tornado Dog, and preparing for the launch of four new children’s titles from Brown Books Publishing Group. Armadillo Antics, the new title from the Martin + Sampson collection, comes out in April 2022, and a book Sampson co-authored with Bonnie J. Johnson, The Pig, the Elephant, and the Wisecracking Bird, arrives in August 2022. The next Martin + Sampson titles will follow with the release of Ten Little Squirrels in fall 2022 and Bing! Bang! Chugga! Beep! in spring 2023.