PANCHYK, Richard 1970-

PERSONAL: Born March 30, 1970, in Jackson Heights, NY; son of Robert and Katherine Panchyk; married Caren Prommersberger (an editor); children: Matthew, Elizabeth. Education: Adelphi University, B.A. (anthropology), 1992; University of Massachusetts, M.A. (anthropology), 1994, graduate studies, 1994-96. Politics: Independent.

ADDRESSES: Agent—Gannett Fleming, 1 Penn Plaza, Ste. 2222, New York, NY 10119. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Author. University of Massachusetts, Cambridge, MA, teaching assistant, 1993-95; Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association's Indian House, Deerfield, MA, teacher, 1994-95; Macmillan Publishing, New York, NY, freelance editor, 1995-96; Gannett Fleming Engineers and Architects, New York, NY, marketing coordinator, 1996—.

WRITINGS:

FOR ADULTS; NONFICTION

(With Katherine Panchyk) The CADD Department: A Guide to Its Successful Organization and Management, Van Nostrand Reinhold (New York, NY), 1991.

Birth Index for Buda Jewry: Covering the Years 1820-52, 1868 for Neolog Jews in Buda (Budapest). Hungary: An Alphabetical Listing by Father's Surname, with a Cross-Index of Mother's Surnames, Avotaynu, Inc. (Teaneck, NJ), 1995.

Obuda Census of 1850: Index and Complete Census, Avotaynu, Inc. (Teaneck, NJ), 1996.

(With mother, Katherine Panchyk) CAD Management: The Definitive Guide to Systems Set-up, Maintenance, and Efficiency, Kluwer Academic Press (Boston, MA), 1998.

Mako and Battonya (Hungary) Vital and Census Records, 1824-1880, Avotaynu (Bergenfield, NJ), 1998.

FOR CHILDREN; NONFICTION

(With Matthys Levy) Engineering the City: How Infrastructure Works, Projects and Principles for Beginners, Chicago Review Press (Chicago, IL), 2000.

Archeology for Kids: Uncovering the Mysteries of Our Past: twent-five Activities, Chicago Review Press (Chicago, IL), 2001.

World War II for Kids, forewords by Bill Clinton and John McCain, Chicago Review Press (Chicago, IL), 2002.

Folk Art for Kids, Chicago Review Press (Chicago, IL), 2003.

Some of Panchyk's work has been translated into Japanese and Portuguese.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Working on a children's picture book as well as more "for Kids" ideas.

SIDELIGHTS: Richard Panchyk told CA: "I knew I wanted to be a writer when I was in second grade. It helped that as a child, I read voraciously. Besides fiction, my favorite books were about history or science. The books I liked best were packed with information and photos and did not talk down to me. Well, now everything has come full circle and it turns out that I am writing the kind of book I would have loved as a child. Archeology for Kids and World War II for Kids are part of a series of books that have the same format—about 160 pages, lots of photos and drawings, and suggested activities to flesh out the subject matter even further.

"What I enjoy so much about writing these books is the challenge of taking a topic and making it accessible and fun for kids to read about. For my World War II book, I interviewed about twenty people and included their stories in the book. I also obtained original letters written between soldiers and their families back in the States. All of this helped me achieve an authentic feeling that can transport kids back in time. I enjoy presenting material in an original way and letting kids read original documents and understand what people actually have to say about their experiences.

"I have always had an interest in teaching, and have taught elementary age kids as well as college students. I find that writing for kids is even more rewarding. I find that a well-written kids' nonfiction book can also serve as a primer for adults, especially teachers. I like books that serve as a springboard by igniting your interest and inviting you to read further into the subject."

As Panchyk further explained to CA, he is most interested in writing children's nonfiction books that both inspire and educate, often using real anecdotes and actual documents to convey the immediacy of his descriptions. In his very first book for children, Engineering the City: How Infrastructure Works, Projects and Principles for Beginners, which he coauthored with Matthys Levy, Panchyk presents a compilation of infrastructure stories, including an overview of the history of infrastructure evolution from the earliest times to modern-day complexities, such as running railroads, building bridges, and telecommunications technology. Also included in the book are activities for children, with accompanying step-by-step instructions.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, February 15, 2001, Roger Leslie, review of Engineering the City: How Infrastructure Works, Projects and Principles for Beginners, p. 1126; January 1, 2002, Susan Dove Lempke, review of Archeology for Kids: Uncovering the Mysteries of Our Past: twenty-five Activities, p. 854.

Gifted Child Today, spring, 2001, "Investigate Infrastructures in Our World," p. 46.

Publishers Weekly, August 26, 2002, "World War II Remembered," p. 71.

School Library Journal, December, 2001, Patricia Manning, review of Archeology for Kids, p. 169.

Science Activities, winter, 2002, Donald E. Myers, review of Engineering the City, p. 44.