Although Micheal Martchenko began his career as a commercial artist, he was later approached by Robert Munsch and Annick Press representatives to consider a career in children's book illustrating after they saw his work at a graphic arts exhibition. His first Munsch book was 1980's The Paper Bag Princess after his six-year-old daughter read the story; he is now the go-to illustrator for Munsch books. It was not until 1990 that he first authored and illustrated his own book, Birdfeeder Banquet. His second self-authored and illustrated book, Ma, I?m a Farmer, was published in 2003.

Aside from his passion for illustrating children's books, Martchenko also has an interest in aviation and military art and history.

Silver Threads was the winner of the 1995 Taras Shevchenko writing award, and was selected by the Ontario Library Association as a "Best Bet for 1996"

"A classic fable about the power of love."
— Macleans

"Remarkably, Ms Skrypuch has retrieved an all-but-forgotten indignity in Canadian history without bitterness. . . This is a book that every Canadian grade school library should own."
— Kingston Whig Standard

"It was not at all hard for me to become enthralled, immediately, with Silver Threads. "
— Ukrainian Weekly