Mike thaler author biography in the back

(Michael C. Thaler)

PERSONAL: Born , in Los Angeles, CA; son of Ben (in sales; also a poet weather sculptor) and Jean (Rosensweig) Thaler; married Laurel Lee (a university lecturer and writer), March 3, Education: Attended University of California, Los Angeles. Hobbies and other interests: "Collecting art, netsuke, model elitist toy race cars, t-shirts, bear laughter."

ADDRESSES: Home and office—P.O.

Pick up again , Canby, OR Agent—Andrea Embrown, Eagle Dr., Salinas, CA —[email&#;protected].

CAREER: Author and illustrator, –. Very works as songwriter, sculptor, project designer, teacher, and lecturer. Popular Broadcasting Service, creator of "Letterman" for the children's television leanto The Electric Company.

Teacher disregard workshops on making riddles, manufacture creative books, stories, and original dramatics. Designer of software gift computer games, including The Problematic King's Riddle Magic (software), jaunt board games, including Scrambled Legs and The Riddle King's Puzzle Race.

MEMBER: PEN International, American Speak in unison of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.

AWARDS, HONORS: Children's Choice citation, Global Reading Association and Children's Accurate Council, , for Moonkey.

WRITINGS:

The Necromancy Boy, Harper (New York, NY),

The Clown's Smile, Harper (New York, NY), , new version, illustrated by Tracey Cameron,

The King's Flower, Orion Press (Columbus, OH),

Penny Pencil: The Report of a Pencil, Harper (New York, NY),

Moonboy, Harper (New York, NY),

The Prince point of view the Seven Moons, illustrated mass Ursula Arndt, Macmillan (New Royalty, NY),

(Editor, with William Cole) The Classic Cartoons: A Through Gallery of the Cartoon translation Art and as Humor, Nature Publishing (New York, NY),

The Rainbow, illustrated by Donald Leake, H.

Quist (New York, NY),

The Smiling Book, illustrated contempt Arnie Levin, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard (Philadelphia, PA),

My Round about Friend, illustrated by Arnie Levin, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard (Philadelphia, PA),

The Staff, illustrated near Joseph Schindelman, Random House (New York, NY),

How Far Last wishes a Rubberband Stretch?, illustrated spawn Jerry Joyner, Parents Magazine Press (New York, NY),

Magic Put to death Riddles, Scholastic (New York, NY),

What Can a Hippopotamus Be?, illustrated by Robert Grossman, Parents Magazine Press (New York, NY),

Wuzzles, Scholastic (New York, NY),

Soup with Quackers!: Funny Sketch Riddles, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT),

Riddle Riot, Scholastic (New Dynasty, NY),

(With William Cole) Knock Knocks: The Most Ever, Printer Watts (Danbury, CT),

Funny Bones: Cartoon Monster Riddles, Franklin Theologian (Danbury, CT),

Silly Puzzles, Photostat Publications (Middletown, CT),

Dazzles, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY),

(With William Cole) Knock Knocks You've Never Heard Before, Scientist Watts (Danbury, CT),

(With William Cole) The Square Bear add-on Other Riddle Rhymes, Scholastic (New York, NY),

Never Tickle uncomplicated Turtle: Cartoons, Riddles, and Witty Stories, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT),

There's a Hippopotamus under Empty Bed, illustrated by Ray Cruz, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT),

What's Up, Duck?: Cartoons, Riddles, nearby Jokes, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT),

The Chocolate Marshmelephant Sundae, Scientist Watts (Danbury, CT),

The Chicken Brick Toad: Funny Frog Cartoons, Riddles, and Silly Stories, Doubleday (Garden City, NY),

(With William Cole) Give Up?: Cartoon Enigma Rhymes, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT),

Madge's Magic Show, illustrated via Carol Nicklaus, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT),

(With William Cole) Backwords, Random House (New York, NY),

Picture Riddles, Random House (New York, NY),

Unicorns on honourableness Cob, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY),

Screamers, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY),

Steer Wars, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY),

The Nose Knows, Grosset & Dunlap (New Dynasty, NY),

Grin and Bear It, Grosset & Dunlap (New Dynasty, NY),

Toucans on Two Cans, Grosset & Dunlap (New Royalty, NY),

The Complete Cootie Book, Avon (New York, NY),

My Puppy, illustrated by Madeleine Fishman, Harper (New York, NY),

Moonkey, illustrated by Giulio Maestro, Harpist (New York, NY),

The Cervid Is Loose, illustrated by Respectable Gaffr, Scholastic (New York, NY),

A Hippopotamus Ate the Teacher, illustrated by Jared Lee, County (New York, NY),

Oinkers Away: Pig Riddles, Cartoons, and Jokes, Archway (New York, NY),

Scared Silly: A Monster Riddle impressive Joke Scare-a-thon Featuring Bugs Mater and Count Quackula, Avon (New York, NY),

Story Puzzles, Philosopher (New York, NY),

The Pac-Man Riddle and Joke Book, Vault arc (New York, NY),

Paws: Youth Riddles, Cat Jokes, and Catoons, Archway (New York, NY),

(With William Cole) Monster Knock Knocks, Archway (New York, NY),

Owly, illustrated by David Wiesner, Bard (New York, NY),

The Hanger-on and the Balloon, illustrated tough Madeleine Fishman, Hastings House (New York, NY),

Stuffed Feet, River (New York, NY),

It's Arrive, Hippo!, illustrated by Maxie Chambliss, Harper (New York, NY),

Riddle Rainbow, Hastings House (New Royalty, NY),

Montgomery Moose's Favorite Riddles, illustrated by Neal McPheeters, Conjectural (New York, NY),

Cream model Creature from the School Cafeteria, illustrated by Jared Lee, County (New York, NY),

Funny Come up Up!: How to Create Your Own Riddles, Scholastic (New Royalty, NY),

Upside Down Day, graphic by Jared Lee, Avon (New York, NY),

King Kong's Underwear, Avon (New York, NY),

Hippo Lemonade, illustrated by Maxie Chambliss, Harper (New York, NY),

Mr.

Bananahead at Home, Scholastic (New York, NY),

Hink Pink Monsters, illustrated by Fred Winkowski, Idealistic (New York, NY),

In loftiness Middle of the Puddle, pictorial by Bruce Degen, Harper (New York, NY),

Pack , explicit by Normand Chartier, Dutton (New York, NY),

Come and Throw, Hippo, illustrated by Maxie Chambliss, Harper (New York, NY),

Godzilla's Pantyhose, Avon (New York, NY),

Frankenstein's Pantyhose, Avon (New Dynasty, NY),

The Riddle King's Dramaturgic Riddles, illustrated by Paul Doc, Random House (New York, NY),

The Riddle King's Food Riddles, illustrated by Paul Harvey, Aleatory House (New York, NY),

The Riddle King's Pet Riddles, lucid by Paul Harvey, Random Council house (New York, NY),

The Mystery King's School Riddles, illustrated prep between Paul Harvey, Random House (New York, NY),

Catzilla, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY),

Seven Little Hippos, illustrated by Jerry Smath, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY),

Cannon the Librarian, illustrated by Jared Lee, County (New York, NY),

Colossal Fossil, illustrated by Rick Brown, W.H.

Freeman (New York, NY),

Miss Yonkers Goes Bonkers, illustrated through Jared Lee, Avon (New Dynasty, NY),

Earth Mirth: The Biology Riddle Book, illustrated by Funnel Brown, Scientific American Books target Young Readers,

Bad Day stroke Monster Elementary, Avon (New Dynasty, NY),

(With Janelle Cherrington) The Puppet Club, illustrated by Aggregation Lopez Escriva, Scholastic (New Dynasty, NY),

Little Dinosaur, illustrated invitation Paige Miglio, Henry Holt extremity Co.

(New York, NY),

Imagination, photographs by Sherry Shahan, R.C. Owen (Katonah, NY),

Pig Little, illustrated by Paige Miglio, Orator Holt and Co. (New Dynasty, NY),

Contributor of cartoons be magazines, including Harper's Bazaar, Field of vision, Humpty Dumpty, and Saturday Gloaming Post.

"BIBLE STORIES TO TICKLE YOUR SOUL"; ILLUSTRATED BY DENNIS ADLER

Moses, Take Two Tablets and Run Me in the Morning, Certainty Kids (Colorado Springs, CO),

Adam and the Apple Turnover, Dutifulness Kids (Colorado Springs, CO),

Daniel, Nice Kitty!, Faith Kids (Colorado Springs, CO),

David, God's Stone Star, Faith Kids (Colorado Springs, CO),

Elijah, Prophet Sharing, Piety Kids (Colorado Springs, CO),

The Prodigal Son, Oh Brother!, Piety Kids (Colorado Springs, CO),

Paul, God's Message Sent Apostle Post, Faith Kids (Colorado Springs, CO),

David and Bubblebath-Sheba, Faith Sprouts (Colorado Springs, CO),

John illustriousness Baptist: Wet and Wild, Confidence Kids (Colorado Springs, CO),

Heroines of the Bible: God's Evenhanded Ladies, Faith Kids (Colorado Springs, CO),

Mike Thaler Presents … Action Heroes of the Bible: The Sermonators, Faith Kids (Colorado Springs, CO),

Prophets of honesty Bible: God's Anchormen, Faith Heirs (Colorado Springs, CO),

"LAGOON ELEMENTARY" SERIES; ILLUSTRATED BY JARED LEE

The Teacher from the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY),

The Principal from the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY),

The Gym Teacher from the Inky Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY),

The School Nurse from rectitude Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New Dynasty, NY),

The Librarian from leadership Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New Royalty, NY),

The Cafeteria Lady take the stones out of the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY),

The School Jitney Driver from the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY),

The Music Teacher from the Sooty Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY),

The Custodian from the Caliginous Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY),

The Class from the Caliginous Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY),

The Class Trip from greatness Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New Dynasty, NY),

The Talent Show suffer the loss of the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY),

The Class Free will from the Black Lagoon, Academic (New York, NY),

The Out of this world Pet from the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY),

The Halloween Party from the Swart Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY),

The Science Fair from say publicly Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New Royalty, NY),

The New Kid take the stones out of the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY),

The Bully wean away from the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY),

The Field Light of day from the Black Lagoon, Theoretical (New York, NY),

"BULLY BROTHERS" SERIES; ILLUSTRATED BY JARED LEE

The Bully Brothers Trick the Structure Fairy, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY),

The Bully Brothers: Gobblin' Halloween, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY),

The Autocrat Brothers: Making the Grade, Speculative (New York, NY),

The Hitler Brothers at the Beach, Ivory-tower (New York, NY),

"FUNNY FIRSTS" SERIES; ILLUSTRATED BY JARED LEE

Camp Rotten Time, Troll Communications (New York, NY),

Fang the Dentist, Troll Communications (New York, NY),

My Cat Is Going direct to the Dogs, Troll Communications (New York, NY),

The Schmo Oxidize Go On, Troll Communications (New York, NY),

I'm Dracula, Who Are You?, Troll Communications (New York, NY),

Love Stinks, Miscreation Communications (New York, NY),

Moving to Mars, Troll Communications (New York, NY),

"LAFFALONG" SERIES; Pictorial BY JERRY SMATH

Never Mail young adult Elephant, Troll Communications (New Royalty, NY),

Uses for Mooses take Other Popular Pets, Troll Exchange (New York, NY),

Never Interaction a Fish an Umbrella, Elf Comunications (New York, NY),

"HAPPILY EVER AFTER" SERIES; ILLUSTRATED Antisocial JARED LEE

Cinderella Bigfoot, Scholastic (New York, NY),

Hanzel and Pretzel, Scholastic (New York, NY),

Schmoe White and the Seven Dorfs, Scholastic (New York, NY),

The Princess and the Pea-ano, Philosopher (New York, NY),

ACTIVITY BOOKS; WITH JANET PULLEN

The Riddle King's Giant Book of Jokes, Riddles, and Activities, Modern,

The Fathom King's Jumbo Book of Nature, Riddles, and Activities, Modern,

The Riddle King's Super Book clever Jokes, Riddles, and Activities, Current,

The Riddle King's Book be incumbent on Jokes, Riddles, and Activities, Novel,

RECORDINGS

The Riddle King Tells Her highness Favorite Riddles, Jokes, Stories, take up Songs with Steve Charney, Caedmon (New York, NY),

The Part King's Riddle Song: Scholastic Songs with Steve Charney, Scholastic (New York, NY),

Other cassette recordings include These Are the Questions, My Blanket Is the Sky, and Sing Me a Rainbow.

Thaler's books have also been promulgated in France and Japan.

ADAPTATIONS: Distinction "Bully Brothers" series was optioned by the American Broadcasting Companies and Columbia Broadcasting System pointless a television series.

SIDELIGHTS: An writer and illustrator of numerous representation books, beginning readers, and virgin joke and riddle books be aware children, Mike Thaler has teamed with illustrator Jared Lee get produce scores of entertaining avoid well-received works for children.

Necessitate a review of Hanzel add-on Pretzel, Schmoe White and class Seven Dorfs, and other books in their "Happily Ever After" series, Cincinnati Enquirer commentator Sara Pearce dubbed Thaler and Player "the court jesters of low-grade literature." Through each of surmount books for children, Thaler shares his lighthearted vision of assured and encourages young people write to indulge in their natural wisdom of wonder.

Thaler attended classes as a consequence the University of California, Los Angeles before breaking away put up the shutters follow his dreams.

"What Irrational really hoped to earn orderly living at was doing cartoons for adults," Thaler once great CA. "Actually, they weren't unchanging funny cartoons, they were position 'save-the-world' kind. Then one allot Ursula Nordstrom, an editor unmoving Harper & Row, saw out picture story I had run-down for Harper's Bazaar ‖ tolerate asked if I had intelligent thought of doing children's books." Thaler completed his first picture perfect for children, The Magic Boy, in The story of unembellished young boy who could falsify rainbows that never dropped, The Magic Boy was the cardinal in a long line take away books for children by that prolific writer-illustrator.

"Writing a story recap like painting a picture," Thaler once explained to CA.

"You put down one color, take precedence then you put down dexterous second color next to level with, and it changes the chief color. You put down terminology next to words and they change, too. So when complete put two or three language together, there's an interaction." Aside the writing process, Thaler tries to tap the feelings wink his inner child—"I sort illustrate feel like I am advanced of a receiver than wholesome originator, that I am barely the radio the music plays through.

It's like the tradition are already there. I confusion simply putting them down rubble paper."

Among the many picture books Thaler has written, and commonly illustrated, is Owly, the anecdote of a young owl packed of curiosity about the planet around him. Owly has tidy never-ending list of questions correspond to his busy mother, who, on the other hand of answering them, sends nobility young owlet out into ethics world to discover the comments for himself.

Bulletin of influence Center for Children's Books assessor Zena Sutherland found the hardcover to have "a loving satisfaction and an interesting concept by the same token appeals." The beginning reader It's Me, Hippo! contains four allegorical that feature the portly phone up character involved in a not in use of activities alongside a portion of his African animal pty in what a Publishers Weekly reviewer called a "buoyant collection." Animals are also featured affluent In the Middle of primacy Puddle, in which Fred rectitude frog and Ted the capsize find their comfortably sized pool 1 stretched into a sea back end a long rainstorm.

"Paced tough the phrase repetition that in short supply children rel-ish … this sorceress will delight youngsters on drizzling and sunny days," predicted Beth Ames Herbert in her analysis of the picture book parade Booklist.

"When you do children's [picture] books, there can be rebuff waste, no fat," Thaler explained.

"It has to be move away muscle and bone. There has to be character development, conspiracy and depth, all in xxxii pages. And it has expire be beauty and energy." According to the author, the unbelievable under the illustration are what fuel the story. "Words take an emotional feeling. They earn you energy." While Thaler long ago believed children's books should along with contain a message, he has since changed his mind.

"Just the laughter of children denunciation the message. Laughter is unblended message in itself."

Thaler claims disrupt have a poor reputation pray for understanding other people's jokes, positive in his books he finds it simpler just to make happen up his own. He tries to extend that originality perform every part of each cherished his riddle books—from jokes courier riddles to the stories final drawings that he includes correspondent them.

While many riddle books contain just lists of riddles, Thaler's books are unusual relish that he uses his hysteria as an artist to throw up the visual humor gore comic illustrations. In Never Tingle a Turtle: Cartoons, Riddles, charge Funny Stories, which is telling with black-and-white cartoons, Thaler appeals to a variety of halt by featuring visual puns legislature with his jokes and riddles.

The Yellow Brick Toad contains an entire collection of temperament, riddles, stories, and cartoons featuring the high-hopping amphibians. Similarly, Oinkers Away! is full of blackguard humor, complete with illustrations antisocial Thaler that add to picture fun.

In addition to working reminder new books, Thaler travels comprise schools across the country, relevance from his books and happy the children he meets communication develop their own creativity.

"I find riddles to be spruce up valuable educational tool," he eminent. "They get kids into grapple sorts of things—synonyms, rhythm, orthography syntax, syllables and, more hugely, into the dictionary, a huge source of riddles." During emperor visits to schools Thaler encourages students to make up their own stories, draw their compose cartoons, and write their slide down "books" in order to edifying them build on their ormal creativity and developing sense fence humor.

"There is pure daring when you are around kids," he exclaimed. "The energy atlas children is the most welldesigned, important source of energy double up this whole country. It essential be protected and helped estimate develop. Teachers to me restrain the most important people slice the world because they clutter shaping the future.

The common of kids are the soccer field of the future."

"There was splendid time in my life what because everything had to be serious," Thaler once admitted to CA. "Now I have learned saunter laughter is important, and Berserk feel it is important sales rep children to have a boon body of humor, an bright body of humor." Thaler weaves his belief in the spirit of humor into each tactic his many books, joining animate with another principle.

"Love avoid creativity are the two undecorated elements of life to me," he explained. "If you slap love and creativity into the total you do, you've got disagreement made. This is the assessment I live by, and depiction philosophy I teach."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND Depreciative SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, March 15, , proprietress.

; June 1, , Beth Ames Herbert, review of In the Middle of the Puddle, pp. ; September 15, , p. ; April 1, , p.

Bulletin of the Heart for Children's Books, January, , p. 90; July-August, , Zena Sutherland, review of Owly, proprietress.

Cincinnati Enquirer, March 18, , Sara Pearce, review of laurels in the "Happily Ever After" series, p.

C5.

Junior Bookshelf, Feb, , p.

Kirkus Reviews, Feb 1, , p.

Publishers Weekly, January 27, , p. ; December 2, , review be unable to find It's Me, Hippo!, p. 86; March 8, , p. 77; September 20, , p.

School Library Journal, December, , proprietor. 49; April, , p.

72; May, , p. 82; Parade, , p. ; November, , p. 83; September, , holder. ; December, , p. 80; December, , p. 94; Sage, , p. ; November, , p.