Mike Thaler

Michael Charles Thaler (October 8, 1936 – March 23, 2024) was an American author and illustrator of children's books. He published over 220 books between 1961 and 2020.

Early life Thaler was born at Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles, California, United States, the son of Benjamin and Jean Thaler. He graduated in 1955 from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, CA., and subsequently attended the University of California at Los Angeles and the Art Center College of Design, now located in Pasadena, California, majoring in English and Art. That same month, he was asked to submit a manuscript for a children's book to Ursula Nordstrom, an editor at Harper and Brothers, after she read The Fallen Star. Nordstrom decided to publish his manuscript, called Magic Boy, in 1961. This was his first published book. Nordstrom selected three of Thaler's manuscripts to publish in 1962 and 1963: The Clown's Smile, Penny Pencil and Moon Boy. All were illustrated by Thaler.

Death Thaler died March 23, 2024, at the age of 87.

Works Children's books For 28 years, from 1961 to 1989, 76 books by Thaler were published, including 37 riddle books illustrated by the author, who was dubbed "America's Riddle King" by the Arizona Republic newspaper.

In 1981, an editor at Avon Books, Jean Feiwel, paired Thaler with Jared Lee to illustrate Thaler's latest manuscript, A Hippopotamus Ate the Teacher. This partnership would eventually produce over 100 books.

Collaborations Thaler also collaborated with many illustrators, producing the following works: My Little Friend, (1971) illustrated by Arnie Levin The Staff (1971) illustrated by Joseph Schindelman How Far Will A Rubber Band Stretch? (1974) illustrated by Jerry Joyner What Can A Hippopotamus Be?, (1975) illustrated by Robert Grossman, Hippo Lemonade (1986) illustrated by Maxie Chambliss (3-book series 1983, 1984 & 1986) Pack 109 (1988) illustrated by Normand Chartier Never Mail an Elephant, (1994) illustrated by Jerry Smath

Television Between 1971 and 1973, Thaler met with PBS's The Electric Company 's Television Animation Director, Edith Zornow, to present an idea for a new series called "The Adventures of Letterman". The show premiered during season two, animated by John and Faith Hubley. It featured a flying superhero in a varsity sweater and a football helmet, who repeatedly foiled the Spell Binder, an evil magician who makes mischief by changing or removing letters to make new words, i.e.HEELS became WHEELS. The Letterman segments featured the voices of Zero Mostel, Joan Rivers and Gene Wilder. (6b) Thaler wrote the scripts for the first two seasons; twenty episodes in total.

Jell-O Reading Rocket In 1989, Thaler was chosen to launch the Jell-O Reading Rocket in Lansing, Michigan. This program was sponsored by General Foods USA and Jell-O Desserts. He visited elementary schools throughout the country as one of the authors for the Jello Reading Rocket program for one year.

The Black Lagoon series

In 1989, a picture book entitled The Teacher From the Black Lagoon, written by Thaler and illustrated by Jared Lee, was published by Dodd, Mead & Company, Little Brown & Company, and Scholastic.

From 1989 to 2026, The Black Lagoon picture book series adds 21 more titles, with 3 of the titles receiving International Reading Children's Choice Awards: The Cafeteria Lady (1992), The Music Teacher (2001) & The Custodian (2002).

The series is made up of;

Black Lagoon #01 - The Teacher from the Black Lagoon (1989) Black Lagoon #02 - The Principal from the Black Lagoon (1993) Black Lagoon #03 - The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon (1994) Black Lagoon #04 - The School Nurse from the Black Lagoon (1995) Black Lagoon #05 - The Librarian from the Black Lagoon (1997) Black Lagoon #06 - The Cafeteria Lady from the Black Lagoon (1998) Black Lagoon #07 - The School Bus Driver from the Black Lagoon (1999) Black Lagoon #08 - The Music Teacher from the Black Lagoon (2000) Black Lagoon #09 - The Custodian from the Black Lagoon (2001) Black Lagoon #10 - The Class from the Black Lagoon (2002) Black Lagoon #11 - The Art Teacher from the Black Lagoon (2003) Black Lagoon #12 - The Class Pet from the Black Lagoon (2003) Black Lagoon #13 - The Bully from the Black Lagoon (2004) Black Lagoon #14 - The New Kid from the Black Lagoon (2004) Black Lagoon #15 - The Dentist from the Black Lagoon (2005) Black Lagoon #16 - The Substitute Teacher from the Black Lagoon (2005) Black Lagoon #17 - The Book Fair from the Black Lagoon (2006) Black Lagoon #18 - The School Secretary from the Black Lagoon (2006) Black Lagoon #19 - The Computer Teacher from the Black Lagoon (2007) Black Lagoon #20 - The Vice Principal from the Black Lagoon (2007) Black Lagoon 25th Anniversary Special - The School from the Black Lagoon (2014) Black Lagoon #21 - The School Counselor from the Black Lagoon (2026), written by Matt Gorman

In 2002, Scholastic released the first Black Lagoon Chapter book, The Class Trip from the Black Lagoon.

Between 2002 and 2026, The Black Lagoon chapter book series grew to include 37 books, including;

Black Lagoon Adventures #01 - The Class Trip from the Black Lagoon (2002) Black Lagoon Adventures #02 - The Talent Show from the Black Lagoon (2003) Black Lagoon Adventures #03 - The Class Election from the Black Lagoon (2003) Black Lagoon Adventures #04 - The Science Fair from the Black Lagoon (2004) Black Lagoon Adventures #05 - The Halloween Party from the Black Lagoon (2004) Black Lagoon Adventures #06 - The Field Day from the Black Lagoon (2005) Black Lagoon Adventures #07 - The School Carniaval from the Black Lagoon (2005) Black Lagoon Adventures #08 - Valentine's Day from the Black Lagoon (2006) Black Lagoon Adventures #09 - The Christmas Party from the Black Lagoon (2006) Black Lagoon Adventures #10 - The Little League Team from the Black Lagoon (2007) Black Lagoon Adventures #11 - The Snow Day from the Black Lagoon (2008) Black Lagoon Adventures #12 - April Fools' Day from the Black Lagoon (2008) Black Lagoon Adventures #13 - Back-to-School Fright from the Black Lagoon (2008) Black Lagoon Adventures #14 - The New Year's Eve Sleepover from the Black Lagoon (2008) Black Lagoon Adventures #15 - The Spring Dance from the Black Lagoon (2009) Black Lagoon Adventures #16 - The Thanksgiving Day from the Black Lagoon (2009) Black Lagoon Adventures #17 - The Summer Vacation from the Black Lagoon (2010) Black Lagoon Adventures #18 - The Author Visit from the Black Lagoon (2010) Black Lagoon Adventures #19 - St. Patrick's Day from the Black Lagoon (2011) Black Lagoon Adventures #20 - The School Play from the Black Lagoon (2011) Black Lagoon Adventures #21 - The 100th Day of School from the Black Lagoon (2012) Black Lagoon Adventures #22 - The Class Picture Day from the Black Lagoon (2012) Black Lagoon Adventures #23 - Earth Day from the Black Lagoon (2012) Black Lagoon Adventures #24 - The Summer Camp from the Black Lagoon (2013) Black Lagoon Adventures #25 - Friday the 13th from the Black Lagoon (2013) Black Lagoon Adventures #26 - The Big Game from the Black Lagoon (2013) Black Lagoon Adventures #27 - The Amusement Park from the Black Lagoon (2014) Black Lagoon Adventures #28 - The Secret Santa from the Black Lagoon (2015) Black Lagoon Adventures #29 - Groundhog Day from the Black Lagoon (2015) Black Lagoon Adventures #30 - The Reading Challenge from the Black Lagoon (2015) Black Lagoon Adventures #31 - Trick or Treat from the Black Lagoon (2015) Black Lagoon Adventures #32 - The Pool Party from the Black Lagoon (2016) Black Lagoon Adventures #33 - The New Puppy from the Black Lagoon (2017) Black Lagoon Adventures #34 - The Spring Break from the Black Lagoon (2018) Black Lagoon Adventures #35 - The Slime from the Black Lagoon (2019) Black Lagoon Adventures #36 - The Magic Show from the Black Lagoon (2021) Black Lagoon Adventures #37 - The Birthday Party from the Black Lagoon (2026), written by Matt Gorman

Between 2015 and 2017, a Black Lagoon special edition series called Hubie Cool released three new books:

Hubie Cool #1: Super Spy (2015) Hubie Cool #2: Vampire Hunter (2016) Hubie Cool #3: Super Hero (2017)

Other book series The Bully Brothers: 1993–96 Thaler wrote a 4-book series called The Bully Brothers. In 1995, it received the IRA Children's Choice Award 1995. illustrated by Jared Lee, won the 1998 International Reading Association (IRA) Children's Choice award, and #1 pick by USA Today. Cincinnati Enquirer commentator, Sara Pearce, dubbed Thaler and Jared Lee "The court jesters of children's literature".

Heaven and Mirth: Thaler worked with illustrator Dennis Adler on a nine-book series called Heaven and Mirth published by Cook Communications Ministries. (2000–2001)

Tales From the Back Pew: Zondervan Publishing releases an 8-book series called Tales from the Back Pew written by Thaler and illustrated by Jared Lee, which also included a riddle book and a joke book. (2009–2010)

Tales from the Back Pew #1 - Preacher Creature Strikes on Sunday (2009) Tales from the Back Pew #2 - Mission Trip Impossible (2009) Tales from the Back Pew #3 - Easter Egg Haunt (2009) Tales from the Back Pew #4 - Church Summer Cramp (2009) Tales from the Back Pew #5 - Walking the Plank To The Baptism Tank (2009) Tales from the Back Pew #6 - Vacation Bible Snooze (2010) Tales from the Back Pew #7 - Church Harvest Mess-tival (2010) Tales from the Back Pew #8 - The Three Wise Guys (2010) In the Big Inning... Bible Riddles from the Back Pew (2010) Bible Knock-Knock Jokes from the Back Pew (2010)

Animated books Produced by Weston Woods. Awarded Notable Children's Videos by American Library Association (ALA) 2004: The Teacher from the Black Lagoon 2008: The Librarian from the Black Lagoon 2009: The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon

Foreign language editions 1980 Japanese Bochibochi ikoka [What Can a Hippopotamus be?] 1985 French: A Hippopotamus Ate the Teacher 1992 Japanese: Owly 1996 Spanish: Las Tres Cabras Grunonas (3 Grunting Goats) 2001 Spanish: Teacher from Black Lagoon: La Maestra del Pantano Negro 2003 Korean: Teacher from Black Lagoon 2015 Chinese: Owly 2016 Chinese: How Far Can a Rubber Band Stretch? 2017 Chinese: Set of Black Lagoon Chapter books #1 -23

Recordings The Riddle King Tells His Favorite Riddles, Jokes, Stories, and Songs with Steve Charney, Caedmon (New York, NY), 1985.

The Riddle King's Riddle Song: Scholastic Songs with Steve Charney, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1987.

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

ISBN list of all books

Letterman Television show Library Journal volume 101 pg 1848

(1978 vol 22, pg 63 Journal of reading/letterman creator Library Journal 94977-7: "Cartoon Monster Riddles Mike Thaler • Illustrations by the author ... That's when Victor notices that lizards are beginning to appear on various TV shows. ... in the form of awful puns — from the creator of "Letterman," the popular cartoon character seen on The Electric Company." The Adventures of Letterman

Riddle King

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES: PERIODICALS Booklist, March 15, 1977, p. 1008; June 1, 1988, Beth Ames Herbert, review of In the Middle of the Puddle, pp. 1679–1680; September 15, 1990, p. 173; April 1, 1991, p. 1578. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, January, 1979, p. 90; July-August, 1982, Zena Sutherland, review of Owly, p. 216. Junior Bookshelf, February, 1978, p. 15. Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 1979, p. 131. Publishers Weekly, January 27, 1975, p. 285; December 2, 1983, review of It's Me, Hippo!, p. 86; March 8, 1993, p. 77; September 20, 1993, p. 30. School Library Journal, December, 1975, p. 49; April, 1977, p. 72; May, 1978, p. 82; March, 1979, p. 122; November, 1981, p. 83; September, 1982, p. 112; December, 1983, p. 80; December, 1988, p. 94; August, 1991, p. 156; November, 1991, p. 107. /62541793/enc_linkads