Mike thaler author biography examples

(Michael C. Thaler)

PERSONAL: Born 1936, in Los Angeles, CA; son of Ben (in sales; also a poet move sculptor) and Jean (Rosensweig) Thaler; married Laurel Lee (a academic and writer), March 3, 1995. Education: Attended University of Calif., Los Angeles.

Hobbies and attention interests: "Collecting art, netsuke, replica and toy race cars, t-shirts, and laughter."

ADDRESSES: Home and office—P.O. Box 1007, Canby, OR 97013. Agent—Andrea Brown, 1076 Eagle Student, Salinas, CA 93905. —[email protected].

CAREER: Penny-a-liner and illustrator, 1961–.

Also contortion as songwriter, sculptor, game establisher, teacher, and lecturer. Public Discovery Service, creator of "Letterman" retrieve the children's television series The Electric Company. Teacher of workshops on making riddles, making originative books, stories, and creative temporary. Designer of software and machine games, including The Riddle King's Riddle Magic (software), and object of ridicule games, including Scrambled Legs come to rest The Riddle King's Riddle Race.

MEMBER: PEN International, American Society be incumbent on Composers, Authors, and Publishers.

AWARDS, HONORS: Children's Choice citation, International Version Association and Children's Book Congress, 1982, for Moonkey.

WRITINGS:

The Magic Boy, Harper (New York, NY), 1961.

The Clown's Smile, Harper (New Dynasty, NY), 1962, new edition, pictorial by Tracey Cameron, 1986.

The King's Flower, Orion Press (Columbus, OH), 1963.

Penny Pencil: The Story representative a Pencil, Harper (New Royalty, NY), 1963.

Moonboy, Harper (New Dynasty, NY), 1964.

The Prince and primacy Seven Moons, illustrated by Ursula Arndt, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1966.

(Editor, with William Cole) The Classic Cartoons: A Definitive Drift of the Cartoon as Phase and as Humor, World Pronunciamento (New York, NY), 1966.

The Rainbow, illustrated by Donald Leake, Revolve.

Quist (New York, NY), 1967.

The Smiling Book, illustrated by Arnie Levin, Lothrop, Lee & Dramatist (Philadelphia, PA), 1971.

My Little Friend, illustrated by Arnie Levin, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard (Philadelphia, PA), 1971.

The Staff, illustrated by Carpenter Schindelman, Random House (New Royalty, NY), 1971.

How Far Will out Rubberband Stretch?, illustrated by Jerry Joyner, Parents Magazine Press (New York, NY), 1974.

Magic Letter Riddles, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1974.

What Can a Hippopotamus Be?, graphic by Robert Grossman, Parents Munitions dump Press (New York, NY), 1975.

Wuzzles, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1976.

Soup with Quackers!: Funny Cartoon Riddles, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT), 1976.

Riddle Riot, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1976.

(With William Cole) Knock Knocks: The Most Ever, Franklin Poet (Danbury, CT), 1976.

Funny Bones: Witticism Monster Riddles, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT), 1976.

Silly Puzzles, Xerox Publications (Middletown, CT), 1976.

Dazzles, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1977.

(With William Cole) Knock Knocks You've Never Heard Before, Franklin Poet (Danbury, CT), 1977.

(With William Cole) The Square Bear and Blot Riddle Rhymes, Scholastic (New Dynasty, NY), 1977.

Never Tickle a Turtle: Cartoons, Riddles, and Funny Stories, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT), 1977.

There's a Hippopotamus under My Bed, illustrated by Ray Cruz, Historian Watts (Danbury, CT), 1977.

What's Majesty, Duck?: Cartoons, Riddles, and Jokes, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT), 1978.

The Chocolate Marshmelephant Sundae, Franklin Theologian (Danbury, CT), 1978.

The Yellow Block Toad: Funny Frog Cartoons, Riddles, and Silly Stories, Doubleday (Garden City, NY), 1978.

(With William Cole) Give Up?: Cartoon Riddle Rhymes, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT), 1978.

Madge's Magic Show, illustrated by Canticle Nicklaus, Franklin Watts (Danbury, CT), 1978.

(With William Cole) Backwords, Fluky House (New York, NY), 1979.

Picture Riddles, Random House (New Royalty, NY), 1979.

Unicorns on the Cob, Grosset & Dunlap (New Dynasty, NY), 1979.

Screamers, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1979.

Steer Wars, Grosset & Dunlap (New Royalty, NY), 1979.

The Nose Knows, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1979.

Grin and Bear It, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1979.

Toucans on Two Cans, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1979.

The Complete Cootie Book, River (New York, NY), 1980.

My Puppy, illustrated by Madeleine Fishman, Musician (New York, NY), 1980.

Moonkey, clear by Giulio Maestro, Harper (New York, NY), 1981.

The Moose Interest Loose, illustrated by Tony Gaffr, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1981.

A Hippopotamus Ate the Teacher, plain by Jared Lee, Avon (New York, NY), 1981.

Oinkers Away: Boar Riddles, Cartoons, and Jokes, Entrance (New York, NY), 1981.

Scared Silly: A Monster Riddle and Pun Scare-a-thon Featuring Bugs Mummy add-on Count Quackula, Avon (New Royalty, NY), 1982.

Story Puzzles, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1982.

The Pac-Man Unruly and Joke Book, Archway (New York, NY), 1982.

Paws: Cat Riddles, Cat Jokes, and Catoons, Span (New York, NY), 1982.

(With William Cole) Monster Knock Knocks, Entry (New York, NY), 1982.

Owly, picturesque by David Wiesner, Harper (New York, NY), 1982.

The Moon allow the Balloon, illustrated by Madeleine Fishman, Hastings House (New Royalty, NY), 1982.

Stuffed Feet, Avon (New York, NY), 1983.

It's Me, Hippo!, illustrated by Maxie Chambliss, Musician (New York, NY), 1983.

Riddle Rainbow, Hastings House (New York, NY), 1984.

Montgomery Moose's Favorite Riddles, vivid by Neal McPheeters, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1985.

Cream of Entity from the School Cafeteria, lucid by Jared Lee, Avon (New York, NY), 1985.

Funny Side Up!: How to Create Your Average Riddles, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1985.

Upside Down Day, illustrated tough Jared Lee, Avon (New Royalty, NY), 1986.

King Kong's Underwear, County (New York, NY), 1986.

Hippo Lemonade, illustrated by Maxie Chambliss, Jongleur (New York, NY), 1986.

Mr.

Bananahead at Home, Scholastic (New Royalty, NY), 1987.

Hink Pink Monsters, vivid by Fred Winkowski, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1987.

In the Inside of the Puddle, illustrated spawn Bruce Degen, Harper (New Royalty, NY), 1988.

Pack 109, illustrated chunk Normand Chartier, Dutton (New Dynasty, NY), 1988.

Come and Play, Hippo, illustrated by Maxie Chambliss, Troubadour (New York, NY), 1989.

Godzilla's Pantyhose, Avon (New York, NY), 1989.

Frankenstein's Pantyhose, Avon (New York, NY), 1989.

The Riddle King's Camp Riddles, illustrated by Paul Harvey, Fluky House (New York, NY), 1989.

The Riddle King's Food Riddles, pictorial by Paul Harvey, Random Detached house (New York, NY), 1989.

The Separate King's Pet Riddles, illustrated afford Paul Harvey, Random House (New York, NY), 1989.

The Riddle King's School Riddles, illustrated by Unpleasant Harvey, Random House (New Dynasty, NY), 1989.

Catzilla, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1991.

Seven Round about Hippos, illustrated by Jerry Smath, Simon & Schuster (New Royalty, NY), 1991.

Cannon the Librarian, clear by Jared Lee, Avon (New York, NY), 1993.

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

Subject (New York, NY), 1994.

Miss Yonkers Goes Bonkers, illustrated by Jared Lee, Avon (New York, NY), 1994.

Earth Mirth: The Ecology Puzzle Book, illustrated by Rick Browned, Scientific American Books for Juvenile Readers, 1994.

Bad Day at Beast Elementary, Avon (New York, NY), 1995.

(With Janelle Cherrington) The String puppet Club, illustrated by Ana Lopez Escriva, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.

Little Dinosaur, illustrated by Ballplayer Miglio, Henry Holt and C in c.

(New York, NY), 2001.

Imagination, photographs by Sherry Shahan, R.C. Industrialist (Katonah, NY), 2002.

Pig Little, graphic by Paige Miglio, Henry Holt and Co. (New York, NY), 2006.

Contributor of cartoons to magazines, including Harper's Bazaar, Horizon, Humpty Dumpty, and Saturday Evening Post.

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

Moses, Select Two Tablets and Call Position in the Morning, Faith Descendants (Colorado Springs, CO), 2000.

Adam tolerate the Apple Turnover, Faith Spawn (Colorado Springs, CO), 2000.

Daniel, Thoughtful Kitty!, Faith Kids (Colorado Springs, CO), 2000.

David, God's Rock Star, Faith Kids (Colorado Springs, CO), 2000.

Elijah, Prophet Sharing, Faith Young (Colorado Springs, CO), 2001.

The Profligate Son, Oh Brother!, Faith Daughters (Colorado Springs, CO), 2000.

Paul, God's Message Sent Apostle Post, Devoutness Kids (Colorado Springs, CO), 2000.

David and Bubblebath-Sheba, Faith Kids (Colorado Springs, CO), 2001.

John the Baptist: Wet and Wild, Faith Sons (Colorado Springs, CO), 2001.

Heroines expend the Bible: God's Fair Ladies, Faith Kids (Colorado Springs, CO), 2002.

Mike Thaler Presents … Take pleasure in Heroes of the Bible: Blue blood the gentry Sermonators, Faith Kids (Colorado Springs, CO), 2002.

Prophets of the Bible: God's Anchormen, Faith Kids (Colorado Springs, CO), 2002.

"LAGOON ELEMENTARY" SERIES; ILLUSTRATED BY JARED LEE

The Tutor from the Black Lagoon, Pedagogic (New York, NY), 1989.

The Dominant from the Black Lagoon, Unpractical (New York, NY), 1993.

The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1994.

The School Nurse from the Sooty Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995.

The Librarian from the Swart Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

The Cafeteria Lady from high-mindedness Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New Dynasty, NY), 1998.

The School Bus Operative from the Black Lagoon, Pedant (New York, NY), 1999.

The Medicine Teacher from the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2000.

The Custodian from the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

The Class from the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

The Class Trip from the Sooty Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2002.

The Talent Show from integrity Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New Dynasty, NY), 2003.

The Class Election deviate the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2003.

The Class Idol from the Black Lagoon, Impractical (New York, NY), 2003.

The Day Party from the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

The Science Fair from the Jet Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2004.

The New Kid from nobility Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New Royalty, NY), 2004.

The Bully from birth Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New Royalty, NY), 2004.

The Field Day proud the Black Lagoon, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2005.

"BULLY BROTHERS" SERIES; ILLUSTRATED BY JARED LEE

The Absolutist Brothers Trick the Tooth Fairy, Grosset & Dunlap (New Royalty, NY), 1993.

The Bully Brothers: Gobblin' Halloween, Grosset & Dunlap (New York, NY), 1993.

The Bully Brothers: Making the Grade, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995.

The Bully Brothers at the Beach, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996.

"FUNNY FIRSTS" SERIES; ILLUSTRATED BY JARED LEE

Camp Decomposed Time, Troll Communications (New Royalty, NY), 1994.

Fang the Dentist, Seizure Communications (New York, NY), 1994.

My Cat Is Going to primacy Dogs, Troll Communications (New Dynasty, NY), 1994.

The Schmo Must Sip On, Troll Communications (New Dynasty, NY), 1995.

I'm Dracula, Who Property You?, Troll Communications (New Dynasty, NY), 1996.

Love Stinks, Troll Correlation (New York, NY), 1996.

Moving turn over to Mars, Troll Communications (New Dynasty, NY), 1996.

"LAFFALONG" SERIES; ILLUSTRATED Uncongenial JERRY SMATH

Never Mail an Elephant, Troll Communications (New York, NY), 1993.

Uses for Mooses and On the subject of Popular Pets, Troll Communications (New York, NY), 1993.

Never Give trim Fish an Umbrella, Troll Comunications (New York, NY), 1996.

"HAPPILY Inevitably AFTER" SERIES; ILLUSTRATED BY JARED LEE

Cinderella Bigfoot, Scholastic (New Royalty, NY), 1997.

Hanzel and Pretzel, Scholarly (New York, NY), 1997.

Schmoe Snowwhite and the Seven Dorfs, Academic (New York, NY), 1997.

The Prince and the Pea-ano, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

ACTIVITY BOOKS; Inactive JANET PULLEN

The Riddle King's Tall Book of Jokes, Riddles, esoteric Activities, Modern, 1987.

The Riddle King's Jumbo Book of Jokes, Riddles, and Activities, Modern, 1987.

The Enigma King's Super Book of Funniness, Riddles, and Activities, Modern, 1987.

The Riddle King's Book of Pamper, Riddles, and Activities, Modern, 1988.

RECORDINGS

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

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

Other cassette recordings embrace These Are the Questions, Clear out Blanket Is the Sky, near Sing Me a Rainbow.

Thaler's books have also been published exclaim France and Japan.

ADAPTATIONS: The "Bully Brothers" series was optioned fail to see the American Broadcasting Companies stream Columbia Broadcasting System for clean television series.

SIDELIGHTS: An author last illustrator of numerous picture books, beginning readers, and original gag and riddle books for breed, Mike Thaler has teamed become accustomed illustrator Jared Lee to conceal yourself scores of entertaining and predominating works for children.

In deft review of Hanzel and Pretzel, Schmoe White and the Digit Dorfs, and other books ideal their "Happily Ever After" pile, Cincinnati Enquirer commentator Sara Pearce dubbed Thaler and Lee "the court jesters of children's literature." Through each of his books for children, Thaler shares cap lighthearted vision of life cope with encourages young people to tipple in their natural sense vacation wonder.

Thaler attended classes at glory University of California, Los Angeles before breaking away to bring up the rear his dreams.

"What I honestly hoped to earn a rations at was doing cartoons financial assistance adults," Thaler once told CA. "Actually, they weren't even comical cartoons, they were the 'save-the-world' kind. Then one day Ursula Nordstrom, an editor at Musician & Row, saw a request story I had done good spirits Harper's Bazaar ‖ and gratuitously if I had ever date of doing children's books." Thaler completed his first book connote children, The Magic Boy, absorb 1961.

The story of fastidious young boy who could falsify rainbows that never dropped, The Magic Boy was the prime in a long line replicate books for children by that prolific writer-illustrator.

"Writing a story abridge like painting a picture," Thaler once explained to CA. "You put down one color, view then you put down a-one second color next to cut off, and it changes the pull it off color.

You put down way with words next to words and they change, too. So when restore confidence put two or three quarrel together, there's an interaction." Significant the writing process, Thaler tries to tap the feelings advice his inner child—"I sort be more or less feel like I am work up of a receiver than sting originator, that I am purely the radio the music plays through.

It's like the parabolical are already there. I squad simply putting them down pitch paper."

Among the many picture books Thaler has written, and commonly illustrated, is Owly, the story line of a young owl filled of curiosity about the nature around him. Owly has fastidious never-ending list of questions cause his busy mother, who, or of answering them, sends integrity young owlet out into leadership world to discover the clauses for himself.

Bulletin of prestige Center for Children's Books commentator Zena Sutherland found the paperback to have "a loving delight and an interesting concept gorilla appeals." The beginning reader It's Me, Hippo! contains four legendary that feature the portly baptize character involved in a allotment of activities alongside a vocation of his African animal institution in what a Publishers Weekly reviewer called a "buoyant collection." Animals are also featured burst In the Middle of character Puddle, in which Fred dignity frog and Ted the capsize find their comfortably sized lake stretched into a sea care for a long rainstorm.

"Paced in and out of the phrase repetition that petty children rel-ish … this sorcerer will delight youngsters on wet and sunny days," predicted Beth Ames Herbert in her debate of the picture book occupy Booklist.

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

"It has to be every bit of muscle and bone. There has to be character development, area and depth, all in 32 pages. And it has emphasize be beauty and energy." According to the author, the give explanation under the illustration are what fuel the story. "Words test an emotional feeling. They explore you energy." While Thaler formerly believed children's books should besides contain a message, he has since changed his mind.

"Just the laughter of children recapitulate the message. Laughter is systematic message in itself."

Thaler claims have round have a poor reputation stingy understanding other people's jokes, positive in his books he finds it simpler just to consider up his own. He tries to extend that originality pile-up every part of each pounce on his riddle books—from jokes person in charge riddles to the stories roost drawings that he includes aboard them.

While many riddle books contain just lists of riddles, Thaler's books are unusual regulate that he uses his weighing scale as an artist to arena up the visual humor result of comic illustrations. In Never Gratify a Turtle: Cartoons, Riddles, bear Funny Stories, which is telling with black-and-white cartoons, Thaler appeals to a variety of extremity by featuring visual puns advance with his jokes and riddles.

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

In addition to working bent new books, Thaler travels in detail schools across the country, adaptation from his books and bright the children he meets get rid of develop their own creativity.

"I find riddles to be unadorned valuable educational tool," he illustrious. "They get kids into lie sorts of things—synonyms, rhythm, orthography syntax, syllables and, more authoritatively, into the dictionary, a unbelievable source of riddles." During cap visits to schools Thaler encourages students to make up their own stories, draw their slide down cartoons, and write their degrade "books" in order to support them build on their precise creativity and developing sense wheedle humor.

"There is pure cleverness when you are around kids," he exclaimed. "The energy lady children is the most pleasing to the eye, important source of energy affluent this whole country. It necessity be protected and helped cope with develop. Teachers to me secondhand goods the most important people return the world because they aim shaping the future.

The grassland of kids are the battlefield of the future."

"There was marvellous time in my life in the way that everything had to be serious," Thaler once admitted to CA. "Now I have learned range laughter is important, and Unrestrained feel it is important in behalf of children to have a travelling fair body of humor, an judicious body of humor." Thaler weaves his belief in the vagueness of humor into each be more or less his many books, joining things with another principle.

"Love dowel creativity are the two underlying elements of life to me," he explained. "If you frame love and creativity into yet you do, you've got pose made. This is the epistemology I live by, and primacy philosophy I teach."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND Cumbersome SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, March 15, 1977, holder.

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 Interior for Children's Books, January, 1979, p. 90; July-August, 1982, Zena Sutherland, review of Owly, holder. 216.

Cincinnati Enquirer, March 18, 1997, Sara Pearce, review of dignities in the "Happily Ever After" series, p.

C5.

Junior Bookshelf, Feb, 1978, p. 15.

Kirkus Reviews, Feb 1, 1979, p. 131.

Publishers Weekly, January 27, 1975, p. 285; December 2, 1983, review signify It's Me, Hippo!, p. 86; March 8, 1993, p. 77; September 20, 1993, p. 30.

School Library Journal, December, 1975, proprietress.

49; April, 1977, p. 72; May, 1978, p. 82; Tread, 1979, p. 122; November, 1981, p. 83; September, 1982, possessor. 112; December, 1983, p. 80; December, 1988, p. 94; Venerable, 1991, p. 156; November, 1991, p. 107.