Librarian's Corner
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Book Bag
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Author's Spotlight
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Mike Thaler
https://mikethaler.com/
https://mikethaler.com/books/
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Born Oct. 8, 1936 in Los Angeles, started his professional career drawing cartoons for adults. A children's book editor saw one of his cartoon stories in a national magazine and encouraged Mike to try writing for children. His first attempt met with success, and "The Magic Boy" was published in 1961, followed by "Penny Pencil." Both were illustrated by Mike.
Mike has produced over 200 published books for children and is known as "America's Riddle King." He has also been called "The Court Jester of Children's Literature." Mike has produced many well known and loved characters in children's literature. He was the creator of "The Letterman" for the PBS Electric Company series. Elementary teachers read about Mrs. Green from "The Teacher from the Black Lagoon," and the rest of the Lagoon faculty along with the creative talents of Jared Lee's humorous illustrating. There are over 45 books in the Black Lagoon series published by Scholastic. Bubba and Bumpo from "The Bully Brothers" books and some of his retold fairy tales like "Cinderella Bigfoot" have won numerous "Children's Choice" awards. His Christian series, "Tales from the Back Pew" (10 book set/Zondervan), was released in January 2009. Mike Thaler lives in West Lim, Oregon with his wife Patty. He welcomes all invitations to speak at school programs, conferences, seminars, and churches. Mike and Patty travel throughout the world helping children and teachers create their own stories, riddles, and books. He writes and teaches with creativity, inspiring his audiences with a love of language. Mike Thaler is considered one of the most creative forces in children's literature today. Works Cited Welcome from Mike Thaler, mikethaler.com/. |
Question and Answer time with Mike Thaler
(taken from Mike Thaler's website: https://mikethaler.com/questions/)
1. What were you like as a kid? Small. I was a lot smaller than I am now, but I was always creative. I loved modeling clay, drawing pictures, and writing. I loved school and got good grades. School was fun. I played all the sports, starred in the school play (which I wrote) and was class president a few times. I was also the class clown all the time. I had a red and cream Schwinn bicycle which I paid for by working on a paper route. I had a dog named "Lady" who grew up with me. I also had a monkey named "Socko" and a motorcycle named "Triumph." I drew cartoons for the school annual and for the school paper at college. I made lots of model race cars and hot rods. I wrote poems and songs. Like I said-- I always loved creating. It has been the main force in my life. In fact, it IS my life!
2. Why do you write children's books? I love language. Words are great. I love to use my imagination and make people laugh. That's why I am a writer.
3. What is your favorite color? Yellow, Yellow, and Yellow.
4. What is your favorite book? The Bible is my favorite book. I read it every morning and every night. I learn something new each time.
5. What was your favorite book when you were a kid? My favorite book was The Little Engine that Could. It taught me that you can accomplish great things if you don't give up. I still say, "I think I can, I think I can, I knew I could."
6. Where do your ideas come from? I believe all creativity comes from God. You just have to learn how to listen.
7. How did you think of the title The Teacher From the Black Lagoon? There is an old movie called The Creature From the Black Lagoon. I changed Creature to Teacher and I was on my way.
8. How many Black Lagoon books are you going to write? I don't know. There are now 20 picture books and 25 chapter books. I have written many more still yet to be published. The Karate Teacher, The School Psychologist, The Reading Teacher, The Crossing Guard, etc, etc, etc. We could go on forever. The Black Lagoon is very deep! And we haven't even gone out of school yet.
9. What do you do when you are not writing? Sleep - Eat - Pray - Read - Travel - Enjoy family and friends - Visit museums - Collect Japanese art - Visit schools - Watch football - Swim.
10. Do you answer all your mail? Yes. I enjoy reading your mail and answering all the letters I receive. If I'm on a road trip, it may cause a delay, but as soon as I get back, I will write to you. Don't forget to include a return envelope with your name & address, and if you could also put on a stamp that would help too!
We live in West Linn, a few miles south of Portland.
Our address is: P.O. Box 408, West Linn, OR 97068
Let me thank you now for all your letters, drawings, and ideas for Black Lagoon books. I also thank you for all your interest and enjoyment of my books. I am blessed to be able to write them. I hope they bless you, too.
(taken from Mike Thaler's website: https://mikethaler.com/questions/)
1. What were you like as a kid? Small. I was a lot smaller than I am now, but I was always creative. I loved modeling clay, drawing pictures, and writing. I loved school and got good grades. School was fun. I played all the sports, starred in the school play (which I wrote) and was class president a few times. I was also the class clown all the time. I had a red and cream Schwinn bicycle which I paid for by working on a paper route. I had a dog named "Lady" who grew up with me. I also had a monkey named "Socko" and a motorcycle named "Triumph." I drew cartoons for the school annual and for the school paper at college. I made lots of model race cars and hot rods. I wrote poems and songs. Like I said-- I always loved creating. It has been the main force in my life. In fact, it IS my life!
2. Why do you write children's books? I love language. Words are great. I love to use my imagination and make people laugh. That's why I am a writer.
3. What is your favorite color? Yellow, Yellow, and Yellow.
4. What is your favorite book? The Bible is my favorite book. I read it every morning and every night. I learn something new each time.
5. What was your favorite book when you were a kid? My favorite book was The Little Engine that Could. It taught me that you can accomplish great things if you don't give up. I still say, "I think I can, I think I can, I knew I could."
6. Where do your ideas come from? I believe all creativity comes from God. You just have to learn how to listen.
7. How did you think of the title The Teacher From the Black Lagoon? There is an old movie called The Creature From the Black Lagoon. I changed Creature to Teacher and I was on my way.
8. How many Black Lagoon books are you going to write? I don't know. There are now 20 picture books and 25 chapter books. I have written many more still yet to be published. The Karate Teacher, The School Psychologist, The Reading Teacher, The Crossing Guard, etc, etc, etc. We could go on forever. The Black Lagoon is very deep! And we haven't even gone out of school yet.
9. What do you do when you are not writing? Sleep - Eat - Pray - Read - Travel - Enjoy family and friends - Visit museums - Collect Japanese art - Visit schools - Watch football - Swim.
10. Do you answer all your mail? Yes. I enjoy reading your mail and answering all the letters I receive. If I'm on a road trip, it may cause a delay, but as soon as I get back, I will write to you. Don't forget to include a return envelope with your name & address, and if you could also put on a stamp that would help too!
We live in West Linn, a few miles south of Portland.
Our address is: P.O. Box 408, West Linn, OR 97068
Let me thank you now for all your letters, drawings, and ideas for Black Lagoon books. I also thank you for all your interest and enjoyment of my books. I am blessed to be able to write them. I hope they bless you, too.
