Mike Thaler Jared Lee Popular Books

Mike Thaler Jared Lee Biography & Facts

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. Career In November 1960, Thaler wrote and illustrated a Christmas themed cartoon which he submitted to Harper's Bazaar called The Fallen Star. It was published in the December 1960 issue. 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, Owly,(1982) illustrated by David Wieser 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 How Far Will A Rubber Band Stretch? (1974) illustrated by Jerry Joyner What Can A Hippopotamus Be?, (1975) illustrated by Robert Grossman. 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 2007, The Black Lagoon picture book series adds 20 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) In 2002, Scholastic released the first Black Lagoon Chapter book, The Class Trip from the Black Lagoon. Between 2002 and 2017, The Black Lagoon chapter book series grew to include 36 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 Bl.... 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