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Mike's Interview with Scholastic —Imagination— |
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 Mike With Granddaughters Mike Thaler, born 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.
Mike
has produced over 180 published books 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 in his expanding
book series with Scholastic publishers. Bubba and Bumpo from the “The
Bully Brothers” books and some of his retold fairy tales like “Cinderella
Bigfoot” have won numerous “Children’s Choice” awards. Mike Thaler lives near Portland, Oregon on a Christmas tree farm, with his son and daughter in law, Matthew and Tina Lee and his five grandchildren. Mike's wife, Laurel Lee, passed away on August 10th, 2004. He would gladly welcome all invitations to do school programs and other book events. The best way to set these up is to call him directly at 503/266-2616. Mike
travels each year 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. He recently created the “Heaven and Mirth” series of humorous retellings of Bible stories, like “Moses Take Two Tablets and Call Me in the Morning,” and “David and Bubblebathsheba.” Check out Mike's Church Visits page. Mike Thaler is considered one of the most creative forces in children's literature today.
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Last
updated September 10, 2004
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