Mike Thaler

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 200 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. His new series, "Tales from the Back Pew" (Zondervan), was released in January 2009.

Mike Thaler lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife Patty. He gladly welcomes all invitations to do church and school programs, and other book events.

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.

Mike Thaler is considered one of the most creative forces in children's literature today.