GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., January 20, 2009 – Being a kid in church can sometimes be mind-boggling. After all, it isn’t your everyday kid stuff: standing up, sitting down, kneeling, singing. Passing around a plate full of cash. Don’t forget the person in front who drones on for what seems like forever.

With antiquated language, esoteric readings, dizzying sermons and stiff pews, it’s not always easy to get kids excited about church. Today, it can take a lot to capture the attention of this generation’s digitally-charged kids.

This spring, grown-ups will thank “America’s Riddle King,” Mike Thaler – who became a Christian at age 60 – as he playfully takes on many of the potentially baffling church traditions. With his new book, Preacher Creature Strikes on Sunday (January 2009, Zonderkidz, 978-031-071589-4, $4.99), Thaler appeals to kids’ unique view of church, using his signature off-the-wall story-telling:

There are very long songs with a thousand verses, and just when you think you’re done, they go back to the beginning and start all over again. And you have to stand the whole time. It’s sort of like the Pledge of Allegiance…only longer. And then, instead of paying you for singing, they collect money.

Twenty years ago, America’s classrooms met the fabled Mrs. Green – a monster teacher in Thaler’s acclaimed Teacher from the Black Lagoon. Today Thaler and illustrator Jared Lee, whose beloved “Black Lagoon” books have sold more than 12.5 million copies and now celebrates its 20^th anniversary, keep the punches rolling to teach kids invaluable lessons with humor and wit – this time in church. Their new generation of “Black Lagoon” emerges with Preacher Creature Strikes on Sunday, the first in the much-anticipated “Tales from the Back Pew” series. It’s “Black Lagoon goes to church.”

Preacher Creature Strikes on Sunday is just one of the four books in the new series, including:

· Easter Egg Haunt
(January 2009, Zonderkidz, 978-031-071591-7)

· Church Summer Cramp
(January 2009, Zonderkidz, 978-031-071592-4)

· Mission Trip Impossible
(January 2009, Zonderkidz, 978-031-071590-0)


Thaler is the author of more than 200 books and the creator of the “Letterman” character for PBS’ “The Electric Company.” Teamed with Lee for nearly 30 years, the two have been called “The Court Jesters of Children’s Literature” for their collaboration on more than 70 hilarious books.

Since devoting his life to Christ 11 years ago, Thaler says “life has gone from black and white to glorious Technicolor.” Today, his knack for imaginative story-telling, combined with a passion for Christ, is helping spread the love of Jesus to children everywhere. In 2000, Thaler’s “Heaven and Mirth” series marked his foray into the Christian market and included funny Bible stories like Adam and the Apple Turnover and Moses Take Two Tablets and Call Me in the Morning. He enjoys performing free public readings for the children at the churches and synagogues he frequents across the nation. Learn more at www.mikethaler.com.

About Mike Thaler

Author of the “Tales from the Back Pew” series from Zonderkidz

Mike Thaler has written more than 200 books for young readers, including the bestselling “Black Lagoon” series (Scholastic), which introduced “monster teacher” Mrs. Green 20 years ago in The Teacher from the Black Lagoon. Teamed with illustrator Jared Lee for nearly 30 years, the two have been called “The Court Jesters of Children’s Literature” for their collaboration on more than 70 hilarious books. Today the “Black Lagoon” series has sold more than 12.5 million copies worldwide.

Born in Los Angeles, Mike launched his career drawing cartoons for adults for publications like Harper’s Bazaar and Saturday Evening Post. When a children's book editor saw one of his cartoon stories in a national magazine, he encouraged Mike to try writing for children. His first attempt was met with success, and "The Magic Boy" was published in 1961.

Mike is the father and creator of many well-known and loved characters in children's literature, including “The Letterman” for PBS’ “Electric Company.” He has received numerous “Children’s Choice” awards for his retold fairy tale series, “Happily Ever Laughter,” which includes titles like Hanzel and Pretzel and Cinderella Bigfoot.

Since devoting his life to Christ 11 years ago, Mike says “life has gone from black and white to glorious Technicolor.” Today, he uses his knack for imaginative story-telling and his passion for Christ in his new series, “Tales from the Back Pew” (Zonderkidz, February 2009) to spread the love of Jesus to children everywhere. He says, “it’s ‘Black Lagoon’ goes to church.”

Known as “America’s Riddle King,” Mike travels to classrooms worldwide helping children and teachers create their own stories, riddles and books. He enjoys performing free public readings for children at the churches and synagogues he frequents. Considered one of the most creative forces in children's literature, he continues to welcome invitations to lead church and school programs, and other book events.

Mike survives his wife Laurel Lee, fellow wordsmith who authored several children's and adult books, including the bestselling Tapestry (Lighthouse Trails Publishing, 2004), which chronicled her battle with Hodgkin’s disease and was later adapted for a CBS movie. She and Mike led a life full together until 2004, when she passed away. Today, Mike resides lives in Canby, Oregon on a Christmas tree farm, with his son, daughter-in-law and five grandchildren. Learn more at www.mikethaler.com.

About the Illustrator

Jared Lee is an accomplished illustrator whose work has been commissioned by L.L. Bean, Procter and Gamble, Hasbro, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster and the U.S. Postal Service. He was one of the six illustrators chosen to create the first group of Happy Meal boxes for McDonald’s. The illustrator of more than 80 books for children, he is best known for his collaboration with Mike Thaler on the “Black Lagoon” series. Jared received a B.F.A. from The John Herron Art Institute and has received awards from the Society of Illustrators, The Martha Kinney Cooper Ohioana Library Association, The National Cartoonist Society and numerous advertising clubs. He currently resides in Southwest Ohio with his wife and two grown daughters, who also live in the area. For more, visit www.jaredlee.com.