The+Teacher+from+the+Black+Lagoon

**Summary/ Review**
On the first day of school a young boy is nervous about meeting his new teacher. He falls asleep before class starts and dreams that his teacher, Mrs. Green, is a scaly green monster. She breathes fire and eats children. Then the bell rings and the boy wakes up and sees that his teacher is a nice lady who has no scales and no tail. He is so happy to see her that he runs up and gives her a hug. This is a very funny book that is appropriate for children in early elementary school. This is a good material to use for children who are nervous about the first day of school. It can help them to see that the fears they have are silly and that everything will turn out all right. It is the first book in the "Black Lagoon" series of picture books written by Mike Thaler and illustrated by Jared Lee. [1]



**Author and Illustrator Bio.**
Author, Mike Thaler (pictured above left), 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... He has been called “The Court Jester of Children’s Literature"... He gladly welcomes all invitations to do church and school programs, and other book events. He travels each year throughout the world helping children and teachers create their own riddles, and books. [2]  Illustrator, Jared Lee (pictured above right), was raised in Indiana and received his BFA degree from the John Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis. He served two years in the military and worked one year at Gibson Greetings as a greeting card designer. In 1970 he began his free-lance career. He has illustrated for all the "Black Lagoon" books as well as several other children's books. [3]

**Other Works**
//The Principal from the Black Lagoon, The Librarian from the Black Lagoon, The Nurse from the Black Lagoon, The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon, The Cafeteria Lady from the Black Lagoon, The Bus Driver from the Black Lagoon, The Music Teacher from the Black Lagoon, The Class from the Black Lagoon, The Custodian from the Black Lagoon, The Art Teacher from the Black Lagoon, The Class Pet from the Black Lagoon, The New Kid from the Black Lagoon, The Bully from the Black Lagoon, The Dentist from the Black Lagoon, The Substitute Teacher from the Black Lagoon, The School Secretary from the Black Lagoon, The Computer Teacher from the Black Lagoon, The Vice Principal from the Black Lagoon, Black Lagoon Adventures// series, //Tales from the Back Pew// series, //There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Bat, There Was and Old Lady who Swallowed a Chick, Roger's Upside Down Day, Monster Valentines// and many, many more. [4] [5]

**Historical Context**
//The Teacher from the Black Lagoon// launched the Black Lagoon series in the late nineties. The series has just had its 20th anniversary and in that time millions of copies of the Black Lagoon series have been sold.

**Major Themes**
Myth, Imagination, School, Fear, Truth

**Links**
[1] [] [2] [] [3] [] [4] [] [5] [|Amazon Jared Lee Books]