Mike Thaler was born in 1936 and attended the University of California and the Art Center College of Design to major in English and art. The story goes that Thaler drew newspaper cartoons for awhile, eventually catching the attention of Ursula Nordstrom, editor from Harper & Brothers. She asked him for a children's book manuscript, which he wrote that night and delivered the next day. It was therafter successfully published.

Thaler didn't continue as an illustrator for long. As he wrote more, Jared Lee came to draw for his A Hippopotamus Ate the Teacher book, which led to the Black Lagoon series they are more famously known for. Thaler says:

I love language. Words are great. I love to use my imagination and make people laugh. That's why I am a writer.

More can be found on the Mike Thaler website.