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Wednesday, April 24, 2002

By Laura Pace, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Q: Where do pigs go to the bathroom?

A: A snouthouse.

Q: Why do pigs have a lot of bread?

A: Because they're always bacon.

American Riddle King and children's book author Mike Thaler not only told Keystone Oaks pupils such riddles, he showed them how to write them.

	Children's author Mike Thaler uses humor as he talks to pupils at Myrtle Elementary School in Castle Shannon. But beneath his humor was a message to the children to dive into the school library and read books. He also encouraged them to have a dream and work toward it. (Tony Tye, Post-Gazette)

Thaler, who lives near Portland, Ore., visited all three elementaries last week as part of Keystone Oaks' Meet the Author series. His trip included book signings, cartoons, jokes, stories and grammar lessons.

At an assembly for third- through fifth-graders at Myrtle Elementary April 16, Thaler had students quivering with laughter as he cartooned for them in the gym and read his books "The Custodian from the Black Lagoon" and "Cream of Creature from the School Cafeteria." Teachers provided the sound effects, principal Jim Taylor tested his acting skills and Castle Shannon Mayor Don Baumgarten joined in.

Thaler has written more than 150 children's books, including the "Black Lagoon" series and "Heaven and Mirth: Bible Stories to Tickle Your Soul." That series includes such books as: "Moses Take Two Tablets and Call Me in the Morning," which includes the story of "Samson -- Just a Little Off the Sides."

Thaler also created "Letterman" for the popular "Electric Company" series on PBS.

Beneath his humor, Thaler layered a plea for students to dive into the school library and read books.

He also encouraged children to have a dream and work toward it, and he used Olympic figure skating gold medalist Sarah Hughes as an example of the payoff.

"If you want your dream, only you can achieve it, and that's by hard work," he said.

He explained how to make a riddle by thinking of synonyms, changing the letters around to make the "answer," then thinking of the "questions."

The children were mesmerized.

"I liked when he read the stories," said third-grader Katie Boyle. Fellow third-grader Melanie Maenz, also 9, said she laughed hardest when Thaler invited one of her classmates to draw a cartoon.

Thaler's "Happily Ever Laughter" series of books, which are fractured fairy tales, were often mentioned by the kids as their favorites.

"I liked Schmoe White and the Seven Dorfs," said third-grader Jacob Maiette, 9.

"Hearing the kids laugh is wonderful," Thaler said after the assembly. "When you write books, you're alone."

The children had been preparing for Thaler's visit for weeks by decorating the hallways with characters from books. The nurse's office became "The Nurse from the Black Lagoon," with black construction paper covering the doorway and fake eyeballs hanging from the ceiling. Students read the books in class, studied parts of speech and learned how to use a thesaurus.

The participation and preparation made Thaler happy. "I'm here to teach and bring out the best in them," he said. "I'm not just here to entertain."

Keystone Oaks' author committee, made up of teachers from the three elementary schools, had been planning Thaler's trip for about a year, said committee member and fifth-grade teacher Debbie Macuga. Parents helped with the fundraising.

Macuga said Thaler was their choice because of his love of vocabulary, his ability to illustrate and his appeal to students.

"They just laugh out loud with his books," Macuga said.

Thaler lit up when asked his favorite book as a child. " 'The Little Engine That Could.' When I'm faced with a bad situation, I still go, 'I think I can...' "