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Black Lagoon #3
The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon
From the zany, bestselling series that has sold more than 200,000 copes comes a hilarious new picture book. If young readers thought the Teacher and the Principal from the Black Lagoon were scary, wait until they see the gym teacher! This third book explores a youngster's fear of meeting a new teacher . . . a gym teacher called Coach Kong!
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1994
26 people are currently reading
531 people want to read
About the author
Mike Thaler
286 books117 followersMike 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 220 published books and is known as “America’s Riddle King.” He has also been called “The Court Jester of Children’s Literature.”
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.
--from the author's website
Mike has produced over 220 published books and is known as “America’s Riddle King.” He has also been called “The Court Jester of Children’s Literature.”
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.
--from the author's website
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
February 28, 2021
So funny! The boy is filled with terror towards is new teacher that he has yet to meet due to all of the rumors he has heard about him. The puns were witty too.
February 12, 2020
The Black Lagoon series has always been a favorite of mine, so creative in both text and illustrations (State Penn vs Penn State is just one unwritten example in this book), so true to life (who hasn't found themselves panicking over the unknown, spurred on by rumors and exaggerations), and such a great lesson for kids (things will almost never be as bad as you imagine).
March 31, 2017
The black lagoon serious are pretty good but my favorite one is the gym teacher. For some apparent reason this one is more action packed then any of them and has a major plot twist at the end. Whenever they found out the gym teacher played in the NBA they we're excited.
February 1, 2019
A cute little story! I listened to the audiobook via Epic! books. This one is shorter than the beginning chapter books. Great intro to the book series before giving students the opportunity to explore the chapter book versions.
September 8, 2011
I enjoy all the titles in this series but this one really made me and my audience giggle. This one offers some hysterical moments related to gym class.
December 6, 2017
The puns, the illustrations, the writing, and the dialogue all come together really well!! It's an awesome read -- humor for kids, humor for adults. Wonderful!
October 25, 2012
Grade/interest level: Primary (K-3rd)
Reading level: Lexile, 400L
Genre: Picture Book
Main Characters: The boy and Mr. Green (Gym Teacher)
Setting: The boy's school, primarily
POV: First person, from the boy
This book is about a young boy's fear of his new gym teacher. The boy explains all of the scary things that kids have said about the new gym teacher such as that he is hairy and his knuckles hit the ground, like a monkey. Kids also say that his nickname is “Coach Kong” and his office has branches and large clubs and tires. Then, the boy says that he has heard that the teacher makes the students run around the gym, then run around the school, then a lap around the world. He goes on to say that the new gym teacher makes students do a variety of ridiculous tasks such as lifting a car, climbing a rope on fire, and playing dodgeball with his truck. Upon entering his new gym class, the boy is surprised that the teacher looks nothing like a large ape, but like a normal man. They play basketball in his first gym class and the book ends with the boy looking forward to future gym classes.
As a kid, I loved the “Black Lagoon” series. Upon reading it as an adult and future educator, I am not sure if I would read it in class. Some of the versions are a little bit violent and graphic, so one would have to be sensitive of age and also any experiences of the students that may make this book frightening. I did use this book in a third grade for a prediction lesson, with a group of students that had IEPs, and they loved it. The students were engaged and drew wonderful illustrations and many of them pushed themselves to even write about their prediction. I think there are definitely some good lessons in these texts, such as “don’t believe everything you hear,” so I would definitely consider using it again.
Reading level: Lexile, 400L
Genre: Picture Book
Main Characters: The boy and Mr. Green (Gym Teacher)
Setting: The boy's school, primarily
POV: First person, from the boy
This book is about a young boy's fear of his new gym teacher. The boy explains all of the scary things that kids have said about the new gym teacher such as that he is hairy and his knuckles hit the ground, like a monkey. Kids also say that his nickname is “Coach Kong” and his office has branches and large clubs and tires. Then, the boy says that he has heard that the teacher makes the students run around the gym, then run around the school, then a lap around the world. He goes on to say that the new gym teacher makes students do a variety of ridiculous tasks such as lifting a car, climbing a rope on fire, and playing dodgeball with his truck. Upon entering his new gym class, the boy is surprised that the teacher looks nothing like a large ape, but like a normal man. They play basketball in his first gym class and the book ends with the boy looking forward to future gym classes.
As a kid, I loved the “Black Lagoon” series. Upon reading it as an adult and future educator, I am not sure if I would read it in class. Some of the versions are a little bit violent and graphic, so one would have to be sensitive of age and also any experiences of the students that may make this book frightening. I did use this book in a third grade for a prediction lesson, with a group of students that had IEPs, and they loved it. The students were engaged and drew wonderful illustrations and many of them pushed themselves to even write about their prediction. I think there are definitely some good lessons in these texts, such as “don’t believe everything you hear,” so I would definitely consider using it again.
November 6, 2011
This is another fun story in the Black Lagoon series by Mike Thaler and Jared Lee. Many children tend to think of people of authority as scary or mean, but this is just another example of how our expectations do not always live up to reality.
The illustrations really make the narrative come alive and we enjoyed reading this story together. Our girls occasionally complain about their physical education class, so this was a good opportunity to show that they have a fun class and learn a lot about fitness, too. We will certainly read more of the books in this series!
The illustrations really make the narrative come alive and we enjoyed reading this story together. Our girls occasionally complain about their physical education class, so this was a good opportunity to show that they have a fun class and learn a lot about fitness, too. We will certainly read more of the books in this series!
April 8, 2018
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
This was probably the first book I read in the Black Lagoon series. It's a good place to start for sensitive children, because it is not nearly as dark as the first two books. There are still a few minor morbid moments (kids being trapped up in the ceiling after the gym teacher set the rope on fire), but they are less graphic than in the previous books (feeding kids to pet alligators).A funny book about the fear of new gym teacher. I love the illustrations. There is so much detail in them. This is also a great book for parents because of all of the word play and allusions (Coach Kong) that children might not fully understand, but will still be entertained by.
This was probably the first book I read in the Black Lagoon series. It's a good place to start for sensitive children, because it is not nearly as dark as the first two books. There are still a few minor morbid moments (kids being trapped up in the ceiling after the gym teacher set the rope on fire), but they are less graphic than in the previous books (feeding kids to pet alligators).A funny book about the fear of new gym teacher. I love the illustrations. There is so much detail in them. This is also a great book for parents because of all of the word play and allusions (Coach Kong) that children might not fully understand, but will still be entertained by.
March 4, 2019
I remember really loving the silliness of these tales as a kid. Granted, I read these in a time where our principal would threaten to, "string you up by your toes and hang you from the basketball hoops" if we were misbehaving, so my sense of what was okay to joke about and what was not may have already been a little skewed.
In this tale, the main character is nervous to meet the new gym teacher that he has heard rumors about. The teachers name is Mr. Green!
Mr Green is rumored to make kids do all kinds of crazy things in class like running laps, taking fitness tests, and lifting a pickup!
Of course, when the coach blows the whistle, the main character learns that he's just a regular guy.
In this tale, the main character is nervous to meet the new gym teacher that he has heard rumors about. The teachers name is Mr. Green!
Mr Green is rumored to make kids do all kinds of crazy things in class like running laps, taking fitness tests, and lifting a pickup!
Of course, when the coach blows the whistle, the main character learns that he's just a regular guy.
August 24, 2013
There is a rumor that Mr. Green, the gym teacher from the junior high, is coming to the elementary school and oh is he mean. Hubie pictures him as a huge, hairy green monster who makes the students do horrible things in gym class. Mr. Green turns out to be a regular guy who is a fun gym teacher. Great for young kids in elementary school to learn that the unknown isn't always scary and to not believe rumors and gossip. It is a nice, quick read with cute line drawings for artwork. My 8 year old liked it because he said it helps you know that things aren't always scary.
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April 30, 2014The Gym Teacher from the Black Lagoon tells the story about getting a new gym teacher who is coming over from the junior high. He hears stories about how he is like King Kong and blows his loud whistle a lot. The rumors continue that he makes you play dodge ball with his truck and baseball with real bats. However, just as the other books, when they finally meet the gym teacher, he is awesome and very nice. This book could also be used in class right before the class goes to gym, so they can realize it is actually a fun time.
November 9, 2011
This is comical book about a student who has heard all these horrible things about the new gym teacher. From fitness tests, posture tests, games and the rope, this new gym teacher is sounding to be awful, but once the student sees Mr. Green with a big smile and realizes he is a regular guy, he is excited for gym class. I thought this book would be a fun book to tell to my group because it has some humor and everyone can relate to rumors and also being afraid of teachers.
March 31, 2018
Hubie is getting a new Gym Teacher who is transferring from the Jr. High School. Mr. Green, AKA Coach Kong is his name. The rumors about him doesn't help Hubie's overactive imagination, and what to expect. The laps, push-ups, chin-ups, sit-ups, rope climbing, fitness tests, posture tests, and worst of all the square dancing...with the girls has Hubie totally worried. When the whistle blows Hubie discovers, that Mr. Green is just a regular guy.
May 3, 2013
This is a very funny book about a boy who has heard rumors about the gym teacher and is afraid. I read this book with a beginner reader in 2nd grade. It was enjoyable and educational for him, as he learned a few new words and concepts.
I have not read other books from the series, but I look forward to the next time a beginner reader hands me a book by this author or from this series.
I have not read other books from the series, but I look forward to the next time a beginner reader hands me a book by this author or from this series.
November 25, 2015
A good first day of school book, especially for a physical education teacher. In this book the student is worried about the new gym teacher after all the rumors he has heard. In the end, he learns the teacher is a nice teacher. What i liked about this book is the humor in it; the author takes common gym activities and terms and turns them into humorous misunderstandings.
August 13, 2016
This book is part of a fun series, which also includes The Teacher From The Black Lagoon & The Principal From The Black Lagoon. There's a new gym teacher at school this year, and the narrator has heard all sorts of wild rumors about how mean he is. The illustrations are humorous. The other books in this series has always been very popular in my classroom library, so I'm glad I can add this one.
February 11, 2017
Not worth buying on kindle app- too small and can't change
Unfortunately kindle seem to have issues with their graphics and so not worth purchasing any books with a graphics component at present. Shame as book itself looks like it could be good, just not big enough to actually read on an iPhone or iPad. Hopefully they will fix this issue soon.
Unfortunately kindle seem to have issues with their graphics and so not worth purchasing any books with a graphics component at present. Shame as book itself looks like it could be good, just not big enough to actually read on an iPhone or iPad. Hopefully they will fix this issue soon.
March 9, 2015
The scariest part for you was at the end, when the supposed monstrously mean gym teacher made them square dance-- WITH GIRLS! "Eww!" you said. Thankfully, he turned out to be a normal guy who like basketball. Phew!
August 22, 2015
I read this to a group of kindergartners earlier today and they loved it> They didn't understand all the jokes but they enjoyed the 'twist' at the end! Loved these when I was younger as well. It was nice to re-read it.
May 29, 2017
A book about a kid who has an overactive imagination when it comes to the new gym teacher. My daughter enjoyed this book a lot and said the kid was being ridiculous. The illustrations were great too. Would recommend.
June 14, 2020
Funny and relatable school time story. Lots of children worry that their teachers might be mean, but most don’t have quite as active imaginations as the main character! Filled with puns and humor, this is a great read aloud to get kids laughing about some school jitters.
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February 1, 2009easy read - fun read for those worried about gym, teachers, etc.
October 18, 2016
This happens all too often. If big kids would stop trying to scare the little ones with stories about teachers, we'd all be better off.
January 14, 2018
Another great Hubie adventure ... this time because a new gym teacher is coming.
January 21, 2018
The scary gym teacher is rumored to make his students do some crazy activities for PE.
November 30, 2018
A big build up to meeting the new gym teacher. Very funny and alliterative, what a let down at the end.
December 11, 2018
Had the pleasure of reading this book with a group of students. They enjoyed it as well as I did.
November 25, 2019
This is a really funny book that could be read when students start gym class.
February 4, 2020
mrs marry mack mack mack all dress in black black with sliver buttons buttons
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews