Cream of Creature from the School Cafeteria

by Mike Thaler, Jared D. Lee (Illustrator)

A school is on the run from a large, noisy, foul-smelling portion of food that has escaped from its pan in the cafeteria and is traveling through the halls, eating everything in its path

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fantasy

32 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1992

About the author

Mike 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

Reviews

[寿理 宮本]

This is a cute (but short) book about school lunch gone wrong! I do feel a little bad laughing at it, since it unfairly stigmatises school lunch and the lunch staff's* cooking, but it DOES honestly capture a lot of childhood fears about school lunch. I do wonder how these kids are able to just casually dial up the air force, though? :D

*I was going to say lunch ladies', but I feel like by now there should DEFINITELY be some lunch staff BESIDES ladies at least SOMEWHERE, eh?

[T Crockett]

This feels like Thaler was playing around with ideas that became the Black Lagoon series. Same sort of adventure and illustrations but in the shape of a paperback. For me it was 2 stars, but I can see kids loving it.

[Tweller83]

9/1/24: Just like Thaler's other books, I didn't love this one. It wasn't terrible, and kids might like it (I'm for sure out of the target market) but I didn't care so much for it. May read to my grandchild once to see if it will be a fav, otherwise it will be going away.

[Kerri]

Purely ridiculous, but it still makes me giggle as an adult so....that's that.

[Crystal]

I like the book because it’s funny, interesting,and because it has a good theme.

[Bre Thompson]

Found this book while cleaning out my grandparents house, hadnt read it since i was a kid. Talk about a nostalgia blast!

[Anna]

This was one of my favorite books growing up!

[Kristen]

The kids both loved it. Me? Not so much.

[Suzanne]

The 4th graders laugh out loud when I read them this story.

[Jessica Morgan]

I read this book in Third grade and it was the book that made me love reading. I may have to find a copy for my son's.

[Amy Mccarty]

..1/8/14Monly