Muntean, Michaela

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Muntean, Michaela

Personal

Born in Omaha, NB; married Nik Cohn (a writer). Education: University of Wisconsin, degree (comparative literature).

Addresses

Home—Shelter Island, NY. Agent—Pippin Properties, 115 E. 38th St., Ste. 2H, New York, NY 10016.

Career

Children's book author. Western Publishing, Racine, WI, editor of children's books for two years; Humpty Dumpty magazine, New York, NY, editor; Workman Publishing, New York, NY, editor, 1994-99; freelance writer. Formerly worked as a teacher.

Writings

FOR CHILDREN

The Detective's Word Puzzle Book, illustrated by Peter Bramley, Doubleday (Garden City, NY), 1981.

The Very Bumpy Bus Ride, illustrated by Bernard Wiseman, Parents Magazine Press (New York, NY), 1981.

A Garden for Miss Mouse, illustrated by Christopher Santoro, Parents Magazine Press (New York, NY), 1982.

The Old Man and the Afternoon Cat, illustrated by Bari Weisman, Parents Magazine Press (New York, NY), 1982.

Panda Bear's Secret, illustrated by Christopher Santoro, Golden Press (New York, NY), 1982.

All about Me!, illustrated by Ellen Appleby, Parents Magazine Press (New York, NY), 1983.

Bicycle Bear, illustrated by Doug Cushman, Parents Magazine Press (New York, NY), 1983.

Theodore Mouse Goes to Sea, illustrated by Lucinda McQueen, Golden Press (New York, NY), 1983.

Alligator's Garden, illustrated by Nicole Rubel, Dial (New York, NY), 1984.

The House That Bear Built, illustrated by Nicole Rubel, Dial (New York, NY), 1984.

Little Lamb Bakes a Cake, illustrated by Nicole Rubel, Dial (New York, NY), 1984.

Monkey's Marching Band, illustrated by Nicole Rubel, Dial (New York, NY), 1984.

Theodore Mouse up in the Air, illustrated by Lucinda McQueen, Golden Press (New York, NY), 1986.

The Little Engine That Could and the Big Chase, illustrated by Florence Graham, Platt & Munk (New York, NY), 1988.

Bicycle Bear Rides Again, illustrated by Doug Cushman, Parents Magazine Press (New York, NY), 1989.

Just Joking, Golden Books (New York, NY), 1995.

Dinomaze: Collosal Fossil Maze Book, mazes by Elizabeth Carpenter, Workman Publishing (New York, NY), 2001.

Brain Quest Bedtime: 175 Stories, Poem, Questions, and Answers—Even Jokes and Riddles to Read Together with a Little Bear Named Tillie, illustrated by Kimble Mead, Workman Publishing (New York, NY), 2002.

Do Not Open This Book!, illustrated by Pascal Lemaître, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2006.

"SESAME STREET MUPPETS" SERIES

I Like School, illustrated by Tom Herbert, Western Publishing (New York, NY), 1980.

If I Lived Alone, illustrated by Carol Nicklaus, Western Publishing (New York, NY), 1980.

I Have a Friend, illustrated by Marsha Winborn, Western Publishing (New York, NY), 1981.

Look What I Found!, illustrated by Jim Costanza, Western Publishing (New York, NY), 1981.

Big and Little Stories, illustrated by Maggie Swanson, Western Publishing (New York, NY), 1982.

Every Morning at Play Group, illustrated by Tom Cooke, Western Publishing (New York, NY), 1984.

Muppet Babies through the Year, illustrated by Bruce McNally, Western Publishing (New York, NY), 1984.

Grover's Book of Cute Little Words, illustrated by Carol Nicklaus, Western Publishing (New York, NY), 1985.

A, My Name Is Annabel: A Sesame Street Alphabet, illustrated by Tom Brandon, Western Publishing (New York, NY), 1986.

Monsters, Monsters!, illustrated by Richard Walz, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1987.

Oscar's Silly ABC's, and Other Stories, illustrated by Tom Brannon, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1987.

The Runaway Soup, and Other Stories, illustrated by Tom Cooke, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1987.

In the Country, illustrated by Tom Cooke, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1989.

Getting Ready for School, illustrated by Tom Cooke, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1989.

Bert and the Magic Lamp, and Other Good-night Stories, illustrated by Tom Cooke, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1989.

Henry's New Shoes, and Other Good-night Stories, illustrated by Carol Nicklaus, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1989.

Cookie Soup, and Other Good-night Stories, illustrated by Joe Ewers, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1990.

Ernie's Window: A Neighborhood Story, illustrated by Tom Cooke, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1990.

A Grouch's Christmas, illustrated by Tom Leigh, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1990.

Wet Paint: A Color Story, illustrated by Tom Cooke, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1990.

I Want to Be a Teacher, illustrated by David Prebenna, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1991.

I Want to Be an Astronaut, illustrated by Joe Ewers, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1991.

We're Counting on You, Grover!, illustrated by Joe Ewers, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1991.

What's in Oscar's Trash Can?, and Other Good-night Stories, illustrated by Tom Cooke, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1991.

Ernie and His Merry Monsters and Other Good-night Stories, illustrated by Tom Leigh, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1992.

I Want to Be a Veterinarian, illustrated by Tom Cooke, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1992.

Kermit and the New Bicycle: A Book about Honesty, illustrated by Tom Brannon, Grolier (Danbury, CT), 1992.

Kermit's Cleanup: A Book about Imagination, illustrated by Tom Brannon, Grolier (Danbury, CT), 1992.

Something Special: A Book about Love, illustrated by Joel Schick, Grolier (Danbury, CT), 1992.

Nursery Rhymes ABC, illustrated by Tom Cooke, Grolier (Danbury, CT), 1992.

The Runaway Soup, and Other Stories, illustrated by Tom Cooke, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1992.

Elmo's Alphabet, illustrated by Richard Walz, Western Publishing (New York, NY), 1993.

I Want to Be President, illustrated by Tom Brannon, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1993.

Imagine—Ernie Is King, illustrated by David Prebenna, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1993.

Imagine—Grover's Magic Carpet Ride, illustrated by Tom Brannon, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1993.

The Disaster on Wheels: A Book about Helping Others, illustrated by Tom Leigh, Grolier (Danbury, CT), 1993.

Elmo and the Baby Animals, illustrated by David Prebenna, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1994.

Grover and the Package, illustrated by Carol Nicklaus, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1994.

Kermit and Robin's Scary Story, illustrated by Tom Leigh, Viking (New York, NY), 1995.

Elmo Can—Taste! Touch! Smell! See! Hear!, illustrated by Maggie Swanson, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1996.

Which Witch Is Which?, illustrated by Tom Brannon, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1996.

Zip! Pop! Hop!, and Other Fun Words to Say, illustrated by David Prebenna, Western Publishing (Racine, WI), 1996.

Big Bird Meets Santa Claus, Golden Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Elmo Can—Quack like a Duck, illustrated by Maggie Swanson, Golden Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Growing up Grouchy, illustrated by David Prebenna, Golden Books (New York, NY), 1997.

Big Bird's Baby Book, illustrated by Tom Brannon, Golden Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Growing up Grouch: The Story of Oscar the Grouch, illustrated by David Prebenna, Random House (New York, NY), 2000.

"FRAGGLE ROCK" SERIES

They Call Me Boober Fraggle, illustrated by Lisa McCue, Holt (New York, NY), 1983.

The Doozer Disaster, illustrated by Diane Dawson Hearn, Holt (New York, NY), 1984.

The Tale of Traveling Matt, illustrated by Lisa McCue, Holt (New York, NY), 1984.

What Do Doozers Do?, illustrated by Sue Venning, Holt (New York, NY), 1984.

Fraggle Countdown, illustrated by Diane Dawson Hearn, Holt (New York, NY), 1985.

Meet the Fraggles, illustrated by Barbara Lanza, Holt (New York, NY, 1985.

Mokey and the Festival of the Bells, illustrated by Michael Adams, Muppet Press (New York, NY), 1985.

Sidelights

As the oldest of seven children, Michaela Muntean had ample opportunity to hone her skill as a storyteller, and she continues to use this skill as the prolific author of numerous children's books. In addition to her many books based on late puppeteer Jim Henson's popular "Sesame Street" and "Fraggle Rock" characters, Muntean has created a number of original picture-book titles, among them Bicycle Bear, A Garden for Miss Mouse, and Do Not Open This Book!

Muntean began her career in children's literature as an editor at Western Publishing Company, based in Racine, Wisconsin, where she wrote titles for both Western and the Golden Books imprint for two years. At Western she began contributing to the publisher's "Sesame Street" series, and she continued with the long-running series after leaving for New York City and a job as editor of Humpty Dumpty magazine. Kermit's Cleanup: A Book about Imagination, Elmo's Alphabet, and Growing up Grouch: The Story of Oscar the Grouch, are a few of the dozens of titles Muntean has created during her years contributing to the series.

In addition to her "Sesame Street" books, Muntean has also created Theodore Mouse Goes to Sea and Just Joking for Western Publishing, while also working with illustrators such as Nicole Rubel and Doug Cushman on picture books for other publishing houses. Bicycle Bear and Bicycle Bear Rides Again, which feature Cushman's art, introduce two bears who run a bicycle delivery service. In Bicycle Bear Rides Again when the older bear takes a vacation, he leave his young and less-experienced nephew, Trike Bear, to handle deliveries, with humorous results.

In Do Not Open This Book! Pascal Lemaître's whimsical cartoon art brings to life Muntean's interactive story about a rude pig with a penchant for prose. Admonishing readers to go away while he unleashes his verbal creativity, the persnickety porker becomes frustrated when the large words he nails to a cartoon wall are blown about and reorganized with each turn of the book's actual pages. Ultimately, the crabby pig writes a story about a giant pest, leaving blanks and instructing young readers to cast themselves in the story. Lemaître's "loose-lined, messy-looking cartoons in glossy, bold colors suit the truculent tone" of Muntean's tale, noted School Library Journal contributor Joy Fleishhacker, and in Booklist critic Jennifer Mattson praised Do Not Open This Book! as a "playful send-up of the writing process." With its "irreverent, interactive premise," Mattson added, Muntean's story will inspire young readers "with a fresh understanding of the powerful qualities of words."

Biographical and Critical Sources

PERIODICALS

Booklist, March 15, 2006, Jennifer Mattson, review of Do Not Open This Book!, p. 53.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, March, 2006, review of Do Not Open This Book!, p. 321.

Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 2006, review of Do Not Open This Book!, p. 188.

New York Times Book Review, November 12, 2006, review of Do Not Open This Book!, p. 22.

Publishers Weekly, January 27, 1984, review of Alligator's Garden, p. 75; January 9, 2006, review of Do Not Open This Book!, p. 52.

School Library Journal, January, 1983, review of A Garden for Miss Mouse, p. 63; March, 1983, Terri M. Roth, review of The Old Man and the Afternoon Cat, p. 165; March, 1984, Craighton Hippenhammer, review of Bicycle Bear, p. 148; September, 1984, Candy Colborn, review of Muppet Babies through the Year, p. 107; November, 1984, Sue Venning, review of What Do Doozers Do?, p. 114; March, 1985, Jean Gaffney, review of The Doozer Disaster, p. 156; November, 1985, Susan Powers, review of Meet the Fraggles, p. 74; February, 1986, Carolyn Noah, review of Mokey and the Festival of the Bells, p. 70; March, 1996, Mary Ann Bursk, review of Kermit and Robin's Scary Story, p. 176; April, 2006, Joy Fleishhacker, review of Do Not Open This Book!, p. 114.