- Joanna Cole, author of the beloved The Magic School Bus series, died at age 75 on Sunday, July 17.
- Cole died of a lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
- Since 1986 The Magic School Bus has resulted in countless books, a PBS series, a Netflix sequel, and an upcoming live action film.
Joanna Cole, author of the cherished children's book series The Magic School Bus, died on Sunday, July 17. She was 75 years old.
In a statement to the Associated Press, Scholastic chairman and CEO Dick Robinson said, “Joanna Cole had the perfect touch for blending science and story. Joanna’s books, packed with equal parts humor and information, made science both easy to understand and fun for the hundreds of millions of children around the world who read her books and watched the award-winning television series."
The AP reported that Cole died of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which, according to PulmonaryFibrosis.org, is progressive scarring of the lungs over time, causing low oxygen levels and shortness of breath.
The Magic School Bus Explores Human Evolution
The Magic School Bus Explores Human Evolution
The first of the author's iconic book series, 1986's The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks, was just the beginning of the many adventures of the zany, red-haired Ms. Frizzle who'd take her students on unbelievable adventures, exploring the world of science. What followed were countless books (and millions of copies sold), a hit PBS animated series which aired from 1994-97, and a Netflix reboot starring Kate McKinnon.
Most recently in June, it was announced that Elizabeth Banks would play Ms. Frizzle in the first live action film adaptation of the books. And in collaboration with her longtime illustrator Bruce Degen, her latest book, The Magic School Bus Explores Human Evolution, is set to hit shelves later this year on December 29. You can pre-order it now.
In an interview with Degen on Scholastic.com, Cole went into all the ins and outs of her beloved series, explaining where the idea came from. "The original concept of a teacher going on a class trip came from my editor at Scholastic, Craig Walker," she said. "He wanted to do a book that combined science and fiction. I came up with the idea of the Ms. Frizzle character, and the classroom is based on my experience in elementary school."
As for her love for her work? The former librarian and elementary school teacher explained: "I believe that people who write children's books write them from a place inside them that is still childlike. I write my books from my own childlike interest in science. I ask myself if a kid would understand the topic, and I have an intuitive sense of whether a child would understand. But mostly I write for myself."
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McKenzie Jean-Philippe is the editorial assistant at OprahMag.com covering pop culture, TV, movies, celebrity, and lifestyle. She loves a great Oprah viral moment and all things Netflix—but come summertime, Big Brother has her heart. On a day off you'll find her curled up with a new juicy romance novel.
