Joanna Cole

Joanna Cole was an American author of children’s books.

She is best known as the author of The Magic School Bus series, which was adapted into an animated television series that starred Lily Tomlin as Ms. Frizzle, and ran for 18 years. The show went on to have a revival at Netflix, which starred Kate McKinnon. In June 2020, plans for a live-action film starring Elizabeth Banks were announced.

Since the publication of the first title in 1986, The Magic School Bus books have sold in excess of 90 million copies.

Cole worked as a children's librarian and magazine editor before finding success as an author. She would go on to write more than 250 children’s books throughout her career.

Cole died July 12, 2020, in Sioux City, Iowa. She was 75.