Boris Ate a Thesaurus

A hungry boy learns that books are for reading and not for swallowing after he eats a thesaurus and starts speaking in synonyms.

Neil Steven Klayman has a colossal, enormous, gigantic appetite for words. He is an award-winning advertising copywriter and has received honors for his creative work by the International Film & TV Festival of New York. He spent five years naming toys for Mattel, the world’s biggest toy company, where he earned the nickname “Namin Klayman”. 

Neil has written and produced numerous plays in Los Angeles. He created and wrote the original sitcom, Nothing Personnel. The pilot was filmed before a live audience at the Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood and was showcased on Entertainment Tonight. His first published children’s book, Boris Ate A Thesaurus, received rave reviews from educators, parents and young readers. Neil is also the co-creator and co-host of the world’s first-ever live ThesaurusThon™ Event held at Barnes and Noble in Los Angeles before a sold-out audience.

Neil received a Master of Science Degree in mass communication from Boston University and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in psychology from Clark University. 

Barry M. Chung has big, giant, huge experience as an art director and illustrator. He has created award-winning graphic and packaging design for best-selling children’s entertainment properties including Warner Bros., Disney, Nickelodeon, DC Entertainment and Fox.

A senior art director at Mattel Toys for ten years, Barry developed creative merchandising and design concepts for such popular toy lines as Harry Potter, Batman, Sponge Bob Squarepants, Yu-gi-oh and Hot Wheels. Barry’s first illustrated children’s book, Boris Ate A Thesaurus, became a smash hit with teachers, parents and students. He is also the co-creator and co-host of the world’s first-ever live ThesaurusThon™ Event, where two exemplary elementary schools faced off in the ultimate synonym showdown.

Barry is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach where 

he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in industrial and entertainment design. His background includes character and prop design and storyboards for film, television and advertising.