Last weekend, in Maryland, in a borrowed Explorer on my way to my niece's Bat Mitzvah, I heard once again your Car Talk call about the BMW 745i (the CD was in the center console). Later in the day, I saw one of these beasts - white, rusting, and in need of a rear suspension.

This made me wonder about yours. Is it alive? Did it bankrupt you?

And wasn't there another car sold to you by 3 guys, all named Mike?

I gave my younger son "Irving & Muktuk: Two Bad Bears" for Christmas and I just wanted to let you know how much he loves that book. I read to both my sons before bedtime and one of them is nearly always "Irving & Muktuk."

I really enjoy the story too, and the illustrations are beautiful. I guess this means I'll have to buy the other Irving & Muktuk books to complete the series, LOL.

ear Mr Pinkwater,

How do you write such great stuff?! And I mean great. Even inspiring quite often. Thank you. I rediscovered your stuff when I was in medical school and should have been studying and then I read all of it I could find. I still learned some medicine and I had a good time too. Thanks. I hope to eventually give up this medical gig and write too and am currently working on sitting in a chair for an hour a time ( as I am currently doing) which you suggested. If you are ever in Milwaukee (where I often am) or in Connecticut ( where I am now) please stop by and have some food. PS my daughter likes looking at your picture on the cover of 4 novels. Makes her laugh quite a bit.

Rock on!

Hemu

My husband frequently avoids experiencing things I am extremely enthusiastic about (such as books) for as long as he possibly can; my working theory is that he hopes his evasion will keep him from catching my insanity. However, I recently tricked him into reading Author's Day to our son, and he enjoyed himself much more than he intended to. It will not be long before he is a full-blown Daniel Pinkwater fan, I think.

Hello DP - I just finished the new paperback ed. of Robert Nifkin and I can say that you've really nailed it this time! This is perhaps my favorite of all your longer-form books, (though I'd hate to have to compare).

I'm starting to think that your work is kinda like a jazz musician who's been playing some of the same basic songs for a while, but "did you see the time he played in frisco?" "yeah, baby, that was it".

Plus thanks for the helpful summer reading list toward the end.

I also quite enjoyed Uncle Boris in the Yukon. More than just dog stories, I'd say. Thank god for the remainder bin! ha ha.

In the Hoboken Chicken Emergency, the scientist's name is Fritz Mazzocchi. Why is his first name Sterling in Looking for Bobowitz? Did he have to go undercover?

Thanks,

Jan

Hi Dan,

I have often heard you and Scott Simon reading children's books on NPR. Several weeks ago I sent "DiddleBug, A True Story" (more or less) to you and Scott at NPR, written by myself and my 2 yr old granddaughter. I thought you'd enjoy it; perhaps even choose to read it on the air. I feel like Snoopy ("It was a Dark and Stormy Night. . .") waiting to hear from his publisher. Please, at least tell me that you threw it in the trash!"

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

These internet connections are neat!--because they sometimes let you reach people whose work has given you pleasure, and drop little appreciations and thanks on them. Wah-da-da. I've read and reread you with continuing delight for decades as an adult. I couldn't read you as a child because it appears we were growing up in Chicago at about the same time. I lived in Gage Park, where the CTA shut down at midnight like Cinderella, so if you snuck out, you walked: I became more mobile at night after I grew up and moved to Rogers Park. But I recognize from your descriptions many favorite places in the city, which also seemed to have been favorites of yours. Some places are gone now (those old bookstores on North Clark that carried 1940s stock into the '60s), and others gentrified--but I walked along Lower Wacker Drive the last time I was there and its ambience remains. Still a couple of raunchy press hangouts down there, but no chicken hangouts and no chickens. But I didn! 't see chickens there as a kid either. Probably you see more chickens than other people.

I didn't mean this to be a nostalgia-fest, but did want to mention the one detail of the incomparable Clark Theater that should've made it into your books, but didn't. And that was the wonderful scuzzy twilltone monthly schedules, where each mind-warping daily double feature was described in a hand-crafted and equally mind-warping rhyming couplet. My memory has wisely failed to preserve any of them, but in recollection they were stupendous!! I was going to Chicago Circle, and was just beginning to develop an interest in classic films, so I went there fairly often. But I never saw a repertoire like that anywhere else. A few films, like _Shakespeare Wallah_, seem never to have existed anywhere except the Clark.

After all that, I do have a question. Are you ever going to finish _The Dada Boys in Collitch_? I've been reading Walter Hogan, and he seems not to like them, but they're favorites of mine. And any sequel to _Young Adult Novel_ would have to make you the Eminem of kid litt. ;-)

Thanks again for giving me so much pleasure.

Sheryl Smith

P.S. Jean Shepherd is cool, but Bob & Ray are cooler.

Mr. Pinkwater,

I've been a fan of your NPR commentaries for many years now. I was able to order your recollections of your malamutes some years back. However, another story of yours I often relate is your recollection of calling a pet psychic who related her contact with a horse who had passed away. Is this story available for purchase as well. I recently had an interesting dream about horses ( filed under: 'How's this...' at prisk.typepad.com). Thanks Mr. Pinkwater.

Dear Mr. Pinkwater -

Your books are truly beautiful. I'm fairly sure that The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death is right up there with History of the Peloponnesian War and Finnegans Wake as far as rad things made from words go.

Three questions: One. Is there anyplace even remotely similar to Beanbender's in the continental U.S.? Two: could you recommend a good polka album? I'm not kidding about the polka album. Three: Considered reprinting Norb?

Ran across a store called Toad's Mini-Mart today. Wondered briefly if it was manned by Hapless or a relation thereof. Would not be surprised.

I remain -

Jay

ps: Three years of undergrad have only made me appreciate your work more. You are scarily brilliant.

My name is Simone, I am 9 years old, I attend the 4th grade at the international school in Munich - Germany - and I am doing an author study about you at school.

I have researched the internet and read some of your books, like 'fat men from space', 'Mush, a dog from space' and 'The magic Brezel'.

I have some questions to ask you:

1- Which your favorite book amongst those you have written? And which is the one you like the least?

2- How do you write your books? DO you write them all together, or does it take a lot of time for you to write? Have you got a special place you like to stay when you write your books?

3- When did you start writing books? When did you decide you were going to be a writer? How many books did you write?

4- If I wanted to become a writer like you, what should I do? What would you sugest me?

5- How do you manage to write so many books for kids, even if you are not a kid any more?

6- What is the place in the world you like the most?

I hope you will answer my questions as soon as possible!

Would it be possible for you to visit our school and talk to us kids?

Thanks a lot

Simone Punzo

Mr. Pinkwater,We are a student(Sosha) and librarian(Carol) who are big fans ofyour books.We wonder if you ever do school visits.We are a very small school near Albany (130 kids) and there are no Republicans in our school.We could not pay you very much but we could pay something. Please let us know. Thank you! Sosha and Carol

*bows to the omniscient and omnipotent god (you)*

I was at a bookstore yesterday and mosey'd over to the children's section to see what books they had by you. Usually it's just Lizard Music and 5 Novels, with the occasional Hoboken Chicken Emergency. But lo and behold! A new edition of Robert Nifkin and a new book by Pinkwater? Delightful! My happy dance commenced, followed by a series of mocking children.

Changing the subject: While many of your books are comfortably at home in the children's section, I believe that some novels, like Robert Nifkin, should be in the "Young Adult" section. Any thoughts?

Should you ever be in Boston and let the public know, my friends and I would follow you around and kiss the ground you walk on.

And to Mrs. Pinkwater-- I've only read one of your books, Mr. Fred. I read it when I was young, and remember loving it, but I can't find it anymore. My local library's copy has been lost for sometime. I am trying to get my hands on more of your work. I love your illustrations as well.

Now that this long tangent (opposite over adjacent) has gone on long enough, I believe it is time to depart, and apologize for rambling on.

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

I'm looking for a story that I heard on NPR 10 or 15 years ago. The tale was about a girl that had an upside down ear. She goes through a big adventure, the details of which have largely been vanquished from my senile mind. A friend told me that you may have written it or might know the author etc... Any information you have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

For now, NOV SCHMOZ KAPOP! Via Thje Little Hitchhiker

Does any one remember him?

I do.

yar

http://66.218.75.214/s/space/rarediscoverynewtypeofrodentfoundinvegetablemarket

A new species of rodent discovered in Laos, looks like a cross between a squirrel and a rat/mouse. Omigawd, it's Willie the Squowse!

thank you. my son discovered the joys of reading through (okay first there was captain underpants but we are all only 6 for a year) your books, and both my children are learning to write through your books.

Kellan is 8, and we read your books together most nights. my daughter in the next room follows along. your books are so much fun, we read long and my voice started to give out, so my son offered to take turns reading chapters aloud with me. one early morning, i came near the door to his room and stopped when i realized he was awake. i heard the sound of a page turn. peering in, i saw him on his belly, reading the book himself. now we have to trade the books around to keep up with each other.

my 12 year old daughter Shannon started writing a novel. she determined it was to be 232 pages. she stopped after three chapters because she couldn't get it to go where she wanted it to go. she started a new novel with her brother: "writing like daniel pinkwater."

you are a wonderful teacher for them. your writing causes them to laugh out loud. wants them to say words out loud just to hear the sound. wants them to write each night a few paragraphs that their mother thinks tell a great story. they select details that are telling, their names are bombastic, and they learn to write freely without care for anything but to move the story forward. and then, after they read me their new installation, they will let me edit with them, caring about spelling, grammar, syntax. they are learning to write.

the skills their teachers work so hard to give them has meaning.

nice gift. we thank you.

I listened to your reading of the Devil in the Drain (I can't remember the real title) on This American Life, and like all of your stuff, I loved it!

I look forward to when my daughter (now 20 mths old), is old enough to read your books!

Cheers,

Scott

Dear Sir,

I noticed that someone recently asked on the forum whether any attempt had been made to make Alan Mendelssohn, The Boy From Mars into a film. I would further ask if any of your other books (besides the The Hoboken Chicken Emergency) have garnered similar interest? I know I would enjoy film versions of my favorites, especially Fat Men From Space, The Snarkout Boys, or The Last Guru, and I am curious (as I am sure you are as well) why this mountain of sumptuous material is not being transformed into the next great summer blockbuster/oscar-winning movie?

Thank you,

Tim Kerans

a.k.a. Snarek, Captain of My Own Private Spaceburger, Peanut Butter Cup Division

I am a long-time Pinkwater fan, and also a parent and a chicken fancier. I think Daniel's work provides important balance in an increasingly conservative and conformative society, forcing people to both see the box and then actively step outside it, stand on their head, put on weird music, and _then_ start thinking. I work in a research library where we collect, preserve, and make accessible to scholars (and normal people and kids) the work of writers and artists and thinkers and such. Daniel, if you haven't identified a repository for your papers, please let me know. I'd sure like us to have them, but I can also help you find another institution. Your stuff is too good to lose--you need to make sure you have the necessary help to make it outlive you (and Lulu).

My son had a Bantam Cochin hen (small, round fluffy friendly creature) named Teapot for whom he wrote a series of adventures involving swords and dragons and flying motorcycles. It was glorious stuff and celebrated the fantasy life of a great, but sadly short-lived and much-mourned chicken. I credit Chinwag Theatre for twisting his mind this way. You are always welcome to visit us in Oregon. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!