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Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
Thank you for so promptly answering my question about Shiko Munakata! I knew that was the name I was looking for.
No more questions, but I had to tell you how your books have affected me, beyond the usual enjoyment and mind enrichment that all Pinkwater readers experience. First, they started me out on a life of crime. I remember taking refuge from the blistering sun in the library (it was a particularly uncomfortable day) and stumbling across "The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death". It was my first expierence with one of your books. After reading a few chapters, I realized three things. 1) I MUST finish this book or I will die. 2) If I didn't get home immediately my mother would kill me. 3) I owed the library $1.60 in late fees, a princely sum for a financially challenged child. So I did what anybody would, I stole the book. Now, if you reference points 1 and 2 above, you can see it was nothing but self-defense. My very life was in grave danger! All these years later, I don't know which to feel more guilty about. Stealing the book, or keeping countless other children from enjoying it in the future. I now have a shelf of Pinkwater books, and that library book remains among them. I may even send it to you for an autograph! Provided you promise not to turn me in to the authorities that is.
Second, for once I proved my mother wrong. My mother is a brilliant artist ( www.jandove.com ) who always (damnit) knows more than I do. And she NEVER approved of my reading choices. "Junk" and "Garbage" she would call my precious paperbacks. Books about lethal avocados were not immune from her disapproval. Every time I bought one of your book, she was positive she could see my IQ sinking before her eyes. She never told me drugs would kill brain cells, but she seemed to believe your books could, and were. About a decade later, she asked me if "that Daniel Pinkwater was the one who wrote all those horrible little books I use to read?" (Use to? She assumed because I was now an adult, I read Pinkwater no more?) It turns out she heard your story about the Art teacher shouting "You're all dead!" on NPR, and thought you were BRILLIANT. I gave her Fishwistle and SHOULD have given her a pack of Depends with it. And Chicago Days / Hoboken nights damn near killed her! Anyway, thank you for being on NPR, not only did you convert her into a fan, you helped me prove I was RIGHT for once! My daughter is reading Lizard Music, I feel that I should encourage her Pinkwater reading by strongly disapproving. It worked for my Mom!
Keep up the good work, Alan Menderson, Borgel, The Snarkout Boys, Robert Nifkin and the rest have made this world a better place. Even if it did turn me into a criminal that made my Mom mad.
Thank You!
Kris H.
You have a lot of issues. Of course, I will not autograph a book I know to have been stolen from a library. Calculating accumulated late fees, inflation, and standard expiation rates of the recognized religions, you ought to buy several brand-new books for some library. While you're ordering, get a copy of The Artsy Smartsy Club, to be published in spring of '05, for your mother, and tell her you forgive her for having been such a snob. I forgive her too.
I've just discovered a beautiful and delightful children's book written by a local Seattle author, Gayle Nordholm. The title is The Rainbow Tiger. I always enjoy your book reviews on npr's weekend Edition Saturday and thought you may wish to consider this one.
Usually the publisher, and sometimes the author, sends the book, and every one is looked at. We only do 12 books a year, ideally, ( usually less, as people go on assignment and vacation, and some months I just am unable to find a suitable book). So the odds of any book getting featured are extremely poor. Plus, quality of the book is only one criterion--some books don't seem right for radio, or the program, or for Scott and me to read. All books not chosen are donated to inner city schools or shelters. And that is how it works.
Hello! I am trying to remember the name of the Japanese lithographer you talked about in one of your books. After skimming through hundreds of pages in frustration, I remembered that you have your own forum, and I can just ask you here! Thank you for your time!
You must mean the Japanese woodcut artist, Shiko Munakata. Very famous.
Dear Daniel Manus Pinkwater, (I love full names)
Oh my most merciful God, thank you so very much for having brought Daniel Pinkwater into this earth and through so many very interesting adventures.
I first read "Alan Mendelson" when I was in 4th grade. It was a charming book, but I thought nothing of it. I continued onto Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov, as well as the "Lord of the Rings" and such. Now, 18 years later, I returned to my childhood library and found the book still sitting exactly in the place I had left it (in the sci-fi/fantasy section, out of order, with my old bookmark in the pages). Does that mean that no one has had the privelage of reading it in all that time? What a sin! I raced home to scour the internet for more of your works. I found the 4 and 5 novels, which I immediately ordered and quickly digested. My search continues for more...
Sometimes, I hope that my as-of-yet unborn son has a torturous life and turns out just like you, Mr. Pinkwater. I tell my soon-to-be wife that the boy will not be allowed to read anything but your books. I am slowly amassing a growing collection. It would be easier if 85% of the stuff was still in print. However, I'm pleased as punch to find it used for a very small portion of the original cover price.
To date, I've read over 28 of your books and I hope to read the rest. Now that I have a son on the way, I can easily justify buying the ones for ever younger readers.
One big comment -- reading "The Afterlife Diet", I noticed that it was most likely written for a predominantly adult audience. That was my first venture away from your "teen/young adult" line of literature. I recalled you mentioning that you only put cursing in a book when it was called for by the plot, characters, etc. It was a riot! I laughed myself silly. I read and read, laughing... becoming weary at where this bouncing book was going. By the time I reached the last page, I was almost ready to give up. However, when I read the very last line, I laughed for days. You are a brilliant genuis.
I've also read your "Fish Whistle" and "Chicago Days/Hobokan Nights". I find bits and pieces of characters and situations from your novels strewn about in the stories. It's hard to fathom that things once only believed to be fiction were actually portions of your life!
Probably my biggest joy in your books is the fact that characters pop up out of nowhere in other books. The Chicken Man (aka, well you know the thousand other names) appears left and right, other than just in "Lizard Music". It just makes me happy to be reading and discover that you've brought a character from a completely unrelated book into the story, even if only for a brief moment and in an assinine way.
Through reading your many novels and essays, I really feel like I know you and have a firm understanding of your personality. I also share your love for canines. Samoyed lover, myself. And surprisingly enough, I've NEVER listened to you on NPR.
Your books find a place in me that was forgotten for a long time. My parents kept slapping me into growing up. Situations in life have "gently" convinced me to grow up. But when I read your books, I instantly identify with the main character. Usually, it is some outcast kid with a vivid imagination and, while not utterly unhappy, still has some creative outlet and lives a semi-normal life. That was me in a nutshell, the me I try to hide from. Your books allow me to enjoy and embrace that child. That downtrodden kid who got beat up so very many times all throughout school. The one with so many knives in his back, there isn't room for another one. That kid who (yes) built models (plastic and plain, but not snap-tite). That boy who spent hours writing stories, painting pictures, and writing songs. I thank you for all that you've done for me. This little silly e-mail cannot express it fully.
Do I really have any questions for you? Hmm. I'm starting on "Java Jack" and I'm wondering how that dual authorship came about.
My best wishes for you, sir, in your continued life and writings. My compliments on your long-standing marriage. As an artist of many medias myself, I am extremely inspired by all of your work and respect every ounce of it. Never stop.
Peace,
Janson Michael Steffan
P.S. You may post my information if you'd like. Any friend of Daniel Pinkwater is a friend of mine. However, I will keep locking my doors and screening my calls.
P.P.S. I have an Aunt of 54 years old who is also a writer with a bit of that "Pinkwater" wit and sarcasm. She wrote for Cosmo in the '80s and has since done work for Fox television, NPR, and various local publications. She is also hovering around the 300-pound zone. Any ideas on how I can hook her up with something? Can I send you some of her writing samples? Her professional resume?
P.P.P.S. I am a composer, performer, engineer, producer, and recording studio owner. If they EVER make a movie about Alan Mendelson, PLEASE allow me the privelage of presenting you with some audio material to use.
Finally! Someone who read The Afterlife Diet all the way to the end! You may be the only one. Java Jack isn't so much co-authored as super-edited by me. It's fun to think of people having fun with stuff I wrote. Keep reading. I will keep writing.
SO, how do I get my writing on National Public Radio?
A piece and a project. [5 pages of text]
And now to Daniel Pinkwater.
Hey, and Happy Birthday Dan.
All we can tell you about with any authority is how to get your writing posted on this website. As to NPR, I suggest sending it to them. Thanks for the interesting post.
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
A while ago in an interview on NPR you quoted your father as saying "Sonny if you vanna lose veit, eat black bread....". My mother who was born in Latvia in 1896 baked sour dough rye (black) bread in the US until she died at age 91. On a trip to Latvia last summer I brought back a suitcase full of rye bread from the Laci (pronounced Lachi) bakery.
Now I am having bread shipped by air from the bakery, located just outside of Riga, every 4 weeks. The bread is so hardy and dense that it is delicious even 10 days after baking, and it survives freezing very well. I would like to arrange to have a loaf shipped to you, because I so liked your interview.
Please send me your address.
Warmest regards,
John
How can I refuse a generous offer like that? Thank you. Will I have to go to Latvia with an empty suitcase, once I've tasted it?
Of course, my father admonished not to eat white bread--but also to eat fresh vegetables, chicken and fish. I don't want anyone to go on the all-black-bread diet, and then blame me for what happens.
Mr. Pinkwater,
While I was recently re-reading "The Hoboken Chicken Emergency," I noticed that you included an illustration of the giant chicken looking out the window of a tall building.
It reminded me of what I think may have been a scene from the original "Nosferatu" film, where we see Count Orlock standing at the window from the outside of a large building, looking out at his next victim's house.
Do you remember if that was the inspiration for your illustration?
First, there are two extant editions of Hoboken Chicken Emergency, one illustrated by me, and a better one, illustrated by my wife, Jill. Both of us have seen and enjoyed Nosferatu. There is no saying but what there may have been an unconcious reference to the shot in the film--but, speaking for myself, there was no intention. I'm guessing Jill didn't have it in mind either. Do you find many parallels and references to that movie in modern works of art?
I haven't seen the new book (W & the W's) you talked about on the Saturday NPR show, but I don't see how it could be better than the one I grew up with. I don't remember the illustrator's name but the pix were wonderful-sweet but not sickening, beautiful, but not too precious). It made me sad that you only knew Disney as a child and didn't discover the real thing until you were an adult because it's one of those books that a child can get completely lost in. I remember as a child weeping for Mole (my favorite); I can't remember exactly why, but Ratty had somehow inadvertently hurt his feelings. Everyone but me seems to like Toad the best, but he annoyed me to no end. Do you think he was manic-depressive? If Lithium had been around then, what would have happened to the gang? May I suggest some other books you may not know that were also magic for me as a child? There was a boy's series called "Secretary Hawkins" about a group of boys, circa 1930, who had a clubhouse in an old houseboat on the Licking River in Northern Ky. The books are the notes of the secretary of the Club, a chubby boy named Hawkins, who is the wisest, kindest and most centered person in the world. One of the enduring themes is the ongoing battle with the Pelham gang across the River. Even as a girl growing up in the 1960's, I could become completely immersed in this secret world where kids were left to their imaginations, where adults seldom intruded and they were free to have these wonderful adventures in which lives were regularly put in jeopardy. One of the details that intrigued me was that the club had a choir, a boy choirmaster with the voice of an angel and there was an organ on the house boat that he would play. I'm getting choked up just thinking about it as if I was one of them. OK, I'm getting carried away: the other ones (books) are "The Wooden Doll" one of those small books (like a Beatrix Potter) with more words than pictures, but what a sad, wonderful story about a little wooden doll who was loved and abandonned (kind of like Velveteen Rabbit) and who is refurbished and rehabilitated by some friends among whom are a spider and a moth. (This made me overcome my pathological fear of Miller moths).Another is the "Country Bunny and the Golden Shoes", more of a picture book, but OH the pictures! Piles of painted eggs in a castle!. The most amazing shade of pink on the cover. Really, the pictures were printed in, I think, just four colors but the pictures were fantastical anyway. The basic story is that the Easter Bunny-a big white long-legged thing is getting too old to deliver eggs so the council of bunnies has to pick a new one and of course it's always a guy. This little brown girl bunnie with 12 babies goes to audition and at first they all laugh at her--I won't spoil it for you. but, anyway, my mother read this to us as kids and then I read it myself a million times. When I read it to my own kids, years later I realized what a feminist treatise it was and I'll bet if it had been written in 1975 people would have rejected it as heavy handed propaganda. But it's not;it's magic and beautiful. And I think you're Jewish so maybe the whole Easter bunny thing doesn't resonate with you like it did with me because you didn't have those memories of colored eggs and candy eggs and baskets, etc. but please give it a try. I'm babbling because I realized you were like me-probably the flashlight under the covers- reading kind of kid and I know so few. One of my boys is- he's 23- and the other is dyslexic-and when I finally realized the implications for him, I wept. Those experiences of being utterly transported by a book are rare as an adult -- the last time was with Bleak House and that's probaby been almost 20 years (I'm 51). Why is that? I read so much non-fiction-but since the horrible election I've sworn off political books and I'm back into literature, but alas, unlike you I can't get my real high from kids'books anymore. Sorry for the blathering, but I meet so few kindred spirits.If I write again I'll be brief and just append a list, XXX to you, your wife and your dog.
Amy
The original E. H. Shepherd illustrations for Wind in the Willows set the tone for the very many subsequent sets of illustrations by lots of good illustrators. Inga Moore, who did the version we talked about on the radio did a really spectacular job. Of course, the publisher let the book go out of stock, even though they knew it was going to be featured on a radio program--but they claim they will reprint soon. It's worth looking for. Thanks for the lovely long post.
Mr. Pinkwater,
I was wondering if any audio files such as Cd's or cassettes existed for the Blue Moose Tales (Moosepire, Return of the Moose, and Blue Moose)? If so where might I be able to find such files in time for Christmas? I have 5 younger siblings all from Maine who will find a blue moose who serves chowder hilarious. Thank-you for your time.
Not at present--and the books aren't even in print. But there will be a new collection of all three Blue Moose stories from Random House in about a year. An audio version has not been discussed, but it could happen--and I think there may be some cassettes from an earlier production floating around, but finding one would be a matter of luck.
Dear Daniel,
Your response to our comments of November 22 were greatly appreciated and I (Susie) am thrilled to have finally written to an author. Since you seem to actually read your e-mail yourself I wonder if 1) you would confirm our assumption about "Wampires" from the taped series "One people, many stories", 2) really listen to the audiocassette of "Bunnicula" (or at least part of it) and 3) let me know when you talk on NPR. We get the programs broadcast from Vermont and I've often heard Fresh Air interviews of musicians and various performing artists. By the way, I'm a strong believer in the value of reading aloud way past the age when a child is able to read on his own and clearly remember being read aloud The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck by our Grade 6 teacher in the advanced reading class. The single most positive practice I have offered my children is the ability to enjoy "listening tapes" which are so far superior to watching. Thank you once again for responding to our queries and comments. (Do you really have the time to do this?)
Susie (anonymous is in bed!)
Why would you think I am unable to read email? I have been reading since I was six. I already forgot what your assumption about Wempires was, but I am happy to confirm it. I never know when I am going to talk on NPR because those pieces are recorded, and they use them as needed.
Dear Mr. Pinkwater:
As a boy, I read many of your books and was particularly taken by Alan Mendelson, Boy From Mars. I was wondering if there was ever any effort to have the book made into a movie.
Thank you for inspiring me. I hope to read your stories to my own children someday.
Sincerley,
Edward P. Sarich
From time to time people have approached me about a film version of Alan Mendelsohn, and even paid money for an option to develop it--nothing ever came of it.
Dear Daniel,
I just remembered how much happier I feel after hearing any of your npr pieces- your comments and your voice are so delicious, reminds me of eating a good baked custard rich, but not mushy or shmushy. A web search for your audio material brought me to this site.
Daniel, I am in serious need of giggle/smile therapy to help combat the blues I'm in trying to learn to teach science in an inner city high school. I built a wall around the inner me making it hard for me to be in the frame of mind to perceive humor in situations around me or even in more humorous media. I am overwhelmed by work and have all but neglected family chores, my own life, my husband.
Here is my wish list:
1. Please publish your npr pieces and other story tellings you've done so I can treat myself en route to work, during my lunch break, and on the way home. I feel if I can get in the habit of laughing again, I can learn not to take my job, the students, and myself so seriously. When I am worn/stressed out it is hard to get me to read anything, but I will listen. Help me Obi-wan Kinobe, you may be my only hope....
I'm getting your latest chicken book (audio and print- for the illustrations) & the abridged audio of The HoChEm-is this the only available audio version?- so I can get started on something.
2. I hope as you are sitting around with nothing to do you will consider recording what you or your designee feel are your most clever 18 or 36 (chai or 2chai) stories. Some writers spend such energy birthing their work that they do not want to go back to earlier works and spend more time reading them. I will understand if this applies to you. If this applies to you, you may be able to reach a whole generation of nonreaders, then by continuing to produce audio and paper production of your future works. Many urban kids don't have someone to read to them at home and I want them to get to know your characters.
3. ...and while you're at it Oh, maybe we could get you cartoon break spots on Saturday morning TV reading a chapter of a book!! Uh oh, I like this one! I'm gonna write Oprah and Bill Cosby, but you'd probably be able to get an audience with them before my email is even read by a staff person. I'd get in the habit of turning the tube on again if you did this one.
My mom (88 yrs old ) would love your stuff, but I've not known her to read for pleasure. I was now going to say that there are many literate nonreaders in the Black community at large who read for info (newspaper, want-ads, sale ads, glossy magazines), not for pleasure, but according to a July '04 report it is, apparently, a national issue. See
Thank you for your contributions to literature and humor.
jane
Why are you a science teacher in an inner city school, and not my agent?
The Hoboken Chicken Emergency is recorded--and apparently available. I also recorded Looking for Bobowicz for the same outfit, (maybe it's out--I don't know), and presumably am supposed to record the forthcoming The Artsy Smartsy Club. Then there are number of quasi-legitimate cassettes floating around--no idea where to get them. And periodically, there is talk about putting some kind of audio links on this website. A good portion of my work was read on the defunct radio program Chinwag Theater over 4 seasons, but I am not sure who has the complete archive. You can also obtain a recordings of reading books by others, Polka Bats and Octopus Slacks by Calef Brown, and the tedious Flat Stanley stories by whoever it was who wrote them. I suppose we could work out an hourly rate for me to call you on your cell phone and read to you--but my rates might be prohibitive.
I find it fairly easy to read aloud, and I am a joy for audio producers to work with. But I can't expend time and energy setting this kind of thing up. It is for others to propose--then I show up and do the work.
In the meantime, I suggest you try to find CDs of Lord Buckley. That's what I would listen to on my commute to work--if I had to commute to work.
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I was in our local library in Montreal, Canada, searching for some good audio cassettes for my 10-year-old son when your reading of "Borgel" caught my eye. Not really knowing what to expect you can't imagine our delight upon listening to (alas) the excerpts of this hilarious book. In fact, we were immediately able to recognize your voice as we have a series of taped Jewish stories for children (One People Many Stories) where we must assume you read and perhaps authored "Wampires" since we heard you say "Sunny boy" with your inimitable accent from The Old Country. We are now reading aloud the remaining chapters of "Borgel" but I do a lousy impression of an old Jewish person (even though we have a few family members who belong in this category).
We are writing this note of appreciation for your zany sense of humour as well as to strongly recommend to you to listen to the very comical children's story (but funny for grown-ups too) by James and Debra Howe entitled " Bunnicula" and read by (my favourite Borscht-belt comedian) Lou Jacobi. It is priceless and we know you"ll appreciate Howe's sense of humour.
This is the first time we have EVER written to an author and we sincerely hope you get this message and hope you will let us know if you get the tape of "Bunnicula".
With lots of warm feelings, Susie and anonymous
I have often explained that the audio version of Borgel was supposed to be the whole book, and I recorded the whole book, but the tape publisher received the wrong boxes, with space for only one cassette, so they just put out one cassette's worth. That company went out of business, (big surprise), and whoever is offering the tape now doesn't have the right to do so, and the whole thing left me with a bad taste in my mouth. But I like very much the idea that you are reading the rest of the book aloud. Family readings are much better than listening to commercial tapes. My older sister read to me, even past the point where I didn't need her to do it any more, and that is probably how I learned to write. Keep reading--you can even make your own tapes.
Am I the only person who has recurring dreams of being flipped on an enormous griddle until I am a nice golden brown? Grilled cheese remorse?
Probably not.
DEAR MR. PINKWATER AS WIFE TO NIGERIAN STRONG MAN DICTATOR FOR LIFE DUAH WAH-DIDDY IT WAS MY DUTY TO PREPARE THE DAILY GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH FOR HIS EVIL WHIMS. IMAGINE MY CHAGRIN ONE DAY WHEN I DISCOVERED AN IMAGE OF THE VIRGIN MARY APPEARING ON THE SANDWICH. "IF MY HUSBAND SEES THIS HE'LL SHAKE HIS SANDALS AT ME," I THOUGHT.
I MUST SEND THE SANDWICH SOMEWHERE IT WILL BE APPRECIATED. I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF YOU. IF YOU WILL SEND ME YOUR BANK ROUTING NUMBER I WILL MAKE SURE THE SANDWICH ARRIVES IN GOOD CONDITION. THIS SANDWICH IS KNOWN TO HAVE MIRACULOUS POWERS. SINCE I MADE THE SANDWICH AND STARTED SENDING THESE EMAILS, I HAVE RECEIVED MANY INTERESTING OFFERS FROM PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD.
Mazeltov
Brad Sondahl
Your offer is interesting, but comes too late. I already have a grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich with the perfect likeness of Elvis--which beats the Virgin Mary by 4 points. Good luck in finding another connoisseur.
Happy Birthday (+ 3 days) to Daniel
This could also be Happy Birthday (-3 days).
Dear Daniel,
Is there any possibility of putting the (OR some) Chinwag theatre on CD? I would buy it in quick minute. How is the Chinwag Theatre stored and is it where now?
Maybe we can put a couple episodes on this website. (Ed will tell me if it's possible).
Yes, coming soon! --Ed
Just finished [Looking for Bobowicz] and I loved it.
A question for the ages has finally been answered:
What happens when one of the independent little children from a Pinkwater book grows up?
The answer? He becomes one of the weird adults that populate the fringes Pinkwater's fictional world!
And thank God for that.
Just wait, just wait! The Artsy Smartsy Club, sequel to Looking for Bobowicz is going to be published in the first part of 2005! It's way better than Bobowicz!
Hey Daniel, I'm writing to let you know I love you. (I'm not a stalker, just a delicately balanced librarian.) I think that you are one of the most underrated authors of my lifetime. Maybe one day you will get the recognition you so richly deserve. Until then, I wanted to let you know that there is someone out there devouring your books and making sure that kids far and wide have the pleasure of reading your stories.
I like being an underrated author. It is so much better than being an overrated author, there's no comparison. And better even than being an underrated author is to be a delicately balanced librarian. I love you too.
Hi Mr. Pinkwater,
We again celebrated your birthday with a week long tribute to the books we have of yours in our library collection. I would like to know as well as the kids, is there a sequel to Mush, Dog from Space, in the works. The kids as well as myself would like to hear more about Mush and her journey to earth.
Belated Happy Birthday!!!!
Scott Sperry
Media Specialist
Silverthorne Elementary
Silverthorne, CO
Thanks for the birthday wishes. There might have been more Mush books, but as has happened a number of times, the publisher bailed on the idea when the first book or two did not make a big enough profit. I always thought that profit was profit--you get back your investment, cover expenses, and you make money on top--but current business principles dictate that only obscene profits count. So a publisher will keep going back to the same author, because he makes them money--but insist on totally new projects in the hope that one of them will be another Captain Underpants. Not complaining--just explaining why no more Mushes.
