Ms. Menard

November 16, 2005

Mr. Pinkwater,

I have just started teaching first grade in Arlington, VA. We’ve been learning about different authors in the Library, so I began an “Author of the Month” series for my classroom. You are our first author of study and we are just getting underway – the children are fighting over which book to read first! Currently, we’re reading my favorite (so far!) “Tooth-Gnasher Superflash.”

I was wondering if there was any way to purchase copies of Chinwag Theater shows online or if any of your books are available on tape? I think my students would really enjoy hearing you read your books.

Thank you for inspiring us all and helping us laugh – which is worth more than I can say.

Ms. Menard

First Grade

Glebe Elementary

Arlington, VA

Dan Harper

November 16, 2005

My friend Logan introduced me to your books some years ago, and to their characters, who spend time in funky older city neighborhoods where artists and other talkative eccentric folk live, and although I like the stories and the characters it is much to my surprise that I find myself living in a kind of slightly twisted version of just such a neighborhood, with monks who stand upon a rooftop to ring bells and a guy who makes wooden whales and chickens in his backyard and people who all have known each other for years and even charming clusters of lawyers in charcoal-gray suits Monday through Friday (yes such places do exist outside fiction, if you avoid the dreaded suburbs). Which brings me to a question. What’s up with all the references to Chicago? True it is the great city in the United States, but. I mean. Chicago. You don’t get book contracts writing about Chicago or about any other midwestern city or indeed about any city that even vaguely resembles Chicago or the midwest, although heaven knows I’m not requesting a book set in Manhattan or L.A. or Denver or Cheyenne or even Baltimore. Just curious, is all….

K

November 11, 2005

Mr. Pinkwater,

Needless to say, your work has molded my life, inspiring quirk and original (if it weren’t so influenced by you) thought into my thought, which would otherwise resemble that of any ordinary 22 year-old American man.

For background: I’ve recently graduated from a respectable university with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish literature and language; this may or may not prove useful in my future. “Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars” has indubitably taken a role in my drama of the greatest literary works ever composed within this universe, and I’ve, yesterday, opened myself to its mystique for the indefinite-th time. This beautifully intelligent decision coincides eerily with the realization that I have very little in the way of plans for my life–all I am sure is that I want to read, and love, feel human, enjoy various cuisines of this world, and during all this retain a sense of accomplishment. Thus, I find myself here, now, writing to the man I would, if forced, generally call my hero: what words can you offer? Can you contribute practical, simple or even complex advice in this situation, relatively odd, overwhelming, as such over the internet(how many of your devotees write so heavily! in content?)?

I didn’t wake this morning with the intention of interrupting the quotidian with philosophizing pleas, but now these very questions, and the birth of their answers from Daniel Pinkwater’s mouth (and only his!) seems essential.

I comprehend the absurd–the relation between our lack of relation and my asking what I ask–but I beg: don’t let a poor banker wind up victim to the psychological whirlpool of modern pressures…

Faithfully yours,

K.

Kurt Helfrich

November 8, 2005

Hello Mr. Pinkwater,

This is just a small note of thanks. I have been teaching 5th grade for 19 years now and have had the luck to share Borgel with my classes for about the last 15. I was thrilled when it was reissued in “4” as my copy was literally falling apart. I use it as a model for humor in writing and just plain silliness as a read aloud. Mind you, I use the word “silliness” with the utmost reverence. I was hoping there would be a sequel eventually, but have yet to discover it? Will we ever see Borgel, Fafner, and Melvin in print again?

Thanks for all the years of fun and frolic!

Kurt W. Helfrich

Hunters Glen Elementary School

p.s. Is there a way to send my old copy to you for signing, or possible by a new one and have it signed by you?

Michael Babcock

November 6, 2005

Hello again,

I sent a previous message regarding the Chinwag Theater shows, and the possibility of an archive of the stories that have been read there. Thanks for you response.

What about making it a capitalist venture, and putting them up on ITunes or some such service for download?

What do you think?

Jane Scruggs

November 3, 2005

Dear Daniel,

I think I *may* be high up on your Greatest Fans of All Time; to give you some history . . . back in 1978, my best friend, Charles Grimesman, stumbled upon Fat Men From Outerspace in our school library. Needless to say, many, many years have passed. I belive I have read all, if not 90%, of your publications since then. Sadly, Charles died several years ago.

In any case . . . today, I am an elementary school teacher. I feel a great need to pass on my Love Of Pinkwater on to my students. So, I have been reading Fat Men From Space. Memories about . . Lizard Music . . . Blue Moose . . . Hoboken Chicken Emergency . . .

In any case, You are my hero. If you EVER want to visit a class of amazing 10 year olds who think you are wonderful, I can arrange it! I am going to buy a class set of one of your books–you tell me which one you think we should read–to prepare.

I am very serious. You had a huge part in my upbringing. It would be an honor for my former best friend, Charles Grimesman. If it weren’t for him, I may never have been turned on to you.

Sincerely,

Jane Scruggs

4th grade teacher

Long Branch Elementary School

Arlington, VA

Dave Huss

October 29, 2005

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

Your books bring me great joy. Thank you. Some years ago my wife and I found a book called “Tim McCoy Remembers the West” by Tim McCoy with Ronald McCoy. If you don’ t know it already, I highly recommend it to you, as I note that you were an avid fan of his TV show where he introduced Western movies and imparted Western lore. The book is like that, with pictures, too.

Your friend,

Dave

Mike Aggen

October 28, 2005

hey is this email doesint work than watever i wanna tell you something member that book you wrote a while ago called brogel write another one about him god that world was great maybe they find more of the ultimite items or watever i dunno and more snarkout boys now i have to say when i first saw your books i was like gosh this is retarted but hey your freaking hilariouse luv ya books hope you take my advice

Robert Summer

October 27, 2005

I found a copy of “Tails of the Bronx” in a retiring teacher’s box of treasures. I have been reading it aloud to my fourth grade students. Tell Jill the pupils are enjoying her story.

Michael Babcock

October 21, 2005

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

I have been a fan for 30 years, and now my 8 year old daughter is hooked. we are currently reading Alan Mendelsohn. She loves it! When i told her about chinwag theater having your reading of Lizard Music – another favorite – she jumped up and down and shrieked.

Sadly, we can’t find archives of the show anywhere. Is there a site anywhere that has archived these programs? If not, would it be possible to do so? I’d be willing to put together and host the site, if there is any possibility of this.

Barrett T. Chamberlain

October 14, 2005

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

Your books… are beyond words. I am 16 years old, and though apparently at this age social taboos would not allow me to read your books, I am forever in search of more of them. The story so far that thrills me the most is in a collection of your stories titled: Daniel Pinkwater, Five Novels. The storie’s name is The Last Guru. It is by far the greatest story. But I have to ask: after reading the story god knows how many times, it finally stuck in my mind.

What does “om mani padme hum” mean?

Sincerely,

Barrett

Jeremy Zaccaria

October 6, 2005

Mr. Pinkwater I have read your book Cone Kong and really liked it… I plan to read more of your books soon . I am 9 can you recommend ?? We both Like Mark Twain. I have 2 cats 2 daogs 4 gerbils.

Thanks for writing FUN books for kids like me

Jeremy

Mark Rowan

October 5, 2005

Hello Captain Pinkwater. To start off, I just want to thank you for all the years of wonderful books. I credit them with making me the smart, weird, social misfit I am today.

I sure did love The Artsy Smartsy Club, so I created a tiny online tribute to the art that inspired it. The files there are only “a copy of a copy”, but it helps those of us with no art history education learn about the stuff.

I’d be eternally gratified if you’d check it out at www.geocities.com/misterplug/artsysmartsy.html

Thank you.

Mark “He was daft” Rowan

Dave Cunningham

October 5, 2005

this is long overdue. though i do think that procrastination is an overlooked virtue in many regards. i first found daniel manus pinkwater in his work ‘the big orange splot’ in a sale bin at a fringy bookstore in monterey california in 1976. i scored big and used the book in my substitute teaching gig that transitioned my career change from writing impact statements for nuclear power plants to teaching. teaching has been more powerful, and dmp has helped me wield the power.

fat men from space? gateway drug.

alan mendelson? utterly subversive

worms of kukumlima? rocks.

i read them to my students. principal came to me and said maybe i shouldn’t be reading to the kids in science class…. hmmmm “this is space science, ned” and now i get to read ‘wolf christmas’ my grand-daughter, 4 years old. ‘be a woof, poppop, be a scary woof.’

dmp, you have been my companion through more than 26 years of reading stories to children. i’ve been able to introduce them to borgle, captain rassman and captain roosman, fafnir, the snarkout boys and snarking, not to mention blueberry park and rollzup, clarence yojimbo…. and my son, now 30, lay back in our pond in his pre-teen times and voiced ‘gagunk, safe place’.

thank you ever and always so much for what you’ve brought into our world and my world. it’s a richness that cannot possibly be repaid. i’m just going to keep on doing what i’ve been doing, with your help. a former student,[she was in 7th grade then, now in her 20’s] at her wedding ceremony, leaned into my ear and whispered ‘i named my dog fafnir’ and glanced over at her new husband. she told me in a glance that he could never get it all because he had not shared our time in that book together. a new flavor of…. adultery?

regards,

dave cunningham

Mary Sophia Novak

September 13, 2005

After the 2004 elections, I decided to flee the country, and have landed in Tokyo, Japan. Here, as frequently happens, I have discovered a whole new stash of things from your books that I originally thought you made up. For instance, I’ve just seen acrylic door handles with bits of plant matter in them that remind me of the boring not-tea ceremony in Alan Mendelssohn The Boy From Mars.

If I learned enough about everything, would I know where everything in all of your books comes from? Or do you sometimes make things up using only your own brain?

What should I do if I want to learn enough about everything?