Jenny Hansen

October 15, 2004

Dear Mr. DP,

I simply want to say thank you for all of your wonderful work. I am a voracious reader/collector of children and young adult literature even though I am all grown up and technically should be reading adult fiction. Phooey! “Kids books” seem to me to have so much more to offer. I have always dreamed of being a writer and if I ever take that road, writing for children or even the the young at heart seems to be the the most rewarding and challenging at the same time. Well, as I said, I read a lot and when I stumbled upon your work, I became an instant fan. I began with Fat Men From Space but my absolute favorites have been the Snarkout Boys books, though Alan Mendolson … and Lizard Music were fantastic as well.

Life, at this time, for me has not afforded an abundance of smiles and your books have not only brought me some very much missed smiles but some hearty laughs too. I must have laughed a good 10 minutes alone just on your description of Nosferatu, the pet bird in The Snarkout Boys and The Avocado of Death-I don’t know why it just struck me as funny. So, I just wanted to express my deep appreciation for the good laughs that your fantastic imagination and creativity have given to me. And I will continue reading about your fabulous characters and find more laughter. Thanks again!

Caitlin Higgins

October 1, 2004

I have been a fan of your work since fourth grade (I am recently in eighth grade) when I read your book of four novels (I forget what it was called!). In sixth grade, I found your ‘Five Fantastic Novels’ book and I did a book report on Borgel. In seventh grade, I did a report on The Worms of Kukumlima. Now, I have to write a non-fiction piece, and it seemed obvious that I should pick you. Is there anything interesting that I could include in my report? Thanks…

Tina Larkin

October 1, 2004

Dear DP,

Greetings from Tina Larkin and David Roberts, goofy husband and wife professional musicians who have written and illustrated a children’s book Biff the Moose and are working on Biff the Purple Moose and the Mishuganah Matzo Ball.. Tashi Lynn the Dobie and Senka Sue the German Shepherd would like us to send you a copy of Biff to read. We all (even the dogs) have read your Uncle Boris in the Yukon and we think you might like Biff very much….but he isn’t a Jewish moose…but I am! I mean Jewish, not a moose though. (and our new cd has half Jewish klezmer on it-the other half is celtic) Biff has a penchant for toast, so he wears 6 toasters strapped to his back. Too funny. May we send a copy to you? Thank you for your wonderful book. As soon as I finished it, I had to read it again, except the very beginning part-your child hoodwasevenworsethanmine. My dogs kept me afloat those early years.

Best Always-Tina Larkin

Carrie Dye

September 20, 2004

What would convince you to take a trip to the beautiful state of Washington? I have been a fan of your books for decades.

You could make an appearance at my library.

You can visit the space needle…

You can get good Salmon…..

It rains!!!

You could see the beautiful new Seattle Public Library!

Then you could make a side trip to Olympia and visit my library at 8th and Franklin in Olympia, Washington. Then you could see the sights of Olympia:

The artesian well – where locals meet to discuss politics and Bush bash.

Watch the “greeners” from Evergreen College promenade at night. (endlessly interresting!!)

Take in a movie at the Olympia Film society.

Walk in the rain around Capitol Lake.

Buy herbs and strange concoctions at Radiance.

Meet new friends at the Traditions Cafe.

Stand by the new bridge with the peaceniks and protest the war.

You can’t beat this town!

Wadda you say???

-Carrie Dye

Librarian

Olympia, Washington

Frindle

September 14, 2004

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

I like your books, my favorite is lizzard music, I like writing stories too!

Heidi Borgel Urbanski

September 11, 2004

Hi,

My maiden name is Borgel, and I just wanted to know where you came up with the name. If the answer is amazingly obvious, please forgive me- I am waitting for my copy of the book to arrive. Pet Maxine for me.

Mike Payne

September 10, 2004

Sir:

I have a distinct recollection of having read in one of your more non-fiction books an anecdote wherein someone early on in your career tells you that you have all the basics down to be an artist; now all you need to do is find out whether you have anything to say.

I’ve searched through my copy of “Chicago Days/Hoboken Nights” without finding this story. My sister looked through her copy of “Fishwhistle” and couldn’t find it. Does it ring any bells with you, or have I gotten even more confused than usual?

Roberta Bergman

September 9, 2004

I am wondering if Daniel Pinkwater is the same, slightly chubby kid named Manus Pinkwater (who could forget that name?) who lived in the apartment building next door to where I lived at 509 Roscoe Street in Chicago? We were both about 8 years old — we had another friend who lived in his building named Phoebe Fabrikant (who could forget that name?). My name was eminently forgettable: Roberta Allen.

Stefan Jones

September 8, 2004

Dear Captain Pinkwater:

I know you’re not big on traveling and appearances and such, but got the impression that you occasionally do local visits to libraries and such.

My sister, who lives down the river from you a piece, in Croton, said that she’s on the activity committee for the town library. She was wondering if she might put you on a list of possible guests.

Let me know and I’ll pass the information on to her.

Marc Hoenig

September 7, 2004

Hey, Daniel, boychick! I tried calling someone in your office, or maybe tried sending you an e-mail, what, 6 years ago? Nobody got back to me, can you believe it? Just one question. I love your voice. I really do. And I think I heard it somewhere kind of unusual. About 7 years ago I was introduced to the world of kid toys, and I swear I heard you tell me “This is a dog”, “This is a horse”, etc. on one of those Mattel animal sounds toys. So, was that you?

Ted Christman

September 7, 2004

Dear D.P.

Quick note. Heard you on ATC 9/7/2004. Right On from one big guy to another.

Love the web site.

Lou Siegel

September 7, 2004

Please contact me regarding my uncle, the artist Louis Schanker. (You certainly captured his essence in The Pinkwater Copyright Infringement Jamberoo.

Brad Sondahl

September 6, 2004

Looking for Bobowicz is a wonderful addition to your body of work. As usual, I read it out loud to my sons, only now they are 19 and 22 instead of 3 and 6, as when I started reading your works to them. I was able to sing the C-H-I-C-K-E-N song to them, being familiar with Mississippi John Hurt’s version. You can also sing it as a round with the verse (slightly different tune), “Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown, what you gonna do when the rent comes round, what you gonna do, what you gonna say, better be ready for the judgement day–oh you know I know rent means dough, or the landlord’ll kick you out in the snow, Rufus Rastus Johnson Brown, what you going to do when the rent comes round…” I’m sure you’ve heard it on WRJR. I also knew “Ain’t nobody here but us chickens…”

I also appreciated some of the more subtle references to previous works, including Tesev Noskecnil Park.

Thanks

Brad Sondahl

Kerry Stamey

September 5, 2004

Dear Mr. Pinkwater:

I have been traveling a lot due to health reasons lately, and I was pleased to hear [in Atlanta Airport] what I believe is your voice gently reminding me to watch my bag. Am I correct, was that you? It was very pleasant and sure made my day go a little better, almost comforting to hear a friendly voice while wating for yet another delay.

Walt Brand

September 2, 2004

The funniest thing about DP — and we can all think of several of *those* right off the tops of our heads, right, kids? — may be, arguably is, the continuing refusal of NPR hosts to allow themselves to be enchanted by DP’s radio presence, sometimes excepting Scott Simon. But Terry Gross and the Magliozzi brothers, daffy as they all are on their own, seem to cringe in fear from the looming, ominous playfulness of DP. There’s an audible dead stop and double take when DP talks to them. Sometimes they even seem to take offense at what he says and try feebly to zing him.

After a while, the truth dawns: THEY JUST DON’T GET HIM (either that, or it’s all just an act).

This makes no sense; after all, these are educated, intelligent people whose NPR job descriptions require that they not take themselves too seriously, unless things have changed since my own radio days. But it turns out to be tremendously amusing, as they try, with comic results, to get out from under (you’ll pardon the expression) or work their way conversationally around someone who from all appearances is only being himself. I’ve never heard anything quite like it, and it is in itself a telling commentary on the state of public radio that its hosts react like Margaret Dumont to the very un-Marxist sallies of DP.

Let us call it the Pinkwater Effect.

–from inside a pet peachpit called Lance,

Walt Brand