Jessy Randall

April 22, 2003

I have read _Doodle Flute_ and _Spaceburger_ many times to my two year old son Will. The other morning, he pointed at his plaid shirt and said something that sounded like “pod hit.” He was quite insistent about it. Finally I realized he was saying “plaid hat.” I asked him, “Who wears a plaid hat?” and he responded “Mase Mitz!” (meaning, of course, Mason Mintz.) Did I mention that he is two? Do you think he is a genius? Well, at the very least, he, like his mother, is a big fan of yours.

The Mad Librarian

April 22, 2003

I have a question for you about dogs, well one dog in particular.

Whenever I walk home there is one house where lives a rotweiler. He is not leashed by his owners and his gate is no problem for him. I have numerous times been accosted by him because he jumped over the gate and came charging. I tend to get across the street and the dog does not leave the edge of the street. He comes to the very edge and stops there. I have gone to the owners and asked politely that they put a leash on this dog or otherwise restrain it. There response is to tell me that the dog is gentle and will not hurt me. I am not so sure about that. This dog is huge and tends to snarl and bark and menace me. I can move pretty fast, but their are children on the block and maybe they can’t. Is there an effective way to tell this dog to back off or to make it do so? I am not wanting to go to the police just yet, but it is getting to that.

You know dogs, any advice on dealing with rotweillers?

Benjamin Berk

April 22, 2003

I live in Southern California and was wondering if you ever considered going to or have been to the L.A. Festival of Books. It would be very exciting for me if you visited because I can finally be rewarded for being a bookworm! And you would probably have a lot of your other books; the ones I don’t have access to here in Southern California. I seriously doubt you can make it this year, but I hope you would consider applying to be at next year’s festival. And darn it, I promise to become the best movie director ever and personally supervise the making of your books into movies!

Mike Jones

April 19, 2003

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

Thank you very much for your lengthy (and illuminating) response to my question about the Naming of the Snark (as it were). I’ve never spent much time in Chicago, but I’ve heard of the Clark. It was even featured in the Warren Zevon song, “Excitable Boy”. My wife was particularly enthused about your answer and knowing that the Snark was based on a real place, because it raises the possibility that the “real” world may be a bit more Pinkwateresque than previously suspected. Now, is Honest Tom’s Tibetan- American Lunchroom based on a real place? Our sons (4 and 7) would really like to know.

Mary Pat Clark

April 12, 2003

Hello, Daniel,

I am a fifth grade teacher, and I can’t tell you how very much I enjoy the times when you and Scott read, discuss, and laugh about wonderful books. I frequently rush to my public library to see if the book is on the shelves yet. When it is there, I grab it up, tuck it into my school bag, and read it to my students the following Monday.

I’m sure I have missed many readings, but I nearly split my pants laughing today over The Red Wolf! Unfortunately, we do not have it in the Agawam Public Library yet. I may just go purchase it.

I have several of your books in my classroom, I have read some of your books, and I’ve increased my class library because of your “sessions” with Scott.

I have shared Click, Clack, Moo, Cows that Type and Gershon’s Monster (that I read to them before the children are expected to go to church for Confession) among others. I think my favorite is Gershon. It really makes you think about your conduct. You don’t need to be Jewish to appreciate the depth of the story.

Keep up the good work. Keep seeking out new books for me to share with my fifth graders. I love what you do!

Mike Jones

April 9, 2003

Was the Snark Theater named after the Snark in Lewis Carroll, or after Jack London’s yacht (which was named after the Snark in Lewis Carroll)?

Martha Collette

April 7, 2003

Gentle reader,

Please help me find the book that Daniel Pinkwater reviewed (not wrote) on National Public Radio some months ago about Paul Bunyan and the Dragon (not one about the same story written 30 years ago).

Most gratefully yours, Martha Collette

Adoring grandmother of Nate & Mason

Ted Bauchner

April 3, 2003

I know that in your book “Superpuppy” you are adamant about the fact that you should never purchase a puppy from a petstore. However, we found a four month old Old English Sheepdog at Petworks. We know the girl who cares for the puppies there, and we trust her. She tells us that this dog is a sweet dog with an excellent temperment. I played with the dog several times and administered, as best as I could, the personality test that you have in your book. He did score, according to the guidelines in your book, a three in several categories. He did not display aggressive tendencies and I found him to be alert and responsive. From what I observed on several visits, the dog is very well cared for at the store, and the living conditions are excellent. I was able to contact the vet who gives him his shots and weekly check-ups, and he assured me that the dog is in good health. Based on the above, would it be foolish to purchase this puppy or must I go through the OES Club of America to locate breeders in my area? I live in Valley Stream, Long Island. Thank you very much for your expert advice. I look forward to your response.

Ken Pober

April 3, 2003

Mr. Pinkwater,

I was wondering if you have yet taken a gander at Princess Penelope? It looks like something you might enjoy.

Sincerely,

A gushing fan,

Ken Pober

Martha Freeman

April 3, 2003

Hi — Like so many schools, Easterly Parkway Elementary in State College PA is full of your admirers. Also, we have read Author Day. We will not make you pancakes, but we may ask you about women’s shoes. (This will be the moms who ask you….) Do you still do school visits? How many cupcakes must we sell (figure 50 cents each) to afford you?

Thanks.

Martha Freeman

Bill and/or Amy Boerman-C

April 3, 2003

[RE: “Rainy Morning”]

Thanks for all that you do. It makes me laugh. But why corn muffins?

Charles Weiler

March 29, 2003

First, who is DP – Daniel Pinkwater?

I was searching for inforamtion on the Stahley live Blade shaving tool, and Daniel Pinkwater said he no longer has the proprietary Stahley “opening tool.” Too bad, I guess.

Any information on either DP, or the Stahley will be greatly appreciated.

Charles Weiler

Gordon Schochet

March 15, 2003

More than 30 years ago, my then young son and I enjoyed reading over and over again a book about caraboa who entertained themselves by whirling and whirling around at the top of a cliff (as I recall) until, in their dizziness, they fell into the river below. I would now like to read this wonderful book to my grandson, but I cannot even identify the title. Can you help?

Katrina Neville

March 9, 2003

WHY do the foolish publishers let so many of your books go out of print? I am a new children’s librarian hell-bent on getting your books into my collection with $0 available for paperbacks. So, I would have to buy them in hardcover, but, alas! The titles I seek are no longer available in hardcover. This makes me very mad.

Is there anything we can do?!

Robert Summers

March 7, 2003

Greetings!

I am not sure about what is going on here… I started reading Lizard Music to my fourth graders and all of a sudden Lizards are in the news, on the front page of our newspaper and there is even a reading selection about lizards on the Ohio Fourth Grade Reading Proficiency Test! I will also note that last Wednesday was the anniversary of Walter Cronkite’s last CBS Evening News Broadcast. Yikes!