Brad Sondahl
Post #1558 – 20021024
October 24, 2002
I think those art history majors both should be flunked. Everyone knows he signed it R. Mutt– a world of difference from A Mutt. And it’s probably laden with deep meaning. Before he died, essayist Stephen Jay Gould and his wife began exploring the cosmic and mathematical meaning of his works, and came up with lots of amazing stuff.
However, the reason I’m writing is to thank you again for your link on your page to my pottery (which moved a year or so ago and I’ve sent the new link to the webmeister), and offer again if you need any pottery, ask, and it shall be USPS’d.
I’ve also added pages on the Shoe Tree of Idaho, Cooking by Dead Reckoning, and other superfluous topics.
Daniel replies:
We are always happy to do our bit for culture.
(We use our Sondahl bowls constantly, and get pleasure from handling them and looking at them).
Justin Sharman
Post #1557 – 20021022
October 22, 2002
I was sitting in a coffeehouse on my college campus a few months ago, and I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation between two Art History majors. They were discussing Marcell Duchamp, and how much they wished there was a full year-long class on him and his work. They went about analyzing some of his pieces. At one point, they argured about three or four different meanings that one can find regarding the “A Mutt” signature Duchamp put on “Fountain”.
So the question: if I were to be thrust into a situation like this again, is there a polite way to tell them that they’re pretentious bastards? Likewise, if I break up in laughter, and I’m asked what I’m laughing at, should I just say I remembered something funny I heard on the radio that morning?
Daniel replies:
Has it occurred to you that the two Art History majors might have been deliberately having that conversation for you to overhear--in order to put you on? Why do you remember this incident ""a few months"" later, and why were you sitting in a coffeehouse instead of studying in the library? I think you should take an Art History course. It sounds to me like you're well on the way to writing a great paper on Duchamp
Emily Wean
Post #1556 – 20021021
October 21, 2002
Hey Mr. Pinkwater!
This is Emily Wean from Boston, Massachusetts. I’m 10 years old and in 5th grade. I am one of your greatest fans. I’ve been enjoying your books since before I could read. One of the stories that I just finished today of yours was The Snarkout Boys and the Baconburg Horror. My dad and I together are reading Alan Mendelsohn the Boy From Mars. We have noticed (or actually my dad has noticed) that in both of those books, the towns have to do with pigs (in Alan Mendelsohn, it is Hogboro.) Is there a special connection between those two towns, or do you have any other books that have towns that have pigish things in their names?
Now, MY question was this: I have your book of four novels with the foreword by Scott Simon. I think it says the date that the WHOLE book was published, but I don’t know about the four books not put together. I actually am only wondering about three of them, because I haven’t read the second one yet. If you could tell me what the dates are of Borgel, The Worms of Kukulima, and The Snarkout Boys and the Baconburg Horror, that would be really cool.
Thanks!
Emily
Daniel replies:
Clue: A poem about Chicago by Carl Sandburg. Dates: I don't actually remember, and I am too lazy to look them up. They were all written before 1990, I know that for sure. Maybe Ed knows.
Yup, try here. -- Ed.
Fran
Post #1555 – 20021020
October 20, 2002
The monkey that ate potatoes ate lemons and fell off the tree into a old house with a shoe, potatoes fell from the sky and eat cheese miraculously until potatoes fell largely. Does that make enough sense?
Daniel replies:
Yes, but I think it's against to law for me to advise people which numbers to play.
Margery Cuyler
Post #1554 – 20021018
October 18, 2002
Dear DP,
I love your Larry books, so much so that I’d love to see them in paperback. Then I can read them to my dog. And my dog can read them to other dogs. And other dogs can read them to other dogs. And then dogs will be kinder to bears. Love, Margery Cuyler
P.S. Let’s hear it for National Arf Day.
Daniel replies:
This is precisely why my master stopped teaching me to read. When you have dogs reading to other dogs, and teaching other dogs to read, and getting radical notions, like being kind to bears, there is no telling where it will all end. My master thinks you should stick to books, and business, and the book business, and stay away from dangerous ideas. Just a word of advice from,
Lulu
Gloria Warrington
Post #1553 – 20021017
October 17, 2002
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
A few weeks ago on ATC your commentary was about Maxine, her diagnosis and the “chicken thing”. Could you elaborate on the chicken thing a little bit?
Daniel replies:
Maxine, a yellow Labrador, was declared terminal more than two years ago. The vet did the tests twice. Since that time she has had cooked chicken, (usually boiled), with her supper every night. She is asymtomatic, and while far from young, is alert, playful, assertive and clearly enjoying herself. She has gained a bit of weight over the two years. This is the ""chicken thing."" It's worked with other pets before. Our theory is that every morning she wakes up thinking, ""If I am still alive at 4:00 PM, I will get chicken."" She goes to sleep thinking the same thing. If anyone wants to try this, I make no scientific or medical claims. However....it couldn't hurt.
Julia Steiner
Post #1552 – 20021015
October 15, 2002
Dear Mr. Pinkwater: During our summer travels, we happened upon a bookstore where “Fat Camp Commandos” was prominently displayed in the children’s section. I bought it for my very finicky seven-year-old who absolutely LOVED it and sent me back to the bookstore when we arrived home for any more books you had written. He read the second version of FCC, moved on to Hoboken Chicken Emergency and just finished Borghel. He comes down from his room to read me passages, because “this book is so incredibly GOOD!” He has chosen to do his first book report for school on Borghel and I just wanted to thank you for inspiring him to read far into the night with his book light…to my absolute delight.
You are a very talented author and have truly captured the heart of this little boy.
Thanks!!
Julia Steiner
Benjamin’s mom
Cooper City, Florida
Daniel replies:
I have the finest readers in the world. Benjamin is one of them. Very few adults have a clue of what I'm up to--not that I care. Quite often I hear from or about kids who are getting into books of mine in a way other writers should envy. You can imagine how this makes me feel.
Genemarks
Post #1550 – 20021012
October 12, 2002
I listened to you and scott simon (I think; I was driving) read a story about a gosling and a caterpiller today and it was the first time that I realized that you were the author, Daniel Pinkwater, as well as the commentator on NPR. It’s nice when someone whom you admire gives you reason to admire them more.
I’ve never seen your face until I found this site (wasn’t too hard: just hit your name on goggle) and I see a question here that relates to being a bully and being bullied as a child. When I was a kid, I was shy and occasionally was bullied because of it. My older brother, who was not at all shy, explained to me that he only acted like he wasn’t shy in order to overcome his shyness so I tried being a bully….for about a day. Then I realized that I really wasn’t that person and went back to being my nice, but shy, self.
On another front, where does a perspective children’s author get help in his quest to get his “masterpiece” published? I’m sure that you’ve been asked this only a few thousand times, but I’m up here in nowhereland, ny and I’ve sent out my manuscript to a number of publishing houses and it’s always inappropriate for their needs. It’s kind of a long poem story with a very positive message tht kids need to hear sometimes. I’m getting discouraged and don’t know what to do but send it out. Again.
Thanks again for all your good work
Daniel replies:
Stamps are cheap. I used a lot of them at one time.
Jack Haneklau
Post #1551 – 20021012
October 12, 2002
While listening to NPR this Saturday (Oct 12) I caught part of a review of a children’s book about a caterpillar and a gosling befriending one another, loosing contact, then finding each other again after maturing into adulthood. I unfortunately did not catch the name of the author or the book. It sounded like an excellent story for my grandchildren. Can you tell me the book’s title and the author, and any other stories you would recommend from that author? Thanks for discovering this book and for your help in identifying it for me. Jack Haneklau
Daniel replies:
Farfallina and Marcel, by Holly Keller.Actually this is the first book of hers I have seen, or remember seeing. (My next book is going to have a caterpillar and a goose in it, you may be sure).
Ross Asselstine
Post #1549 – 20021010
October 10, 2002
Could you please tell me where I can get a transcript of the reading of a story about teaching young children water colors? I heard it a few years ago on NPR; it was delightful.
It was not as much about teaching as it was a reflection of standing back in amazement when letting the kids go and paint whatever they wanted. I think the last line was “Cleaning up after them was the least I could do after all they had taught me”
All the best,
Ross Asselstine
Daniel replies:
I think that's in Hoboken Fish & Chicago Whistle, published by Xlibris and available from amazon.com or xlibris.com.
Eha
Post #1548 – 20021007
October 7, 2002
I have a serious question to ask you. Were you bullied at school? My mother thinks that you were, from reading some of your stories(I don’t really know why). But I was thinking that a strange person such as yourself may have a solution. My best friend quit school a few days ago and now he’s homeschooling. I’m not allowed. I would really be interested to hear your outlook on such a situation,
Eha
ps you can post this message publicly if you want, or not, if you don’t.
Daniel replies:
I got bullied from time to time. Once I called my mother in, and she and the teacher talked it over. The teacher said, ""Why a big boy like you could wipe the floor with those bullies."" That's what she said. I did later pound one of the bullies--but I didn't like it much more than being bullied. On another occasion, I tried being a bully for about five minutes--that felt really unpleasant. Mostly I avoided situations. Developing a scary insane smile is useful. Also yodeling and howling while smiling insanely and advancing may work.
Hugh Musick
Post #1547 – 20021006
October 6, 2002
Several years ago, I purchased a copy of Blue Moose at a second-hand bookstore in Chicago. Both my wife and I have read the book many times to our two children. My eight-year-old son is an excellent reader and the other night I asked him to select a book to read to me each evening before going to bed. He chose Blue Moose. What makes the experience so enchanting, aside from the glorious story, is to listen to my son throw himself into the various roles of the Moose, Mr. Breton, and the townspeople. It gives me comfort to know that a work of creativity can continue to live in the hearts and minds of people many years after its conception. I like to believe that 200 years what people will remember is not today’s Fortune 500 tycoon, but rather, Blue Moose.
Hugh Musick
Chicago
Daniel replies:
Well, I know that's what I will remember in 200 years.
Clare Sorman
Post #1546 – 20021003
October 3, 2002
Hello,
Years ago my parents used to read me “The Wuggie Norple Story”. I remember how much I had loved this book, but I couldn’t remember the name here in my adult life. My workplace just had a used book sale for the United Way, and a lady found a copy of this book and thought it was kind of cute, so she put it on hold. I saw it, picked it up, and couldn’t believe it – it was the exact book I have been wanting to find! It is a hardcover version (cannot remember publisher), signed by Mr. de Paola. I also have always adored his illustrations. Anyway, this woman doesn’t seem to want to give it to me even though I have offered both her and the United Way $50. She says she just likes the pictures because she has cats. ARRRRGGGH! She doesn’t even really seem to care. Anyway, I am an amateur used, rare and out of print collector and I am wondering how much this particular copy would be worth – but if she ends up selling it to me, I WILL NEVER SELL IT. As a fanatic book person I would be so ecstatic to own this book. Can you give me some thoughts?
I also have a fat orange cat so it makes me so happy to see this book again. I think we will name our next cat Wuggie.
Thanks!!
Daniel replies:
I bet you can find a copy for less than $50--not that it isn't a good thing to support worthwhile charities. When you do, you can send it to me with a postpaid return mailer and I will sign it for you. Then do the same thing to Tomi DePaola, and I am sure he will sign it for you. And, if you want, I know where the original editor works, and she will sign it for you.
Amysue
Post #1545 – 20021001
October 1, 2002
I am in a quandary. I have loved your books forever and am now exposing my 7 year old daughter to their charms. My 4 year old son however has become obsessed with Hotel Larry. I read it to him morning, noon and night-he recites it, he concocts elaborate tales of Larry and Roy and whether the polar bear at the science center near us is related etc. And he keeps asking me if Larry and Roy are together in the hotel or separated again. He wakes up to ask me. I like my sleep. Can I just say yes and not be committing some grave parental offense (like lying through my teeth).
In any event, we love all your books and Jill’s illustrations for Hotel Larry are perfect!
amysue (for noah)
Daniel replies:
I can't answer those particular questions at this time, but if you read IRVING AND MUKTUK, TWO BAD BEARS, and the forthcoming IRVING AND MUKTUK, BAD BEARS IN THE BIG CITY, and yet another, yet untitled, you may find some pieces of the polar bear puzzle. (I am assuming you have seen YOUNG LARRY, BONGO LARRY, and ICE CREAM LARRY, all part of the Larry Legend.)
Bill Schwabenland
Post #1544 – 20020930
September 30, 2002
Glad to hear Mr. Pinkwater’s voice back on NPR.
When can we anticipate a Pinkwater movie?
Daniel replies:
Probably never--and I am fine with that.
