Sara Sobol

May 3, 2002

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

Many years ago my friend Angie loaned me her copy of “Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars”. We were a small group of elementary school kids designated as “gifted” students, which at my school meant we were sent to a special education teacher for our reading lesson and made fun of by other students when we returned.

We read, re-read, re-re-read, and talked about the book every day at lunch. It meant so much to read about two kids, who like us, didn’t fit in among their peers. Most importantly, your book contradicted all the “truths” I had learned in school–that fat kids were unfit to socialize with other children, and that different kids should be avoided completely.

Your book taught me to rejoice in myself and in my differences. It changed my life, and I consider you one of my greatest teachers. THANK YOU!!!!!!

Your loyal and devoted fan,

Sara

Albuquerque, NM

Kelsey

May 2, 2002

Daniel,

So, I’m visiting Riga, the capital city of Latvia, sitting in Dome Square, reading Uncle Boris in the Yukon out loud to my friend, Meghan, and neither of us ever heard the word “soubriquet” before. We are both curious and stumped. We would have asked one of the passing Latvians, but my vocabulary is limited to “Where’s the bathroom?” and “nice beer”.

Your stories are the best take-with-you-when-you-travel-stories ever.

Cheers!

–kelsey

Matthew Chanoff

April 29, 2002

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

I’m a fan, and (at 43) one of your older ones too, I bet. Here’s my situation. I cook once a week. My wife used to not let me cook at all, on the sensible grounds that I’m not nearly as good at it as she is, or as fast. However, a few months ago I made a pretty good tuna pasta, and now I make something every Thursday. I’m still on probation though, with my wife and kids both, and would like to take it to the next level and cook up some borgelnuskies. So what’s the recipe?

I realize, of course, that you’re probably not one of those writers who obsessively develop the backstory to their published work, like for example J.R.R. Tolkien, so I don’t imagine that you spent a lot of kitchen time creating the perfect Borgelnusky recipe prior to writing about them in the Snarkout boys book. However, you must have had something in mind. If you can point me in the right direction, I’d appreciate it. I’ll even send you some.

Sincerely,

Matt Chanoff

PS My 12 year old is a vegetarian, so if there’s a vegetarian version, by all means let me know.

Tommy Salami

April 21, 2002

It snowed here yesterday. Is this [“Meet Daniel Pinkwater”] an authorized biography? Are these reprintings [“Ducks!”] due to the fact that D. P. is America’s most famous writer?

Daniel manus pinkwater’s most rabid fan in Alaska, Tommy Salami

Aleta Fera

April 21, 2002

living in the boonies as i do, it’s not often that i get the chance to purchase fine children’s books for myself. and as i really feel that my marriage can go no further until my husband has a chance to read both snarkout books, yesterday i began a search for ‘4 novels’ (i already have ‘5 novels,’ which makes me happy). we went to a wonderful bookstore in halifax that is just stuffed to the brim with great books, and although the kind owners were unable to get me ‘4 novels’, they did hand me ‘fishwhistle.’ in the intervening 24 hours i have been bothering my friends and loved ones by demanding that they sit still and listen while i read one of the pieces to them. they always forgive me at the end of it.

i think that my favourite piece so far is ‘who’s little jackson pollack are you?’ in a week i will complete the requirements of an education degree, and i find myself concerned with what we do to children and how and why. it sounds mushy, but i found it inspirational that you uncovered the fact that we all make art. this is the kind of teacher i want to be.

finally, on a semi-related note, i hadn’t realized that so many moments in your books are based on things and places and people in chicago. i’ll be visiting chicago for the first time in the summer to see my sister & brother; can you recommend a whirlwind pinkwater tour?

love,

aleta

wolfville, nova scotia

Kathleen Libby

April 20, 2002

Any chance “Alligator Tales” will be reprinted?

The baby boomers are becoming grandparents…a large group to focus on… I enjoy the show on NPR. I do hope there is a reprint possibility for this sweet book. Thanks Kathleen Libby

Hyde Park Elementary Stud

April 19, 2002

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

Your books are really great. I really like the books you wrote called The Big Orange Splot and the book called Irving and Muktuck. I like in the big orange splot when all of the people changed their houses.

Sincerely,

Kenny

Dear Daniel and Jill Pinkwater,

I really enjoy your books. Some of the ones I liked were The Big Orange Splot, The Hoboken Chicken Emergency, Irving and Muktuk, Two Bad Bears and The Magic Moscow looks good but I haven’t read it yet. I really hope you can come visit our school.

From,

Liam

Dear Daniel Pinkwater

We really like your books, we also like the illustrations, and your books are very funny. I liked the book The Big Orange Splot. I enjoyed the part when the man painted and decorated his house. I really like the detailed illustrations. I would really like it if you could come to our school.

Sincerely,

Simon Shieh

Michael Sideman

April 19, 2002

In a recent correspondence you stated that Chicago hot dogs must be treated with caution, or something like that. You also claimed to have eaten no more than 50 during your Chicago days. What is dangerous about Chicago hot dogs? If you weren’t eating them for the first 20 or so years of your life what on earth were you eating? I have always respected your opinions but I am very concerned because I have eaten 725,000 Chicago hot dogs in my life. Sincerely, Michael Sideman

Bob Wilson

April 12, 2002

Let’s start with the little hitchhiker, “Nov Schmoz Ka Pop?” What was the name of that strip again? Was it “The Squirrel Cage”? Who was the guy that drew it (does the name Gene Aherne ring a bell?), and what else showed up in it besides the little hitchhiker? And who were the “The Nutt Brothers – Ches and Wal”? I loved the zany strips from the 1940’s, including “Smokey Stover” amd “The Pie-Faced Prince.” Tell us more about these creations!

“PRO ARIS ET PRO FOCIS”

Antoinette Padgett

April 3, 2002

Thanks for the news, sad though it may be. No wonder no-one from Chinwag answered my email of a few weeks ago. Maybe you can help? I am trying to remember the name of one of Daniel’s stories that I heard long ago on Chinwag about a boy who learns to yo yo at school. If you happen to know the title, could you let me know?

Many thanks and I’ll keep positive thoughts for Chinwag to return!

Louise Adaikkalam

April 3, 2002

Dear Daniel,

This is Louise. I am sorry — I don’t have money or a plan, but I will miss the Chinwag theater. I hope it can come back some time soon. I always enjoyed it!

Hope it is sooner,

Louise Adaikkalam,

Children’s Librarian at Fillmore Library, Fillmore CA

TwoCondors

April 3, 2002

How horrible. Shouldn’t we be writing outraged emails to NPR or somewhere? I am a former 60’s activist (now a fifty something Jewish sort of activist) so I need something to do besides protest

Tim Rowledge

April 1, 2002

Our KQED announcer told us that sundays show was the last one -‘the producers have cancelled the show’. Please, tell me it isn’t so!

How can we live a civilized life without tales of Larry and ChickenMan and, and…

tim

Stephen Williams

April 1, 2002

Daniel, is it possible to collect your “Chinwag Theatre” radio show episodes on a CD or a series of cassettes for sale? This would be a great present for children, who could read alone with you as they listen.

Thanks for all your hard work.

Marianne from Wisconsin

March 28, 2002

I don’t know where else to locate you to write a long ode to you and the pleasure your books gave me as I was growing up and still……… I was looking back (with the slow hazy gaze befitting my 29 years) and found something I wrote in elementary school extolling the virtues of Lizard Music – and probably my secret wish to disappear my parents and stay up all night – and I have to admit that to this day, it is the only book that has remained on my top ten since I read it.

thank you