Carolyn Gray
Post #1149 – 20000713
July 13, 2000
Hello, Daniel:
(At 4 years of age, my daughter Emma despises what she calls “guys in suits” — whether they’re Barney suits, Chuck E. Cheese suits or the ones with neckties. I’m so proud.)
I’m currently reading your “Five Novels” collection. Between you, de Paola and JK Rowling, I have become convinced that children’s literature is inherently more interesting than that of adults. After all, kids’ books have adventures, creativity, and muffin-eating polar bears. Grownup books roughly divide into two camps: pretentious crap that uses linguistic tricks for their own sake to cover up for a lack of story, and genre fiction running the gamut from John Grisham to Harlequin Romances.
When I read such great stuff as yours, I want to write again. Hell, I even want to learn to draw a little.
So there. Thanks for all that.
PS: I neglected to include my corrolary to the theory that kids’ books are more interesting than adults’: — children themselves are almost always more interesting than adults. After all, they haven’t had all the juice beaten out of them, and don’t have to ignore so much of the world around them to get by.
Daniel replies:
Were you aware that Tomie DePaola did illustrations for a book I wrote? ""The Wuggie Norple Story"" Probably out of print, like most everything of mine.
Penny Kohn
Post #1148 – 20000711
July 11, 2000
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
Although I am a full-fledged adult, I have only recently discovered you. First I heard you on my local NPR station, which at that time was 91.5, New York. I can’t seem to find your show anywhere in my area any more. I began collecting any of your books which I could find, and my daughters, ages 11 and 14, and my husband , slightly older, all love your way of looking at life. My question: Are you a vegetarian? (I am). Thanks very much.
Daniel replies:
Of course, you don't say in what area you are now. (Check the Chinwag Theater site, linked to this one, which will soon have an updated carriage list). Charity Nebbe is a vegatarian. I am a sympathizer.
Keith Bierman
Post #1147 – 20000710
July 10, 2000
Dear Daniel,
I’ve wandered across your radio show from time to time. It’s wonderful, you are one of the few authors I’m come across who is as good a reader as they are a writer (lovely voice, great presentation, etc.). I would love to have your show in CD format for posterity, nightime listening etc.
Are they now, or will they soon be available? Please say yes!
Daniel replies:
Alas, we just don't have the resources, monetary or human to issue CDs. There are a couple of stations streaming the program via the web, if that is any consolation, and you can record stuff off the air. You can attach your stereo to the audio ports on your VCR if you need to record inabsentia. Best I can offer at the moment.
Ian Stoba
Post #1146 – 20000702
July 2, 2000
Esteemed Dr. P,
I’m writing to you about my 5 year old son (yes, the one who was nearly named Vercinjetarix). He has recently gotten very interested in cooking and his recipes remind me a lot of the ones in your books.
This morning for breakfast, he wanted to make vegan chocolate mousse served on an open face garlic bagel. I made him use a whole wheat bagel because I was worried that the original recipe would cause the universe to explode. He has also drawn up plans for a grape and avocado stew, which has not yet been tested on humans.
My question is, how do I encourage his culinary creativity while hopefully keeping him from being abducted by Spiegelians?
–Ian
P.S. The bagels were from the place in Fishkill, the only ones I have found in the area that are edible. The mousse was from Now and Zen in San Francisco.
P.P.S. Watch out for that Paul Maes character who writes in here sometimes, he’s from the old neighborhood.
Daniel replies:
Embrace reality. He _is_ a Spiegelian.
Michael Coaty
Post #1145 – 20000628
June 28, 2000
Dear Daniel Pinkwater,
I have listened to you for years on NPR and I love your stories and your voice. I have wanted to hear many of them again. NPR does not have them in their archives. Please tell me how to get them.
Radio fan and book lover,
Michael Coaty
Daniel replies:
Most of my stuff that has been on NPR belongs to me, and not them. This is not the usual way with radio--but I got someone to write me a letter in ballpoint, on NPR stationery. The few things on Dove Audio are next to impossible to get. Some day, if it survives, Chinwag Theater might issue a tape. And Evan, the webmaster here, has my Malamute Tales for sale.
Fatjabber
Post #1144 – 20000623
June 23, 2000
Dear Daniel,
You might remember me, I’ve e-mailed you before. From knowing you like The Simpsons from a other letter (maybe not now) I was just thinking you could really have a funny roll. Maybe you could be Homer’s new friend. I don’t know but that would just be good for you to be on it. Another thing; do you know a site (that isn’t auctioning) that shows pictures of you’re books (specificlly Fish Whistle) and you can buy them? also, how old were you when you wrote The Terrible Roar? And plus, who is your favorite comedian, actor, and movie? And will they show you turning into a vampire in 4 fantastic novels? I hope so.
Signed,
Fatjabber
Daniel replies:
I gave up being a cartoon. Too late to start again now. There are a couple of booksellers listed around here who are fair and not overpriced. Auctions, and amazon.com tend to have out-of-hand prices for out-of-print books of mine. I forget your other questions.
(I have a cold, and my brain isn't working). Check out The Werewolf Club #1: The Magic Pretzel. Yes, that's right friends...Pinkwater has sold out, and is writing one of those dinky series of chapterbooks. Buy a copy, and see how I did it. (In The Werewolf Club #2: The Lunchroom of Doom, a psychiatrist gets eaten--sort of a nice touch, I think).
Stephen Kilnisan
Post #1143 – 20000620
June 20, 2000
do horses dream?
and if they do, do they only dream of other horses?
stephen kilnisan
also:
very productive, keep up the good work.
stepehn kilnisan
Daniel replies:
A night for posts from the great. O, Stephen Kilnisan, Leading Citizen of Hoboken, and Biggest Baby ever Born in Budapest, horses dream continually, and that is why they get into the trouble they do. They, and we, can never know when they are sleeping.
If they were awake, they would refuse to work for us. I believe they dream of grasslands, fighting and sex.
Ed
Post #1142 – 20000613
June 13, 2000
Great DP,
I’m in a bit of a quandary, or perhaps a byte. Ever since I bought several copies of the half-Borgel cassette from Dove Audio, I’ve been circulating them among various family members for their listening enjoyment and eventual conversion to the cult of DP. Unfortunately, all it’s led to is a bunch of people bugging me at every possible occasion for the missing second half of the story, which due to Dove’s slight incompetence in cassette-package design (that is what you said it was, no?) was never released for sale. Is there anything to be done, any secret stashes of Borgel: Part II lying around in heaps in an underground bunker somewhere, hidden from the world? Please help a desperate family. They’re starting to threaten me.
Daniel replies:
Oh, famous Ed, father of this very website, I have an answer for you: Even this week, Chinwag Theater commences a serialized reading of Borgel, and you, living in the borough of Brooklyn, can hear it on WNYE 91.5 FM. Also, on the first page of this site, you can see where and when the program will be streamed on the web. The less said about Dove Audio's various practices the better. Also, the book is all but back in print, as part of 4 Fantastic Novels from Simon and Schuster, so you can simply read it to your friends and family, or have someone with an accent do it.
Alan Zehntbauer
Post #1141 – 20000611
June 11, 2000
Portland, OR airs your program Sunday evenings at 7 pm on KOPB-FM 91.5 public broadcasting station. It isn’t listed on Chin wag’s web site. Does this mean they don’t pay you?
Solicitously,
Alan Zehntbauer
Daniel replies:
No, it means that the Chinwag Theater carriage list at that website hasn't been updated in a year. This is supposed to change soon. And, nobody pays us. The program is free to stations. Free. Anyone reading this might want to mention that fact to the Program Director of their local public radio station...third year on the air, lots of stations carry it, and no charge!
Coss Rubio
Post #1140 – 20000610
June 10, 2000
Hey MR.pinkwater you should make an older series of the werewolf club like 7th grade or high school. Put a kid named Coss Rubio in it as a new charecter.
Again,
Coss Rubio
P.S: I DID A BOOK REPORT ON YOUR BOOK IN THE 5 NOVELS SNARKOUT BOYS: AVACODO OF DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Daniel replies:
I always fool with names, so I'd probably call him Ross Cubio.
Anna Peterson
Post #1137 – 20000605
June 5, 2000
Mr. Pinkwater-
Fan Mail: I LOOOOOOOVE “The Big Orange Splot”. I loved it as a kid, and I love it now as a young adult. The pictures and the story are fantastic! I’m not of the belief that a person’s calling in life can be attributed to any one influence. However, I am pretty darn sure that my passion for the arts (specifically theatre, more specifically lighting design) can be partially attributed to lessons I learned as a child like the one in “Splot”. Originality is good, being yourself is the only thing to be, and your own happiness and confidence in your self and dreams are way more important than what anyone else may say about them.
Question: Do you have anything to say about the message in “The Big Orange Splot,” or how the book came about? (I’d love to hear it.)
Also, just which of your books are intended for the older range of children out there (over 10ish, maybe)? (Those books that would take most “adults” more than five or ten minutes to read, once.)
As a much obliged, life-long fan…
-Anna Peterson
P. S.
I thought you might be interested to know that I’m writing a paper for a final exam about your book “The Big Orange Splot.” The premise of the paper has to do with reflecting on a book from your childhood as a young adult. Include: what the book taught you, how you perceived it as a child, how you perceive it now, hidden messages. (Not that the “message” in “Splot” was exactly hidden, it’s just that the message isn’t the point of the book to a kid.)
Daniel replies:
The secret message in The Big Orange Splot is that if you do enough eccentric things, you can keep a fairly large alligator as a pet, and your neighbors won't insist you get rid of it.
Rob Broder
Post #1138 – 20000605
June 5, 2000
hi. i just wanted to write to you to let you know what i’ve done. i am a pre-kindergarten teacher. i work with four and a half to five year olds. we took your book the big orange splot and turned it into our end of the year play. it will be performed this thursday and friday (june 8th and 9th.).
the kids have designed their own houses out of foam board. one side is painted brown, the other side is painted into their dreams. the have also designed their costumes and characters. and when they all go and have a talk with mr. plumbean, they all say what they want to live in.
it is very cute and the kids are very excited.
i thought you’d like to know. i will take pictures of the stage and hopefully a parent or two will video tape it. if you’d like to see it or at least some photos, let me know.
have a good day.
rob broder
mill valley, california
Daniel replies:
Rob, meet Anna, whose message follows this one--another splot-fan. Good luck with your theatrical exercise. It sounds very nice.
Linda Frasier
Post #1135 – 20000603
June 3, 2000
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I wrote to you a while back about my friend with the brain tumors. I found a copy of Young Adults for her plus the Snarkout books on audio tape! I’m going out to visit her in July. She is having trouble reading, so I think the audio books will be especially perfect. She used to be a lot like Rat.
In assuring the quality of those audio tapes, I have found myself in danger of having an aneurism from laughing. My 7 year old daughter is completely addicted to them.
Dove audio has terrible taste, because they aren’t carrying anything of yours at the moment. I bet Young Adults would be swell on audio tape. Perhaps they are concerned about liability for aneurisms and addiction?
I feel really jealous of all these kids who got to grow up reading your books. I guess I’m doing my best to warp my children appropriately.
Sincerely, Linda Frasier
Daniel replies:
You are doing the right thing. I bet your kids will not put you out on the ice when you are old and toothbrush. Please give my best wishes to your differently-brained friend. As for Dove Audio, I am delighted they're not offering my stuff--and I hope that continues. I hate and detest them, as many others seem to. Maybe once we get some corporate funding and a few more radio stations...and are secure, Chinwag Theater can issue some tapes and CDs.
Emily & Aaron Jacobs
Post #1136 – 20000603
June 3, 2000
Dear Great Uncle Daniel,
Thank you for sending the pictures of Lulu to me I really enjoyed looking at them and thank you for the book the first day i got it i read it all in one night. How are Jill’s cats doing and is there any stories about Lulu and the cat. I wonder if we will see you. Now my brother is talking.
I would really enjoy you sending some recordings of the voices you use for the pets in your house to me so i listen to them. Any funny stories about the pets in your house would be most appreciated.
>From Emily & Aaron Jacobs
Daniel replies:
More people who imagine/pretend they are related to me. It used to be the royal family of Russia. Ok, you may continue to claim you are my great-nephew and great-niece. The voices we use for animals in our household? Is that what you're asking? You imagine that we do...like...cartoon voices for the animals? And they're trained to work their jaws while we talk for them? Is that what you believe? I deny everything. I will only say this: No animal that lives here would participate is such a stunt. It would be beneath their dignity. They speak for themselves. We talk to them in English. And I started to teach Lulu to read using flash cards, but she was making too much progress, and I decided maybe it was a bad idea.
