jj haanchey
Post #2789 – 20120202
February 2, 2012
dear DMP,
i have heard that your book devil in the drain was banned . if you would tell me why it would be a help because im doing a book report on you
Daniel replies:
Yes, I think it was banned once or twice. They said because it mentions the word ""Devil"" in the title--it also has the Devil as a character, but the people who banned it did not know that, because they were afraid to read it because of the title. I also got a complaint from the Devil who thought he didn't look handsome in the illustrations. It is impossible to please everybody.
BH in Maryland
Post #2788 – 20120131
January 31, 2012
Mr. Pinkwater, the reading (and re-reading, and re-reading) of your books, especially Lizard Music, Snark-out Boys, Worms of Kukumlima, Yobgorgle, and Alan Mendelsohn, is one of the most treasured memories of my childhood. That’s probably the highest compliment I could ever give to the author of children’s books, and I mean every word of it. And now, the listening to of you reading your own works over the internet has become one of the very special memories of my adulthood. Full circle, indeed. Please keep up the wonderful work you are doing, and continue making fond memories for myself and the countless others who have discovered your uniquely … Pinkwater-esque (there’s no other way to describe it!) style of writing. thanks again, bh
Daniel replies:
Gee. Gosh. Um. Wow. You know, I think maybe better than setting out to do some important thing and succeeding is to just do an ordinary thing, and then find out it was important. All I have been doing all this time is amusing myself, trying to write books I would have liked to read, and making a modest few dollars. I didn't think about you reading and re-reading down in DC. I believe you. In some weird way the books turned out to be important to you. Amazing.
James Pustejovsky
Post #2787 – 20120127
January 27, 2012
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
My family and I have enjoyed your work since I was a young boy. I’m curious about where you first ran across the song about peaches and bananas, sung by the Wempires. My dad used to read that story aloud to my little brother and would always sing the song in a dramatic, operatic style. It wasn’t until years later–just a few weeks ago, in fact–that I discovered the Wempires’ drinking song originated as a 1930’s novelty tune rather than a Verdi knock-off. I’m still struggling to reconcile this new information with my long-standing interpretation of the Wempires’ characters.
Have you heard the version of “I Like Bananas” by Willie Bryant and his Orchestra, recorded in 1936? That one is my personal favorite–the vocalist sings it like he really means it.
Best Regards,
James Pustejovsky
Daniel replies:
Wait! Verdi didn't write it?
Glauber Ribeiro
Post #2786 – 20120127
January 27, 2012
Mr Pinkwater,
this week Maurice Sendak gave a bizarre and very entertaining interview in Stephen Colbert’s show. Couldn’t you have your people (and by your people, i mean of course Webmaster Ed) arrange for a Pinkwater appearance at the Colbert Report?
Daniel replies:
It is my plan to do just that--however, I think I should wait 15 or 20 years in the expectation that I will become as cute as Maurice. What did you find bizarre about it? It was the first children's book-related interview I've ever seen that did not make me want to fwow up.
Scioto Darby Elementary 2nd Graders
Post #2785 – 20120123
January 23, 2012
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
We read your book Blue Moose in our Jr. Great Books reading group and we really liked it! We are looking forward to reading some more of your books together.
What is your favorite part about being an author, and when did you first realize that is what you wanted to do?
We are wondering why the Blue Moose was blue and why no one seemed to thing that was strange?
We think you are a great author!
Sincerely,
SDE 2nd Grade Readers
Daniel replies:
Hello!
I'm glad you enjoyed Blue Moose. If you look around, you can find Return of the Moose, and The Moosepire, books with more about the moose. What strikes you as unusual about a blue moose? It is a very nice color for a moose. This is my favorite part about being an author: You know how reading can be a lot of fun? Well, writing is the same kind of fun, only more, because 1. the writer gets to decide what happens in the story, and 2. the writer gets to read it before anyone else. I have written about 100 books, and I had a good time writing every one of them. I first realized that writing was what I wanted to do when I was in the 4th grade, and tried writing some little one-page things to amuse myself. I am still amusing myself.
Keep reading! It just gets better and better!
Daniel
Charrow
Post #2784 – 20120122
January 22, 2012
Hello Mr. Pinkwater!
I listened to many of your books on tape throughout my childhood car trips to Canada with my family and Rogers Umbrella is one my favorite books. My sister subsequently listened to the tapes until they were worn out and lost a few for good measure, which made us all pretty annoyed with her. Fast forward to this year, for my birthday my partner bought be audiobook versions of Chicago Days Hoboken Nights, the two Snark Out Boys stories, Borgel, and was able to find old library copies of Looking for Bobowicz and the Hoboken Chicken Emergency on cd. I love listening to your books especially because you read them and you have such a wonderfully expressive and juicy voice!
So, the issue is your books are out of print and I cannot find any other books on cd or audiobooks. First, why are so many of your timeless books out of print? Why can I not find anything on cd (other than what I have already mentioned)? I am confused as to why none of your books are available or extremely hard to find. I am sure lots of people would buy them. I would buy two copies if it would make you happy. Is rereleasing your older books something that might happen? And for heavens sake why hasn’t it happened yet!
Ps- I bought the Neddiad on itunes and listened to the whole thing in two days.
Excuse the rant
Charrow
Daniel replies:
Actually, a fair number of my books are in print, and there are copies of out-of-print ones, new and used, floating around. Only you have to look for them--I sort of like this. You are lucky your partner was able to find all those titles. I am lucky to have books in print, and books coming out from publishers I respect, and I am lucky to have readers like you.
Don't forget that there's a bunch of audio books available right here on pinkwater.com -- check out the Audio Archive! -- Ed
Elke
Post #2783 – 20120120
January 20, 2012
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Pinkwater,
My daughter (and I) loved your books when she was young. Now I want to send some to my grandniece, who is 7 but has a high reading level. How do I know what books are appropriate for what level? Do you have a rating system, or something?
Thanks.
Daniel replies:
I have never been able to figure it out. There have been kids 7 and under who read, understand, and ask questions about novels I have written, and full grown adults who read, and sometimes understand, basic picture books. I would say, you know your grandniece--trust your instincts.
Cynthia L. Mason
Post #2782 – 20120116
January 16, 2012
I have the title, “The Peanut Butter and Jelly Fish”. I know the story is about the differances between us. I just can’t seem to open the door. I am turning 59 next month, but I am still the pig-tail kid, climbing trees and fishing for catfish with my dad. I can’t seem to open the door to the story. I pal of mine just survived being stung by the most deadly of the jelly fish, a “box”. I know it play into it…I know the storys there…
Miss hearing you with Scot Simon…where have you been?
All the very best,
Cynthia L. Mason
Daniel replies:
I know exactly how you feel!
Veronica Mason
Post #2781 – 20120111
January 11, 2012
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
My Dad has been an admirer of your work for a long, loooooong, time. I would just like to know if there is going to be a time in the near future when you will be doing a book signing, or reading, or author-type event thingy, somewhere that he could come to see you (and most likely faint from sheer joy).
-VM
Daniel replies:
You know, I almost never do those things--once in a while if they are local and the people at the bookstore or school or whatever are nice. Thing is, I never got the point. So you like the work of a writer, why would you want to then see him? I would think you'd try to avoid finding out that the writer is a boring or obnoxious person, (usually the case). I had lunch not long ago with a famous writer, (he turned out to be nice, so it was ok), and he had just met a really really famous person who behaved like a swine and badmouthed people, and was horrible, and the famous writer was grateful that I was merely boring and not obnoxious. I had some excellent soup, and a pretty good sandwich. I might do something of the kind again in a year or two.
Robert L Summers
Post #2779 – 20120109
January 9, 2012
Our sixth grade class just started reading “Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars” do you have any suggestions? We were going to read “Neddiad” but it was checked out.
RS
Daniel replies:
I suggest you read The Neddiad next, and maybe Lizard Music as an extra. These are pretty good books, if I say so myself. I would not have minded reading them in sixth grade. As it happened I had to wait until I was grown up and write them, which was fun too, but not as much as.
Emma Blackman-Mathis
Post #2780 – 20120109
January 9, 2012
Ill just cut to the chase without a whole big lead up. Basically, i am getting a tattoo of the big orange splot with the quote “my house is me and i am it my house is where i like to be and it looks like all my dreams.” i was wondering if i could also get your [Mr. Pinkwater’s] autograph. in real life. on paper. or even on a copy of the book.
want more of the story? feel free to email me
thank you so much for your time DP or designated salami selling agent.
-from a long time inspired little girl who grew up not quite fitting in
Daniel replies:
I am flattered of course. But I have to tell you I am always uneasy when someone has a tattoo done....no, you are not the first, or second even, to have a Big Orange Splot tattoo. I mean, of course it is a cool book, and I love it, and lots of other people do too, but I always worry, ""what if she gets tired of it later?"" You can have a copy of the book, and keep it your whole life, and look at it when you're in the mood, and when you're not...not. But once it's on _you_. Well, you'd need to be in the mood all the time. And, I suppose it's because I have written a hundred other books, and some may be even better than Splot--I guess if you came across ones you like as well or more, there would be room on your hide, but how far are you prepared to go? This does not mean that I don't want you to do the tattoo, or am saying you shouldn't. But I am not going to sign it.
Thanks for liking it so much!
Daniel
Jill Slaughter
Post #2778 – 20120108
January 8, 2012
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
My children, now ages 17,19 and 22 have been delighted fans of yours for years.
My 17 year old just submitted her college essay to Oberlin, inspired by the message of The Big Orange Splot. She is an iconoclastic, brilliant, loving young woman.
She doesn’t know I’ve contacted you, and I’m sure would say “Mommmm, why did you do that? I know it would mean the world to her if you could acknowledge her effort. She would love to send the piece to you.
Thanks for your consideration.
Jill Slaughter
Daniel replies:
Oberlin is a great choice. Anyway, it was when I almost went there. I went to Bard instead, which was along the same lines...then. Not now. Tell your daughter she applied to the right one.
Kevin
Post #2777 – 20120101
January 1, 2012
Happy New Year, Mr. and Mrs. P and Webmaster Ed!
I have a burning question (dropped it on the stove–now it’s a charred, soggy, but mostly legible question): Why hasn’t the world been blessed with any further Snarkout Boys novels?
Thank you and have a truly magnificent 2012!
Kevin
Daniel replies:
Happy 2012 back atcha, and do not ask depressing questions.
Leon Moss
Post #2776 – 20111227
December 27, 2011
Daniel,
The neighbors are complaining! I tune in to Radio Mozart every morning when I fire up my computer to write my daily blog. I keep the music on extra loud because I reckon that Mozart is doing a better job that I am. But at extra loud the neighbors start throwing stuff up at my windows. But Mozart and Pinkwater will prevail!
Many thanks for delightful days…
Leon
Daniel replies:
It has been my dream to be an announcer on Mozart's radio station, and to annoy somebody's neighbors in Israel. What do they throw at the windows, fresh rolls, candy, flowers? Maybe they are expressing their appreciation.
Laurie Schleck
Post #2775 – 20111226
December 26, 2011
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
We happened upon The Blue Moose at our local library book swap. My daughters adore it. We wished there were sequels. We have found your website and can’t wait to read more of your work. The Blue Moose has really inspired my younger daughter. Instead of reading a book together at night, we make up our own sequels to The Blue Moose. They have gone on vacation to Florida, helped sick people in a hospital, and served all the elderly town folk who didn’t have family on Christmas day, all involving soup of course. Looking forward to more great reading. Thank you for helping my kids love books.
Laurie
Daniel replies:
There are sequels! Return of the Moose, and The Moosepire. Some editions have all the moose stories published together. And there was a moose opera, but it is not available on media. And there was a Blue Moose radio play that might possibly be in some NPR archive.
