james freudiger
Post #2544 – 20091008
October 8, 2009
I am so sad that, after stating so clearly why you hate Walt Disney, you would be enthusiastic about Inga Moore’s bowdlerized version of “Wind in the Willows”. Yes, the illustrations are magnificent, but when she claims to have “abridged” the book, what she has actually done is ripped out it’s heart.
Do I exaggerate? Well, find a copy of the Michael Hague illustrated “Wind in the Willows” and look at the chapter entitled “Piper at the Gates of Dawn.” You will find the most beautiful picture of baby otter asleep at the feet of Great Pan, the god of the animals. Read ANY version for a beautiful description of religious awe in the great god’s presence, (even if not illustrated) then try to find that chapter in Inga Moore’s version.
This was not an “abridgment” but a very deliberate censorship. Young minds must not be made aware of the pagan gods at all costs! I pity the children who grow up with this version as much as those who only knew the Disney version. Shame.
Daniel replies:
I always suspect/blame the publisher in cases like this--and the illustrations are so good! Also I doubt it was deliberate censorship--you may give them too much credit. More likely there were considerations of length, readability, fear of losing the attention of readers, or simply not understanding the passage. This sort of thing happens all the time. At least this publisher, unlike Disney, does not make a specialty of watering down literature. You are right to point out the omission, and I am right to point out the work of a gifted illustrator.
Mildred
Post #2543 – 20091007
October 7, 2009
I am a youth services librarian who loves the Irving and Muktuk books. I am doing an ice cream making program for 40 children and will be reading Ice Cream Larry to the children before the program. If you will be on Long Island on October 13 and would like to make some ice cream, we would love for you to come.
Daniel replies:
I used to be on Long Island, and in Huntington even! Why didn't you ask me then? Now I am here, and will be here on October 13th. I would love to come and make ice cream...but I can't. Eat some for me!
Lauren
Post #2542 – 20091001
October 1, 2009
I read your books the Yggyssey and the Neddiad in one day over the summer. Now that school has started I need to do an “Author Talk” and I picked you as my author. I am having fun getting to know you better!
My question is how do you pronounce the “Yggyssey” and “Neddiad.” I want to make sure I say it right in my author talk.
PS. Is there anything special you want me to say about you in my author talk? I am in sixth grade. I like that the whale from Moby Dick is one of your favorite characters. I like Whales, too.
Lauren
Daniel replies:
Hi, Lauren!
""ig-ah-see"" and ""ned-ee-yad"" Here is something you might want to include in your author talk: Writing is not hard. The whole trick is learning to write a good sentence. (What is a good sentence? I don't know, but I know one when I see one.) Once you get so you can write a good sentence, you can write paragraphs, whole pages, or a whole book, because those things are made up of sentences. That is all there is to it. You don't have to be smart or anything....look at me. I notice that your email is made up of good sentences, so you can be a writer if you feel like it.
Daniel
Kristi
Post #2541 – 20090922
September 22, 2009
Many years ago, my mother and I heard you on NPR talking about your dogs (anything dog gets our attention). It was the story where you were looking for another dog with “eyes like Juno.”
The long and the short of it is that as dog lovers, that struck a chord and we understood perfectly. And, to this day, when we’re looking at a dog (potential housemate or otherwise), we look for a dog with eyes like Juno.
So the tale (tail?) of Juno lives on in the lives of others. Just thought you should know.
Kristi
Daniel replies:
For your further information, ""eyes like Juno's"" are loving, intelligent, and laughing.
Linda Perkins
Post #2539 – 20090914
September 14, 2009
Hello Daniel,
I have been a fan of your work since “Aunt Lulu” and was very sorry to hear about your dog Lulu on NPR last weekend.
Adventures of a Cat Whiskered Girl has me hooked. I have been posting my own serialized story “The Amazing Adventures of Madebonne and Henry” which I have written with the help of my 8 year old friend. Madeleine answers a question at the end of each chapter which determines the direction the story takes. You can check it out at madebonneandhenry.blogspot.com
Thanks for all of your entertaining stories.
Linda
Daniel replies:
Thank you. We'll all take a look.
Lizzie
Post #2540 – 20090914
September 14, 2009
Hey, first off I just want to say I love your books!! Haven’t come across all of them, but I keep looking. Anyway, recently I’ve been quoting and babbling about the Snarkout Boys books to my friends, and most think I’m absolutely insane, but I have gotten a few of them to read your books and they are all very impressed. I’m an aspiring writer myself, and so are a couple of my closer friends, and we like to work on stories together. When we get our books published, you will be cited as an influence! Thank you for existing!
Daniel replies:
Thank you for acknowledging my existence.
Zane Markosian
Post #2537 – 20090913
September 13, 2009
Dear Mr Pinkwater,
When I was approximately 8 years old I received the best gift of my life. A copy of Fat Men From Space. I read it in one day and was so excited. I immediately asked my dad for more. Coincidentally many more of your books happened to be on our bookshelf.
Since then I have read every one of your books I could get my hands on and continue to do so. My favorite is the Snark out Boys and the Avocado of Death.
My goal in life has been to create a literary revolution at my school whereby everybody reads your books. Sadly it has not happened. But maybe it will work if I try employing mind control techniques from Alan Mendelsohn.
Daniel replies:
Sorry to tell you, I tried the mind-control myself--still, the regular people did not read my books. I have gotten used to this, and even like it.
Mark D. Parker
Post #2538 – 20090913
September 13, 2009
Hello. In grade school my sullen 4th grade teacher read us a macabre tale of a little girl who was summoned by a witch or some spirit to stick her hands in a fire. She did. It burned her hands, but eventually she had the power to shake hands with people and determine what type of animal best exeplifies their soul. It portrayed a bleak picture of the human condition, and even of the condition of the barnyard. I cannot remember the name of the book, or its author. Do any of the people in the children’s book business that read these emails have any recollection of this book?
Thanks.
Mark D. Parker
Daniel replies:
Is it a Berenstain Bears book?
Jeana Foley
Post #2536 – 20090913
September 13, 2009
Hello-
While I have been a devoted Pinkwater reader and fan since the tender age of 10, I did not discover the hilarious antics of Irving & Muktuk until the ripe age of 39, or when my own son was 3. We have loved them ever since and after raiding all the local library had to offer, we added our own copies to the family library. Blah blah blah, worship, praise etc.
Anyway- today (9/13/09) in the Washington Post Magazine is the most interesting story about the polar bears of Churchill, Manitoba written by Kieran Mulvaney.
(www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/04/AR2009090402431.html)
I did not realize that other than the lovely aurora borealis inspired illustrations by Jill Pinkwater that the lives of Irving & Muktuk were based on polar bear fact!
Most shockingly similar was an amazing photo of two bears being carted away in nets by helicopter to polar bear jail!!! Fwop, Fwop, Fwop indeed!
(www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2009/09/11/GA2009091102531.html?sid=ST2009091103022)
All the polar bears pix here are fantastic and there is another that looks like Irving & Muktuk after they have been discovered posing as muffins. It seems though that the bears of Churchill have a weakness for bacon. All your Irving & Muktuk fans will undoubtedly enjoy this article.
Thanks to you and Jill for all your engaging work-
Jeana Foley
Daniel replies:
Irving and Muktuk are possibly Jewish, Muslim, or vegetarian--if the publisher had wanted more books, we might have found out which. At any rate, they don't seem to have much interest in bacon. Anyone can pose as a muffin--I have done so many times, and recommend it as an entertaining activity.
Rita Tyner
Post #2535 – 20090912
September 12, 2009
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I was saddened to hear on “Weekend Edition, Saturday” of Lulu’s passing. Over the years of listening to you and Mr. Simon share books, I have enjoyed hearing about your family. (I also enjoy it when you visit with the Car Guys!) Besides taking your recommendation of books to share with my classes, I also used many of your books to entice my students to find an author they could enjoy. At the beginning of each school year, I always included AUNT LULU as one of the read alouds. The students would sing out the names of the sled dogs as the story went along. Of course, we had to read it again so they could do so all the way through. It has always been one of my favorite. Were any/all of the dogs patterned after your dog, Lulu?
Thank you for all the terrific stories in books as well as on the radio. Even though I have retired from teaching, I still check out the books you share on “Weekend Edition” as well as any new ones you publish.
Daniel replies:
Thanks for the kind words. Lulu's name came from the book--and we've had sled dogs off and on for 40 years. Lulu's successor, Kee, is a very lovable little shepherd plus something else, (we don't know what). When I can get a picture of her that is not a blur of movement, I will ask webmaster Ed to post it on the site. We miss Lulu very much, but Kee is doing her best to help us get over the loss.
Lydia Adams Davis
Post #2534 – 20090911
September 11, 2009
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for your James Warhola reading…I am a fan, a storyteller myself…Singer/songwriter/puppeteer and improvisationalperformer at home in Cornwall on Hudson.
Kathy Byers and I are playing at TASTE BUDDS CAFE SUNDAY SEPT 13 12-2pm. 40 west Market St. Red Hook NY….we are singing for our Culinary Institute grad Dan Budd’ meal. Howz that for a run on..Love to meet you!
Lydia
www.LydiaAdamsDavis.com
Daniel replies:
I never heard of this Taste Budds Cafe. Maybe we will turn up if we are moving around at the time.
Anonymous
Post #2533 – 20090911
September 11, 2009
Oh snap Daniel!
People around my town are burning your books in great big piles and blaming you for stuff. It’s getting out of hand, somebody stole my dog yesterday and left a note containing anti-semitic slurs. I think you should dry my laundry.
I don’t know what I’m saying. You don’t know what I’m saying. You write cool books, man.
Everybody just needs to CALM DOWN. Tell me something in reverse numbering because of how my computer formats web pages, it’s complicated. Please.
Thanks
Daniel replies:
Everything is normal. Sorry to hear about your semitic dog. I suggest you put posters around offering chowder for his return.
Myrna Jackson
Post #2532 – 20090906
September 6, 2009
I am a retired teacher who now subs for K-3 classes. I have discovered your Irving and Muktuk books and like them for not only their amusing stories but their creative artwork. The classes are spellbound when I read the stories and discuss the pictures. Well I need more stories about those crazy bears. I was wondering if you have considered having the bears get a night job at that muffin factory. One bear could work in shipping and packing and the other could be working security. Of course they will be stealing muffins like crazy. They will be getting fatter but not be eating at the zoo. This would be of concern to the zookeeper. I am sure you could figure out a lot of problems for them and a creative way for them to get caught. If you do not like this idea that’s okay. But Please, Please come up with some more Bad Bear stories.
Daniel replies:
It's not coming up with the ideas, it's getting the publishers to publish them.
Eli
Post #2531 – 20090829
August 29, 2009
Hi Daniel, I have always been a fan of your books, but especially The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death. I loved Baconburg and all everything about its odd and surreal and awesome nightlife. By any chance is Baconburg, or places in Baconburg such as Beanbender’s, based on a real city? If it is I really have to visit!
Thanks,
Eli
Daniel replies:
I guess it is partially based on Chicago, but a long time ago. Possibly if you visited Buffalo and Cleveland you might get a little of the flavor--or possibly not.
Robin
Post #2530 – 20090828
August 28, 2009
I work with a chaplain who is from Tanzania. He had just finished some classes at a local seminary and was looking for some light reading. I gave him a copy of one of your collections of novels, the one with the boy from Mars in it. For a month he would come up to me in the hall and chuckle and thank me for giving him your book. He said he appreciated being able to learn American idioms and colloquialisms from it.
How is the ratatouille diet going?
Daniel replies:
I have many happy memories of Tanzania, and good friends among the Chagga. I do not believe in diets, and the ratatouille fascination evolved into a vegetable soup fixation.
