Linda L Carter

January 17, 2009

I was hoping that Daniel could help me find a book from my childhood. I am 60. so it was abit ago. It is/was a book about a country where people were either circle (globes) or squares (cubes). They are all happy people until the king who is a square decides that everyone must be a square and has a machine that mashes the circles into squares. That is as much as I can remember. I have looked for this life changing book for 30 years. My dad didn’t really remember reading it to me but thought it was by Thurber, I couldn’t find it there, but could have missed it. It seems like a book you would appreciate and if I could find it I wold be so happy. Thanks and love your work!!

Jeff Day

January 6, 2009

You, sir, are a genius.

Kate Byroade

January 2, 2009

My five-year-old adores the Larry books–especially _Sleepover Larry_, which she has partially memorized. She asks me to re-read the part about the documentary over and over again. She wants to know if there will be more stories about Larry, and wants to know more about the bunny. I discovered you when I was ten when I found _Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars_ at the local library. I really enjoy hearing you on NPR these days. Thanks!

Will Lasky

December 26, 2008

We at the union of Donald Sutherland impersonators, lookalikes, and those bearing a disconcerting resemblance (TBDR’s), move to applaud Daniel Pinkwater for his work “the Education of Robert Nifkin” which we received for Christmas.

Oh, but time draws short. Let is sail away, sail away. Alas, for the bitter fruit of childhood lingers yet. I have an increasing urge to visit the South Seas. Have you been? Have you considered a novel that takes place in the South Seas involving the struggles of a disillusioned Japanese dentist?

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year, dear Pinkwater.

Will

Mark Rowan

December 26, 2008

Hello once again, esteemed Mr. Pinkwater.

I hope all is well in your little corner of the world. I just now came across a picture of an interesting menorah I thought you’d like the look of. Sadly, I can’t find any more information on it than just the picture, so that’ll have to do now. The Blue Moose menorah:

www.yesbutnobutyes.com/archives/2008/12/menorahs_that_k.html

http://www.thegivingtreegallery.com/Acme-Animal-Blue-Moose-Menorah-p/me-100.htm”>www.thegivingtreegallery.com/Acme-Animal-Blue-Moose-Menorah-p/me-100.htm

(That second link is a commercial one, so people can have the privilege of paying upwards of $200 to own one — I’ll leave it up to your discretion to post that one or not.)

Eat pudding,

Mark Rowan

Robin Forbes

December 24, 2008

I just want to say thank you so much. I read and loved your books growing up. I remember Yobgorgle and being so excited because I lived next to Lake Ontario, and Fat Men from Space and the Hoboken Chicken Emergecny, and now I have a two and a half year old who is obsessed with the Two Bad Bears series (although he calls it Three Bad Bears, I think he’s counting Larry in with Irving and Muktuk).

I am so thrilled that you are continuing to write, and that he has a treasure trove of your books awaiting him as he ages.

Nemas

December 21, 2008

Mr. Pinkwater,

I had to sit around for a while and think up something to type in this message. I didn’t have anything to say at first, I just wanted to talk to you because you are awesome. I don’t feel the least bit guilty for having you read these first three wasteful sentences.

I want to know the serious side of DP, the Daniel Manus Pinkwater side, the angry, opinionated side most humans have. I’ve noticed you usually joke away questions on controversial subjects. I think maybe you do this because

a) It’s nobody’s business

b) You want to keep all your fans, even the shallow ones who’d drop you if they thought you held disagreeable beliefs

c) You choose to focus on trivial stuff because it’s easier to make fun of

d) Kids don’t care about that crap

But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe you will tell me what it takes to get into heaven, why homosexuality is right/wrong, which type of government is the best. Maybe the fat people book addresses these issues and I’m a tool for not reading it yet.

I admire your novels because they are lighthearted. It’s hard to write fleety humor like that. But you say it’s easy. That makes you even more admirable. You’re like Buddha had a baby with a cleaned up Larry David.

Can we expect more cover art by yourself?

Happy holidays, Jill is cool too,

Nemas

Chris & Kimberly

December 20, 2008

Hi Daniel:

Just writing to send a letter of thanks on behalf of extremely young reader. Our son Will became bored of the womb, and decided to check out the outside world 3 months early, only to find out the world isn’t really very pleasant for people who weigh less than two pounds.

Over months in the hospital, he became more and more stable, and we began reading to him. Only I quickly tired of all the books that read “Hinky tinky went down by the woozlie, over by the dingly doo.”

So, we began working our way through chapters of the Yggyssey! This was of great benefit to his development and our sanity. He is now home and resembles a little 8lb tank. Thank you! You contributed mightly to his fattening!

Chris & Kimberly

Aaron

December 19, 2008

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

You are probably my favorite living author; my all-time favorite author, however, is the late Douglas Adams. It was recently announced that Eoin Colfer (creator of Artemis Fowl) had been chosen to write a new “Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy” novel. What? Are they crazy? There’s only one person who could possibly live up to Douglas Adams, and Mr. Pinkwater, that’s you. Why didn’t you get picked? Would you even have taken the job?

Looking forward to The Yggysey,

Aaron

pahinenburg

December 17, 2008

“pundint” has gone viral and is gaining on axe,ax, aka ask

Devin Trudell

December 15, 2008

Mr. Pinkwater,

I wasn’t aware until now you were well-known or did radio commentaries, but I looked you up on the web because I checked out your book Lizard Music again and again from the library when I was a kid. I am kind of sad to see your mention that Lizard Music has been optioned for a movie, not because it wouldn’t make a great movie, but because I would have loved to try to make it into a movie myself. Ah, well. I don’t really make movies, anyway, but I would’ve had a passion for this thing.

At the least let me tell you which music I feel sure would make great ‘Lizard Music’ . . . about 10 years ago there was a set of Ethiopian popular music put out called ‘Ethiopiques’ and volume 4 of that series which consists of dreamy, jazzy, instrumentals, would be perfect. Really.

peace, Devin Trudell

Julie

December 7, 2008

That’s a loaded question, what do I have to say for myself? Quite a lot actually but you would lose interest soon after I started and probably wander off to find a better message to read.

Recently while waiting for a doctor’s appointment I perused the only magazine avaialble, half heartedly, because it was geared towards parents…of children. (I make that distinction because I am a parent…of 3 schnauzers) And then I came across your name, and Marc Brown’s at the botoom of a page and that stopped me. Anything you have to say deserves stopping, and well I am a D.W. type personality so am drawn to Mr. Brown’s characters. You and several others had given quotes on story telling. Yours stuck with me…at least the spirit of it…and now it would be wonderful to quote you in this essay about story telling and legends and myths through the ages and cultures but of course I’ve no idea what the name of the magazine was will not be back at that office anytime soon and can not remember the wording of the quote exactly enough to wing it.

I understand that I will probably not get a reply in time to help my essay I am working on for Lit. class but it is driving me mad because I can not find it.

In looking for the quote I found your website and have started reading The Yggssey, what a geat way to read a new book! And I am thrilled about the podcasts because as wonderful as the books are hearing you read, tell stories or generally be interviewed is a gift unto itself. Even Bertie Wooster Giant Schanuzer Terrorist in training (I mean who knew one dog could do so much damage?) will stop and listen with us when you are on NPR.

Thank you for sharing your talents with us!

Joy

December 2, 2008

Hi Mr. P,

My very first Pinkwater experience was when I found ‘Lizard Music’ literally lying in a field. I was 13, and it has remained one of the best books I have ever read. It has always been my favorite of yours, and I was really surprised to hear you say it was your best work on an interview I heard 2 days ago. ( yes, I know it didn’t happen 2 days ago, but in my world it did!)

What was exciting was to hear you say you have written a book that you now feel is even better: ‘THE NEDDIAD’ and best of all- it’s free online. So you can imagine my complete and utter dismay as I can’t figure out where it is. When I “google” it I’m told I can buy it, but nowhere can I find the place to just read it. If I need to buy it I will, but I loved the idea of you putting it up as a rough draft, and being able to read it warts and all. I was excitedly

anticipating printing it all out and reading it all, preferably on my back with a bowl of popcorn balanced on my belly. this arraignment works for both my dog and I, as I am messy. But here’s the rub- I can’t find the story. Is it gone forever, or am I just not looking in the right universes?

Your guidance would be wonderful, and it gives me the added bonus of the ability to actually brag that I kinda sorta spoke to you. Thanks for whatever help you can give and thanks making the world a more interesting place!

Joy

Victoria Winters Spicer

December 1, 2008

Dear Sir,

The “Talk to DP Forum” page didn’t seem to be working properly so I thought that I’d try to submit my message here.

My three-year-old is obsessed with “The Bear’s Picture.” She would like Mr. Pinkwater to be aware that two fine, proper gentlement should not be shouting at Bear. If they were fine, proper gentlemen, they would use their inside voices. Just a thought from a three-year-old. 😉

Kelli Schwert

November 30, 2008

Wow, I could have written that previous email, sent to you by a librarian, myself! I just wanted to drop in and say that Lizard Music remains to be one of my all-time favorite books. I am an occupational therapist working in a school setting and I recommend it to all of my students with somewhat of a chaotic frenzy (“You have GOT to READ this BOOK!” while shoving it in their hands). I remember first hearing about Lizard Music when it was featured on a PBS children’s book review show back in fifth grade. I love each little thing that makes the book so unique…. from pebbles-taped-on-the-wrist watches (I’ve done this before to see if any of my students notice) to the gold statue of Walter Cronkite (my students ask who he is, too). And to this day I always picture a lizard when I hear the name Reynold (or Raymond or Helena). Thank you for this literary treasure!