Lois Ursillo

September 6, 2008

Hello Daniel

I enjoyed your reading again with Scott today – “Will You Tell Me A Story?” Want to order it now for my grandson to read to him when he gets here Christmas.

You occasionally mention Nettelhorst School. Today I really heard something from the past. I went there K-8 and had a teacher in 6th grade who was just like that one in the book. She sent me to the principal’s office a number of times. Once I just walked out of the school and walked home to Roscoe St. Got in a lot of trouble for that.

Went to Nettelhorst’s 100th Anniversary a few years ago. They have really remodeled this very old school so well. I looked around on Melrose and Broadway remembering that penny candy store.

BEST TO YOU.

LOIS

Carol Markowitz

September 6, 2008

Mr Pinkwater ~ This morning on your NPR interview with Scott Simon you said, “It is a scandal and a shame for you and I…” Of course, the correct pronoun is the objective “me.” I’m sure you would never make such a mistake when writing, but it was a scandal and a shame to hear you say it!

Carol Markowitz

Brad Sondahl

September 6, 2008

I’m your still avid fan who makes pottery, but recently an opening in my community appeared for a children’s librarian (always kind one of those dream jobs for me, since I enjoy juvenile literature), so I’m double hatted and checking out good books, or at least books. Of course I make a point of emphasizing your role in expanding young readers’ minds…

I was also running a Youtube campaign for presidency, on the LET’S Party, but lately I’ve been adjusting my tinfoil hat to skip the presidency and apply for ruler of the universe.

Meredith

August 29, 2008

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

When I was young, I thought that “The Wuggie Norple Story” was the funniest story ever written. I am now 25 and working in the children’s department of a wonderful library, and I still think it is the funniest story ever written, but *gasp* it looks like it may be out of print and all of our copies have disappeared! Is there anywhere we can order it new? Also, I’ve always wanted to know–how did you come up with the characters’ names in that book? 🙂

-Meredith R.

Chelly B

August 23, 2008

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

I have been a fan of yours for many years, and have enjoyed sharing your books with my children, as well as listening to you on NPR.

A few years ago, I was in a library in Columbia, SC while visiting my sister. I picked up one of your books there, just to kill time while in the library. What I remember about the book, aside from the fact that it was absolutely captivating, is that it began with a family moving to a new town. The male protagonist was having trouble adjusting to his new home.

When it was time to leave the library, I put the book down and thought, “I’ll have to get this one when I return home.” Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to figure out which book this is.

Can you please help? I have consulted your ‘ouevre’ list, but nothing rings a bell.

Sincerely,

Chelly B

Sharon Wallsten

August 22, 2008

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

I thoroughly enjoy your book commentaries and readings on NPR. I also enjoy your books! However, one book that I almost thoroughly enjoy, I also find rather disturbing.

I bought the book “At the Hotel Larry” for my 4 year old grand daughter. The story and pictures are wonderful. When I read the part describing the polar bears enjoying cigars after dinner, my grand daughter looked at me with a shocked expression and said, “If the author would have been to the Bodies Exhibit, the bears would not be smoking.” That lead me to look at the copyright and I saw that it was a fairly recent book. Therefore, I was even more surprised that you would include smoking as a means of R & R after dinner, even if the bears were doing it. Seeing my grand daughter’s expression and our later discussion about smoking, I was impressed by the impact that well written books have on children. Now, every time we read that book, she reminds me that the bears should not be smoking.

I wondered if you gave any thought to that scene prior to including it in the book!

Nevertheless, I enjoy your books and commentaries. The latter provides me with tips about books to purchase for my granddaughter, nieces, and nephews.

Diana Babb

August 18, 2008

Hello Mr.Pinkwater!

I work in the children’s dept. of a library and discovered a book entitled “The Chicken Doesn’t Skate” by Gordon Korman. Are you aware that he named HIS chicken Henrietta? Hmph! I do not think that is right! Your chicken is the orginal Henrietta and it should be the ONLY Henrietta. Just thought you should know…….

Thank you for writing one of my fav books!

Jason Unger

August 17, 2008

Mr Pinkwater,

I am writing you in the middle of my god-only-knows-how-many-times re-read of Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars.

After telling my wife about how influentual your book was to me as a 10 year old, she tracked a copy and bought it for me around 6 years ago.Every couple of years or so I pick it up and can immediately see what drew me in and affected me.

Your book made me feel confident about being a Leonard Neeble, a skinny short Jewish kid that wasn’t into football or ninja stars like the rest of the kids in my school. And I ran with it. I made my own opinions–decided who was worth being friends with for myself, not based on some mass clique histeria. And to this day, continue to seek out obscure facts about all sorts of subjects because it’s interesting, and you never know who you are going to surprise, or what can come from that knowledge.

I now have children of my own (7,7,1 years old) and I look forward to introducing them to your work.

Thank you for writing that book. It makes me smile to this day. If you are ever in Connecticut I’d love to buy you a beer.

Jason Unger

Father, Artist, Creative Director, Nice guy

Donald Vickery, M.D.

August 17, 2008

Dear Mr. Pinkwater,

Many, many moons ago you did a fascinating piece on NPR about the smartest dogs in the world. I think you had acquired two of these geniuses and it may well have been before Maxines I and II, even before Lulu. (It might have been Lulu, but it seems they were a tad more cooperative.) I am interested in finding such a dog for my son who has autism spectrum disorder.

Thank you for any help you can give,

Don

Lisa Lewis

August 4, 2008

In regards to my firstborn son’s wealth: he and his sisters before him have somehow required every red cent his father and I have ever earned, and so, the answer is, sadly, no, he does not possess a large sum of money. Reasons you might want to visit his particular school include but are not limited to these facts: an original one-room school house still exists on the property and a bear once visited the playground. However fascinating those occurences may be though, the fact remains that the students have never met an author who might, like Mason Mintz, share something simply because someone asked him to, simply because that’s just the kind of guy he is. So, in the spirit of Kevin Spoon, I’ll just go ahead and ask, “Daniel Pinkwater, will you visit my son’s school?”

Sophia Sommers

July 31, 2008

Hi, Daniel –

Even though I am 10 years old and can read to myself just fine, my Dad still reads to me at bedtime. This is our custom. We really need to keep finding books that both of us enjoy.

We really loved “The Neddiad”, as well as the all of the stories in “Four by Daniel Pinkwater.”

Can you recommend a couple more of your personal favorites from the rest of your works. Thank you,

Sophia Sommers

andrew buhr

July 30, 2008

i’ve recently introduced my nephew to your works, and he has a question for you:

is Melvin in Borgel the same person as Uncle Mel in Yobgorgle?

Clarinda

July 26, 2008

I am a graduate student who wants to use your book The Big Orange Splot as a source for one of my assignments. I remember reading this book when I was in second grade. I was going through my sister’s library when I ran across this book. The pages are now yellowed. When our children saw the book they immediately begged me to read Mr. Plumbean to them. That is why I think it is important for me to use this book in my assignment on children’s literature. My professors’s stipulation is that we must use award winning authors. I could not find any information about The Big Orange Splot to see if it received an award. Could you tell me any awards some of your children’s books have received? Thank you for your time.

Clarinda

Kelsey

July 24, 2008

First hello Daniel Pinkwater. I hope you are having a fun time writing stories because they are fun when you read them. I just want to tell you I don’t know how to read but my mommy reads your stories to me and they are really great. I like all your books, so hope I can hear another one of your books again.

Love your books!!

Kelsey

(transcribed by her mother because she doesn’t know how to write either just yet.)

Wendy Chalmers

July 23, 2008

I’m a kindergarten teacher and love your book, The Big Orange Splot. My colleague and I had been looking to get additional copies without luck. However Scholastic now has 16,000 copies of it. Curiousity has gotten the better of me–did you recently publish a bunch more because we heard that title was out of print.

Thanks so much!