Lea Blander
Post #2339 – 20071216
December 16, 2007
Dear Daniel Pinkwater,
I love your stories. I’ve read 12 of them so far in December because my class theme is Author Studies. And you’re our author.
I like the book that you wrote, The Big Orange Splot. After my class read it, we made our own dream homes. I bet they looked like some other home that you wouldn’t find usually.
I hope I get to see you one day.
Love, Lea
Summers-Knoll School
Miss Elaine Neeland’s K-1 class
Daniel replies:
Thank you for reading my stories. I like to write them, and I suppose I would still write them if nobody read them...but it is so much nicer when people do...and nicer yet when they tell me they like them!
Elizabeth Lear
Post #2340 – 20071216
December 16, 2007
It may just be that I’m easily confused or that there’s some sort of parallel universe thing going on at the Bayone, NJ, zoo, but I have a question about polar bears:
Why is it that in the Larry books the polar bears at the zoo are Roy (Larry’s brother), Bear Number 1, and Bear Number 3, while from Irving and Muktuk’s point of view, they and Larry’s brother Roy are the three bears in residence?
Thanks for your help on this …
Daniel replies:
It's very simple--Bear Number One, and Bear Number Three, are their zoo names. Presumably, Roy's name for official purposes is Bear Number Two. Similarly, I am known to government agencies as Space Alien 37962W. (Webmaster Ed: should I not reveal that in this forum?)
Salom
Post #2338 – 20071214
December 14, 2007
Hello Mr. Pinkwater–
I happened upon The Education of Robert Nifkin today in the library and read it with much delight, having not thought about your books since 9th grade or so (I know: I am a terrible person). I remember happening upon Young Adult Novel when I was in 6th grade and loving it, and reading all the other Pinkwater books the school (and public) library had. Thanks for writing such great books.
P.S. Is the Kevin Shapiro mentioned in The Education of Robert Nifkin THE Kevin Shapiro? I don’t think it could be, because, if I recall correctly, YAN was set in the 80s– but it would make me very happy if it was.
Daniel replies:
Well, I want you to be happy--so I will explain that time is flexible, specially in works of fiction. Literalism and temporalism can block enjoyment.
Mary Gomez
Post #2337 – 20071206
December 6, 2007
Daniel and Jill,
I’m so sorry I couldn’t hear the two of you speak at FDR today (12/8). I had to be in Harlem for an event for kids.
In any case, I had wanted my tall blond husband (with the two boys who really liked your reading today) to ask you about the tune for something in an older book (Spaceburger…). Whenever I read the book I always wondered what tune you had in mind when Kevin Spoon and Marvin sing “Lovely Ravioli”. I just kind of do some ditty, but I bet you had something in mind. What was it?
Mary Gomez
p.s. We finished reading chapter 1 of Neddie tonight and it is great! I wish I had known that you were also putting the chapters out online ahead of time. That is so nice! Thank you!
p.p.s. Since we live in Poughkeepsie, I am looking forward to trying your sandwich.
You guys are great!
Daniel replies:
He started to ask the question, but the answer got lost in the confusion. Actually, I made up the tune for Lovely Ravioli in my very own head. You can hear it, (when I get around to recording Spaceburger), in the Audio Archives section attached to the Podcast section, of this very website.
Tikhon P. Ivanov
Post #2336 – 20071205
December 5, 2007
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
My name is Tikhon Ivanov. I am a student of Mr Watkins. I really like talking to Allan Culver an important helper your. The First Period we read one of the books you wrote Hoboken Chiken and put a puppet show on a couple of chapters.
I really like your books, Tikhon
Daniel replies:
Thank you!!! Please keep reading!
Joan Ragland
Post #2335 – 20071205
December 5, 2007
Looking for Christmas help…my grandson is 11 and you are his favorite author. He has several of your books, and I would like to find out which other ones are appropriate for his age. He has: Uncle Boris and the Yukon, 5 Novels, 4 Fantastic Novels.
I don’t want to offend him by getting books that are too young. I think that perhaps “The Education of Robert Nifkin” is a good one for him. Do you concur? Are there others for his age? Thank you so much….we all look forward to your visits with Scott Simon on Saturday mornings!!
Daniel replies:
Looking for Bobowicz, The Artsy Smartsy Club, The Neddiad. The Education of Robert Nifkin has a little bit of ""language,"" but if that is not an objection, ok too.
Harrison
Post #2334 – 20071129
November 29, 2007
hello there,
I just read you novel Alan Mendelsohn the Boy From Mars and i absolutley LOVED it. it was definetly the most exciting and complicated and life changing books i have ever read. At the end i was very disapointed because it was SUCH a good book. So, pretty please write a sequel, your books have been inspirational and very important to me. so again, please write another AWESOME sequel to Alan Mendelsohm the Boy from Mars.
sincerely/gratifiedly/hoping
Harrison
Daniel replies:
I can't promise--but keep reading, and looking around. You might come across a book of mine you like as well.
Mary Bartlett
Post #2331 – 20071128
November 28, 2007
I come from Hoboken H-O-B-O-K-E-N
Where the guys are the squarest, the girls are the fairest
Of any of town I’ve been in
If you come down to Hoboken
Down where the Hudson flows
In all kinds of weather
You’ll find us together
in H-O-B-O-K-E-N
Why can’t I find this anywhere on your site?
Daniel replies:
You can find it now. Thanks for correcting this inconceivable error. (I know the tune even).
Savannah & Rachel Ramsey
Post #2333 – 20071128
November 28, 2007
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
We don’t write letters to celebrities, but we think you are one of a kind! We were first turned on to your talent when we found the Big Orange Splot. We’ve read lots of your books, and have checked out every single one they have at our local library. Our favorites are The Hoboken Chicken Emergency, Fat Men from Space, The Last Guru, The Big Orange Splot, and most of all Alan Mendleson, Boy from Mars. We absolutley love your character’s names, they are so cool. You have a great last name. [Pinkwater think about it] I am only nine years old and think that most kids may not even know about you!
We wish you a long life filled with continued creative genius, and MORE BOOKS!!! Thanks for sharing your imagination with the world. We feel fortunate, indeed.
With lots of gratitude,
Savannah, 9 and her mom Rachel, 31.
Daniel replies:
Pretty nice letter! You think I am a cool writer--but there is something more important than a writer, and without which being a writer means nothing! Readers! You! You are the cool ones! Please keep reading my stuff, and visiting this website, (and don't forget the new podcast and Audio Archives! Yaaaay! I will think about you reading my books up there in Sitka!
Anonymous
Post #2332 – 20071128
November 28, 2007
What languages do you speak besides English?
Daniel replies:
I am still learning to speak English.
Dan
Post #2329 – 20071126
November 26, 2007
Just got back from Manhattan and took in the Jewish Museum’s wonderful William Steig exhibit. I know you don’t tend to review exhibits, but why don’t you pitch the idea to NPR? I feel confident in assuming you’ve seen the exhibit.
P.S. I wrote to you years ago about reprising your Hoboken stories, which I thought were hilarious.
Daniel replies:
Why don't _you_ pitch the idea to NPR. Assuming you are a total stranger, they are far more likely to take you seriously than anyone whohas been associated with them for 20 years. Remember, NPR is in Washington where familiarity breeds.
Marie-Anne Harkness
Post #2328 – 20071126
November 26, 2007
I just showed Jill’s book, The Natural Snak Cookbook, to my 2nd grade students. They looked at the back of the book and said, “Mrs. Harkness you wrote this book. It has a picture of you when you were young.” I looked in amazement at my image, only it was Jill. If Jill would like to see a picture of me, have her write back and I will zap it off to her.
I love your Superpuppy book. We selected our black lab using your advice. She is the best dog we have ever had. Merci.
Daniel replies:
It is not often that we hear from someone of proven beauty. Thanks for the kind words.
Sean
Post #2330 – 20071126
November 26, 2007
the hoboken chicken emergency is officially on the list of my favorite books
we read it for thanksgiving in our 7th grade literature class
Henrietta is a great chicken
I think you should write a sequal to the book from where you left off with Arthur and henrietta going to use the roller skates
Daniel replies:
Good idea. Did you say SEVENTH grade? Oh my. I am honored, and a little disturbed.
Warner Sandquist
Post #2327 – 20071123
November 23, 2007
Dear Daniel,
I wanted to let you know that when I have had a tough day, I come home and click on my favorites link that takes me to a compendium of all of your utterances on NPR. I then play a random few for my wife and me and am much uplifted by the sound of your voice and your profundity of whimzy. For almost five years it was my great pleasure to act as local host for WESAT on member station WMRA in Harrisonburg, VA. I will always take pride in the small part I played in helping to bring your great gift of joy to our listeners. Thank you also for reminding everyone about the inimitable Jimmy Durante and his rendition of “I’ll never forget the day I read a book.” What a gem…
Thank you with all my heart,
Daniel replies:
Thank YOU. If the link you click to ""all my utterances"" on NPR is npr.org, then you are not linking to ""all"" by any means. For the first few years, my agreement with NPR reserved all rights to the pieces to me. Those pieces are not in NPR's archive. But they are here--at this website!--or will be, as time goes by, and Webmaster Ed creates more podcasts. Enjoy.
Camille Lacour
Post #2326 – 20071121
November 21, 2007
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
I’m your number one fan! But, I guess you hear that every day so, that doesn’t matter much to you. One of my favorite books of all time is the Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death! So, if there is an avocado that causes death, it could come in handy, after all my sister has been bugging me a whole lot lately… oh well. Ever since I’ve read, Alan Mendelson the Boy from Mars, I’ve kind of that cigars would smell pretty good. Especially curly Qs. But unfortunately, they don’t. I also liked Lizard Music a lot. But, once again, I’m sure you’ve heard this and I’m probably boring you. Excuse me, I have to go, there’s a 275 pound man banging on my door saying he has salami.
Camille
Daniel replies:
Of course it matters to me that you are my number one fan! I am automatically your number one fan in return. If you liked Lizard Music, you might want to go to the Podcast section of this website, and check the Audio Archives. We are presenting the whole book read by the author or somebody.
