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Hello Daniel and the salami seller! Just found out about the 2/27 NPR broadcast..you and Scott and the Bear! We were away, so missed it. Really sorry! A great fan of yours, and your picks, which I often give to my grandchildren and greatgrands. It's hard to believe that I'm "the little girl that is" on the dedication page. Patricia Ann here.
Great to see the Bear revival; there's even an animated version by Chuck Jones on UTUBE! When I was still a little girl, Keenan Wynn made a recording of the book.
In the 60's it was published by a factory owner as a gift for his employees! After the original edition, it was reprinted in 14 different languages and my Father's face was on the front of Saturday Review of Literature. Big stuff back then!
If you want to see my face on the front of a newspaper, I'd be glad to send it along...you will then know I am no long that little girl! There was a big article on me, small town!, just because my Father was a famous guy. Must have been a slow news week! Anyway, I'd love you to see it...and me! I don't weigh 245 pds, but I would sell salami door to door. Actually, I will be selling salami soon...we are opening a wine bar. Seems to be the thing in Yamhill County, heart of Oregon's wine industry.
I'll get in touch with Scott Simon (any excuse!) The Bear thanks you, I thank you, Pat
All I can say is it's fun messing with the classics! Thanks for the kind words.
As a young lad, did you have a penchant to jump off of stuff? (Along the lines of the 3 to 5 foot plummet, not referring to kamikaze adrenalin business.)
I had no inclination to jump off things as a child. In later years I was a member of the Bard College Parachute Club, and even as such made no jumps, (nor did any of the other members). I did once consider purchasing a paid of sandals with thick soles, but thought better of it.
Dear Mr. Pinkwater,
For my ninth birthday, my stepdad presented me with a copy of '5 Novels'. It is pretty high on my 'Best Presents I Have Ever Received' list, though '4: Fantastic Novels' comes pretty darn close.
I have tried to explain to people why I love your books so much. It usually goes something like this:
Person: So... he drenches them in Grape Nuts? And occasionally they tell stories about a kid with a similar name who comes to tragic ends? And that's it?
Me: I don't think you understand. The nickname of one of the members is Venustiano Carranza, President of Mexico.
Person: Venustiano Carranza?
Me: President of Mexico. Yes.
Also, I have attempted to explain the hilarity of 'Unterwasserschwimmenboot' a ridiculous number of times. So maybe the reason I love your books more than the average teenager is that nine years in Switzerland has made all German-related jokes hilarious to me.
Anyway, I just want to thank you. I want to thank you for the Snark, for the Wild Dada Ducks, for Borgel, Fafner, and for Leonard Neeble. You would not think I was a very interesting person if you met me. I am eighteen, and I spend a lot of time doing fairly typical things with fairly bland people. (I even love school-- though we use the opposite of the notebook system, so that might have something to do with it.) But I have never stopped looking for my own version of the Magic Moscow or Beanbender's Beer Garden (even the Bermuda Triangle Chili Parlor would do). I especially want to thank you for the adventures that that hunt has led me on, because they may be the only thing about me that is actually unique in any way.
Margot
P.S. Apparently, you and my mother were once both in the running to write a piece for some New York publication, and you wound up getting the job. Consequently, I have spent the last nine years defending your work in my household. Hooray.
Well, since I am more and more of the opinion that, once written, fiction is a collaborative undertaking with the reader--which is to say the book is not finished until you read it, and what you make of it is the important part of the process--if you think there is something unique about my books it may well be that you are the one who supplied it, and this would suggest that you are a unique person indeed. I don't recall being "in the running" to write a piece for some New York publication. Ask your mother if she's sure it was me. All the numbers in your message are nine, add up to nine, or are divisible by nine--why is this?
I'm hungry.
Some time ago while talking to Scott Simon, you waxed poetic about the brisket sandwiches at a deli in Wappinger's Falls.
Is the place still there? If yes, will you share the name with me?
My stomach and I thank you. Van
Are you sure it was me? Are you sure it was Wappingers Falls? The mind plays tricks regarding things heard on the radio. If there is a deli in Wappingers serving brisket worth waxing poetic I would certainly remember, if I knew of it, and certainly want to know of it since I do not.
mr. pinkwater,
i think many of you books would be great movies, and yet none are. do you not want your works on screen? any in "development"?
ncb
I have no objection to books of mine being moviefied. And, yes, there are some projects at various stages.
Hi Mr. Pinkwater,
I don't suppose there is any chance that Wuggie Norple will be back in print anytime soon? I consider myself a huge fan of yours and yet I somehow missed this one. How can that be?
I would love to get my grubby hands on a copy so I can read it to my grubby (yet lovely) child.
Best,
Tammy
p.s: Side note: You were the only author that got me reading when I was younger. You were so inspiring that I wrote you a letter when I was in 5th grade (over 25 years ago) and you were kind enough to send me back a cassette taped response! I can't tell you how amazing it was. Thank you so much.
There are copies around--you just have to look. (Sorry there was not time to tape this).
I've loved your books for years, and I'm enjoying reading about the cat-whiskered girl. I'm fascinated by the photo of the car attacked by a muffin(possibly from space?)and would like to know more about it. Is it the fat men? The muffin man? A killer muffin? I'd like to know. Also, I want to thank you for the great stuff you've written for so many years. Will there be another book of collected essays, like "Fishwhistle?"--Thank you.
It is the highly talented Webmaster Ed who does the pictures (other than the wonderful Calef Brown drawings) and gorgeous design, so he would know if anyone would. CHICAGO FISH AND HOBOKEN WHISTLE contains all of Fish Whistle, plus a whole other book's worth of essays. I don't plan another book of them because I don't submit pieces to that radio program these days. You might like UNCLE BORIS IN THE YUKON which is some radio pieces, plus new stuff. Thank you for the kind words.
Sadly, the giant muffin was of terrestrial origin, see this page for details. --Ed
Hello Mr. Pinkwater,
Do you remember Stephen (Steve) Leonard?
He and my older brother grew up together and I remember your books were the topics of many of their conversations. If I'm remembering correctly, you and Steve had some great correspondence. One in particular that I remember was when Steve suggested possibly exchanging letters on tape. Your response was on a sheet of paper (or two) with brown paper tape placed horizontally on which you wrote your letter. He was talking about that for quite some time.
Also, and if I'm remembering correctly, did he create and give you some kind of writer's award? Did you put a gold seal indicating such on one of your books? For some reason a gold seal with a wedge of cheese on it is coming to mind but I can't remember specifically which book it was on or what it was calld...if you have a memory of that and could remind me, I would appreciate it.
Thank you for your time and your books.
Oh sure, the Leonard Award for Literature. Steve made a foil sticker like they put on books that win the Newbery Prize, (only with the wedge of cheese), and the editor, to whom I sent it, actually had identical stickers made up and put them on my next published book. This turned out to be the only literary honor I ever received--unless you count the honor of having the sort of creative and superior readers I have to this day.
I thank you for this cool website and want to suggest checking out The Aquabats singing "Cool Pool Party" on the Yo Gabba Gabba show, in a clip provided on youtube. Looks like many previosly unknown of Pinkwater siblings living large on the West Coast....
Unknown Pinkwater siblings. What a disturbing thought.
I work as a pool attendant at the Nairobi Aquatic Academy for African Antelopes. My doe and I were greatly enjoying a pre-print edition of "The Cat-Whiskered Girl" when, much to my shock, I came across my name in your novel. Is this a coincidence or have we met?
I believe I met your father when I competed in the inter-species races at the NAAAA in 1972. He was kind to me, and gave me an extra towel. It was to honor this fine individual that I named a character after him. I hope you are enjoying the novel.
Our own ganse mishpucha includes a 2, 4, and 6 year old and they are thoroughly enjoying your books. I was a Big Orange Splot fan for many years until I realized only recently that you actually wrote other books. We were reading Sleepover Larry and noticed some similarity in theme to the side of the bus and one of the pages in Big Orange Splot. It brought us back. Keep up your amazing work! Can we be Facebook friends?
RML
straight from da Bronx. Yes, despite living in a particular neighborhood that has a name of a certain cache and people try to use to disassociate with this outer borough, we still live in the heart of the (northwest) Bronx.
Of course Jill did the art for Sleepover Larry, and Big Orange Splot had drawings by me. We influence each other a lot. And Jill is a woman of the Bronx, so I have been educated as to who the best people are. See her book, Tails of the Bronx, A Tale of the Bronx. We cannot be facebook friends because I communicate almost entirely by writing books.
Dear Daniel Pinkwater,
Hello my name is Hannah. I am making a small complaint. In “Aunt Lulu” you say that there are 14 dogs and on the next page you named 15 dogs and it confused me.
I am sorry for you that there is no way to change it and the whole world will see your mistake. I bet you would love to travel back in time to fix your mistake. Sorry you can’t. But I love the book!!
I am very disappointed in you,
Hannah Margaret Harlow
P.S. I love “Blue Moose”. Fortunately there were no mistakes.
P.S.S. I don’t care if there are any mistakes because I am practically 10!!!!!!!!!
Hannah, there is a mistake in your post. You wrote "P.S." meaning "postscript," and then you added a post-postscript, or "P.P.S." only you wrote "P.S.S." which is not the correct form. These things happen even though we try to keep mistakes out of our writing. In all the years Aunt Lulu has existed, you are the first person to notice the number of dogs mistake, including me, the author, two or three editors, including a copyeditor whose whole job is to find such mistakes, and numerous people who read the book. You are smart, and a careful reader--my favorite kind!
To the best of my recollection, "Lizard Music" was the first novel I ever read. It's a hard book to find these days, as I discovered recently when I tried to track down a copy to give to a younger relative, so I was very excited to see it on your site in audio form; I could barely remember what it was about, but I did remember loving it as a child, and I was curious how it'd hold up a couple of decades later.
I carefully downloaded all the pieces, loaded them up on the iPod, and listened to it all through a long couple of bus rides. I think I loved it even more this time around, and probably frightened a few of my fellow riders by laughing out loud a few times.
Just wanted to let you know that the effort you've made to make these excellent books available while we wait (ever hopefully) for a reprinting are very much appreciated. Thank you!
Lizard Music is scheduled (I don't know exactly when) to come back in book form from the highly excellent New York Review of Books Children's Collection. This is the best honor a book can have, in my opinion--they only publish tried and true superior books. It is also optioned for a possible film adaptation, which means a visionary producer is trying to put together what it takes to make a movie--this might actually happen. Investors and major studios, come forward--we will direct you to the movie people. And, as you discovered, an audio version is available here. So thanks for liking it. The book is surviving nicely.
Hi DP -
I recall one of your stories (some years ago)on ATC about an aspiring sculptor whose final exam was to split a large block of granite. Despite trusting what she had been taught and knew, she did what she was told by the teacher - and failed. The final heuristic lesson from her teacher was to "know what you know."
If that was one of your stories, do you know where I can hear that again? If not, I highly recommend it as a good story.
Thanks, Chris
That is sort of how it goes, only the sculpture apprentice was me, and it was a block of limestone, and it was not like a studio course and final exam, but one of the daily tortures devised by my kindly old master. Such things made me what I am today. Oy.
I recently came across some songs and early TV performances of the Tielman Brothers, a Dutch-Indorock band. They looked like you had hand-picked them from some of your books, then re-cast them as a fast-paced, early 60's rockabilly group. What were you doing in Denmark in say, 1961...?
Changing planes. I do recall giving a word of advice to some buskers in the airport.
I just wanted to thank you for your books which have brought so many smiles into my life. I struggle with depression and anxiety and your books never fail brighten up my day. Your characters are like good friends I can always turn to when I'm having a rough day. A trip into one of your worlds is the perfect pick me up. I hope people continue to find your books, I think there's a lot of us out there who need them in our lives. Please keep writing, I'll be reading!
Many, many thanks,
Erica
Do not struggle with depression and anxiety--abandon them! You will not miss them when they're gone.
It is with great trepidation and wild bombastic fortitude that I endeavor this feeble attempt of gracious glee. Freshly entering this new decade with the news that my humble bluegrass/surf-funk masterpiece was a part of anything remotely associated with the great Pinkwater is enough to alter the fabric of my own personal space/time continuum. I have nothing more to add except that I would like to be on NPR with you this year please. And, oh yeah, can I plug my site here? http://www.mchatton.com/ Thank You!
Anyone has a chance, (roughly one in two thousand), to make it onto the radio--if they have a book. If they have a CD the chances are much better, but I don't know who makes the picks. May your glee continue.
PLEASE FORGIVE ME. i STILL CHERISH MY BOOK WINGMAN SOOO MUCH. I am living and working in Thailand ( NO not asking for free books he!! ) I am so happy to have rediscovered you thank you for contributing sooooo much. I mean it!! I am a fan and I Apologize for leaving message on skype. Everyone likes privacy but i just want to say I found one of my favorite Authors!!! I am sure you met my other one named LLoyd Alexander. All the best and Everyone is soo lucky to read your books
Respectfully,
Mark
You left message on Skype? But I barely know what Skype is! Plenty of free books on this very website. Enjoy!
Hey Dan,
Every night I listen to old time radio as I go to bed, but just last week out of no where i remember A book I read by you, Lizard Music, that seemed perfect for listening to at night. I found you reading it on this web site (which you did a great job on, especially the chicken man's voice) and remembered how much i enjoyed it and have been searching for info about it all night. I said it should be a movie the first time I read it and I have been telling everyone that now as i have rediscovered it, and in my research I heard that my dream may be coming true. Is this so? I sure hope so. If nothing else i would like to see what the lizards would look like. Thank you for all the work you have done (I also liked other books by you, especially "Looking for Bobowicz: A Hoboken Chicken Story") and the many smiles you have brought to my face.
I'd like to see the movie myself. I hope it happens.
From an alteh K_ retired school teacher-
Special DP, I stumbled upon your blog, if that is what it is. Further I wd cherish the honor of a reply from a person of your gravitas (hmm!) and I wd force my coffee buddies to hear about my touch with fame. I am a member of NPR WCPN in Cleveland, Ohio and listen to that almost all available waking hours. I greatly enjoy when you and another idol, Scott Simon, jointly read a child's story. In volunteering at an elementary school, I have been influenced by you as to what stories to read to those little darlings. Thanks for the fun enrichment.
Some of my first forays out of Chicago as a kid were to Cleveland, and when I went to college in NY state, roadtrips to and fro always included a middle of the night stop at the White Castle in Cleveland. Later, when I still played along with the idea that authoring is a career, I made more official visits to schools, libraries and bookshops in Cleveland than any other place. I consider Cleveland and environs to be highly civilized and delightful, with nice people, a great art museum, etc., and except that my entire working life has been identical to retirement, I would go there when I retired. You are doing the right thing.
