“I read a book! 250 pages!” — Jim Gaffigan
I, a bona fide library school graduate actually read a book this week! Not counting the huge stack of machine knitting and crock-pot cooking books that I also borrowed from the library, I have been searching for books for DL to read (he is a big reader, and the other two haven’t learned to read yet) and picked up a few for myself as well. My favorite authors are Roald Dahl and Daniel Pinkwater, and as Roald Dahl is dead, I’m pretty sure I’ve read all his works already. However, I just discovered a huge selection of Daniel Pinkwater books that I’ve somehow missed out on so I’m catching up!
This week I read:
The Artsy Smartsy Club by Daniel Pinkwater: This is one of his longer books about a group of kids in Hoboken, NJ who discover art and go on to learn more about the classics and how to become better artists. It’s really cute. And Henrietta, the chicken from “The Hoboken Chicken Emergency” plays a large role.
Mush, a Dog From Space by Daniel Pinkwater: This is a cute book about an alien dog that comes to live with a girl whose parents don’t want her to have a dog, but want her to have a babysitter.
Fat Camp Commandos by Daniel Pinkwater: This book is really funny, about three kids who sneak away from fat camp and go around their city trying to show people how fat people can be just like them and you might not want to be harassed about your thinness just like fat people don’t want to be harassed about their fatness.
Ned Feldman, Space Pirate by Daniel Pinkwater: This wasn’t one of his best. This book was about Ned Feldman, who meets a space pirate in his rocket ship under Ned’s kitchen sink. They do go into space, but I wasn’t all that entertained. I guess I’m too old to get this book.
The Muffin Fiend by Daniel Pinkwater: Also, not that good. It includes a French policeman attempting to figure out why France and Austria are entirely out of muffins. The (spoiler alert!) muffin fiend ends up being an alien who uses the muffins for the fuel in his spaceship.
Jolly Roger, a Dog of Hoboken by Daniel Pinkwater: This book is about Jolly Roger, a puppy that is adopted by a sailor, then given to a kid in Hoboken and Jolly Roger’s rise to being the leader of the pack of wharf dogs in Hoboken.
I’m currently reading Daniel Pinkwater’s latest, The Neddiad. I really love his books Lizard Music and Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars, among others, so I would definitely recommend Daniel Pinkwater’s books for kids, books for adults and commentaries on NPR.
Fear not, I’m still watching TV and knitting, just fitting in some well roundedness back into my character!
kniTV 
Elspeth!! I am so proud of you! Even with your disadvantaged education you have prevailed and read print. Awwww.
The books look pretty interesting too. I’ve never heard of Daniel Pinkwater.
Woot woot! I wish I’d gone to library school.
wow, i didn’t know daniel pinkwater had written other books! the one I’m most familiar with is the big orange splot..LOVE it!