Customer Reviews

AUTHORS DAY (Aladdin Picture Books)

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This semi-autobiographical work shows the downside of celebrity, especially if you're a children's book author touring a local elementary school. It has the signature Pinkwater combination of silly and dry humor that engages readers of all ages, and features Pinkwater's bright, splashy illustrations.

Almost nothing goes right for Mr. Bramwell Wink-Porter, the famous children's author, when he tours a grade school of adoring child and adult fans. The librarian (who is so awe-stricken with Wink-Porter that he faints whenever meeting him) hangs a banner celebrating Wink-Porter as the author of "The Fuzzy Bunny." Unfortunately, Wink-Porter wrote "The Bunny Brothers," not "The Fuzzy Bunny." (Abigail Finkdotter wrote the Fuzzy Bunny.) This same mistake is made in every classroom he visits: The children and teachers repeatedly tell him how much they enjoyed "The Fuzzy Bunny," ask questions about "The Fuzzy Bunny," and in grades 2 and 3, even wear "Fuzzy Bunny" hats. The first stop is kindergarten, when Mrs. Neatfeet's kids hug the visiting author (who bears some resemblance to Daniel Pinkwater). "'They are very sticky children,' Bramwell Wink-Porter said. `They are not usually this sticky,' Mrs. Neatfeet told him. `It is the syrup.' `Yes,' said Bramwell-Porter (with his usual calm). The author is "made to eat a cold, lumpy pancake with a piece of green crayon it ...."

But things get even more challenging. The 2nd and 3rd graders subject him to a grilling, ostensibly about "The Funny Bunny" (which, of course, he didn't write), and then proceed to other irrelevant questions and shows of superiority:
"'Was it hard to write The Funny Bunny?' they asked him.
`No, it was not very hard...I suppose,' Bramwell Wink Porter said.
`What is your favorite rodent?'
`That's easy--a bunny,' said Bramwell Wink-Porter.
`A bunny isn't properly a rodent. Bunnies belong to the order Lagomorphia.'
`What is the greatest number of hot dogs you have eaten at one sitting?'
`Eleven.'"

Further insult and injury ensue: He is bitten by the 4th graders' pet bunny, and the 6th graders almost tie him up, just like ther hero in "The Fuzzy Bunny." There's also an excellent teachers' lunchroom scene, where Bramwell-Porter shares the other guests include Mrs. Wheatbeet, Mrs. Heatseat (these names will guarantee giggles from toddlers). One teacher brings him a sandwich: "It is bologna and shredded carrots with extra mayonnaise, the favorite lunch of the Fuzzy Bunny in your wonderful book." As he takes a bite, "a slice of bologna squirted out of the sandwich, and stuck to his shirt."

Somehow, Wink-Porter meets these indignities with amazing aplomb, perhaps he's gotten used to them. By taking the adult's point of view, and this calm reaction, Pinkwater may help kids with some perspective taking that may benefit them on the playground or interacting with adults (even if they're not famous authors).

Mostly, though, this is a very funny book with an original plot, a surprise on the last page, and appealing, casually drawn color pictures. The names, the zany plot, and the complications recall some of P.G. Wodehouse's comedies. The book may also help adult fans understand what celebrities sometimes face. One of the teachers, Mrs. Wheatbeat, wants Wink-Porter to read her 900 page book, "Bunnies in Love," while he eats lunch, and offers to wait outside his home if he needs more time. Now I'm a big fan of Daniel Pinkwater (and his spouse, Jill Pinkwater), currently reading more of his kids' books as well as "Uncle Boris in the Yukon," aimed at an adolescent/adult audience. I was thinking of writing him to see if I could buy him dinner near his home in the Hudson River Valley this summer, where we're going to vacation. I'm thinking the better of it now.

Part of my job at a children's book publisher is to arrange visits by authors and illustrators to schools. I have never laughed so hard at work in the 10 years I've been doing this. I've sent this book to at least 20 authors with whom I work, and they've all assured me that the story of Bramwell Wink-Porter's star-crossed school visit is undoubtedly true. Despite poking gentle fun at all the things that can go wrong during a school visit, this book is not unkind and Pinkwater's affection for kids and the adults who bring good literature to them comes through.

Extremely funny book that may be of greater interest to adults, especially teachers, librarians and school administrators or anyone involved in children's book publishing, than kids. A hapless author endures a trying visit to Melvinville Elementary School. His day quickly goes downhill, starting with a mix-up over which book he's actually written (a mistake that never gets corrected), and ends with a bunny-bitten thumb and baloney and chalk all over his clothes -- but his love for kids and books still intact. Pinkwater's dry wit and wonderfully silly names had me gasping for the Ventolin. I didn't mind.

Author's Day is a very funny book in which a write r of a book (that looks like Pinkwater himself!) has written a book about bunnie rabbits. All of the teachers and children think that he is someone else. It is a picture book, but it is by Pinkwater. Very good and funny.