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Crazy in Poughkeepsie

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( 114 ratings, 49 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Crazy in Poughkeepsie by Daniel Pinkwater is a whimsical children's book that takes readers on a quirky adventure in the town of Poughkeepsie. The story is filled with zany characters and surreal events, as they encounter unexpected challenges and adventures. It's a delightful tale of imagination and unconventional thinking, celebrating the joy of randomness and creativity.
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Format: Hardback
$3299
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this whimsical adventure filled with quirky characters and fantastical scenarios. The story's playful humour and unique narrative style make it perfect for readers who appreciate imaginative tales that offer both entertainment and a touch of absurdity.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Age range 6 to 9

Mick is a good kid, but maybe he can use just a little guidance. However, it's unclear who will be guiding whom, because Mick's brother came home from Tibet with the self-proclaimed Guru Lumpo Smythe-Finkel and his dog Lhasa—and then promptly settled both of them in Mick's bedroom.

The thing about this kind of guru is that he doesn't seem to know exactly what he's trying to do. He sure does seem to be hungry, though.

So Mick agrees to something like a quest, roaming the suburbs with the oddest group of misfits: Lumpo and Lhasa; graffiti-fanatic Verne; and Verne's unusual friend Molly. Molly is a Dwergish girl—don't worry if you don't know what that is yet—and she seems to be going off the rails a bit.

Along the way, the gang will get invited to a rollicking ghost party, consult a very strange little king, and actually discover the truth about Heaven. Or a version of the truth anyway, because in a Daniel Pinkwater tale, the truth is never the slightest bit like what you're expecting.

The inimitable Daniel Pinkwater (The Hoboken Chicken Emergency) brings his zany wit and wisdom to a gentle middle-grade adventure following a kid's off-the-beaten-path journey, featuring an unfocused spiritual guide, a not-quite-dwarf, a graffiti 'artist,' a ghost whale, and mystical shenanigans galore.

Crazy in Poughkeepsie is a ludicrous romp reminiscent of the Muppets! This is a book that will make you laugh, grin, and maybe look for more whimsy in your own world.' - Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger

'A magic that's not like anyone else's.' - Neil Gaiman, author of American Gods

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Crazy in Poughkeepsie is praised as a comedic and whimsical adventure filled with surreal encounters and distinctive humour. Reviewers highlight the book's ability to blend absurdity with profound themes, making it a captivating read for children and nostalgic adults. The novel is seen as a celebration of uniqueness and oddity, offering delightful storytelling with engaging characters.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781616963743

Publisher: Tachyon Publications

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 10 May 2022

Country: United States

Imprint: Tachyon Publications

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Aaron Renier

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Width: 155.0mm

Height: 215.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 192

About the Author

Daniel Pinkwater is the author and sometimes illustrator of over eighty (and counting) wildly popular books, including The Neddiad, The Hoboken Chicken Emergency, Lizard Music, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, Fat Men from Space, Borgel, and the picture book The Big Orange Splot. He has also illustrated many of his own books, although for more recent works that task has passed to his wife, illustrator and novelist Jill Pinkwater. Pinkwater is an occasional commentator on National Public Radio's All Things Considered and appears regularly on Weekend Edition Saturday, where he reviews kids' books with host Scott Simon. Pinkwater also contributes to Wondertime, and has in the past been spotted on the pages of the New York Times Magazine, OMNI, and many other publications.

Aaron Renier (Illustrator) is the author of three graphic novels for younger readers; Spiral-Bound, Walker Bean, and Walker Bean and the Knights of the Waxing Moon. He is the recipient of the Eisner award in 2006 for talent deserving of wider recognition, and was an inaugural resident for the Sendak Fellowship in 2010. He teaches drawing and comics at universities in Chicago.

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