Thank you to everyone who played Children’s Author Trivia last week. Now (drumroll please), the answers:
1. I bet you can get this one: Which beloved children’s author passed away this month at the age of 92?
It’s turns out that two beloved children’s authors passed away last month, Maurice Sendak who was 83 according to The New York Times, and Jean Craighead George, who was 92 (again, according to The New York Times).
Jean Craighead George is probably best known for her 1960 Newbery Honor book, My Side of the Mountain and her 1973 Newbery Medal book, Julie of the Wolves. Our family’s favorite is The Tarantula in My Purse: And 172 Other Wild Pets, published in 1996.
She was a prolific author, often writing about nature and animals. According to Publishers Weekly, Jean Craighead George has two new books coming out this year. Many of her books are no longer in print, but there is a full list of titles at her official website.
2. What prolific children’s author was recently surprised when a standardized test company used an excerpt from one of his novels involving a race between a rabbit and an eggplant?
Why was he surprised? Because the test asked the students to explain the meaning of the passage and this author is all about stories that don’t make sense. In fact, he is included in a list of “The 10 Weirdest Children’s Authors of All Time.” Do you know who he may be?
I really thought this question would stump everyone, although the eggplant was a huge hint. After all, the slogan on Daniel Pinkwater s website is: “Semper admirare melongenum.” Venture on over for some podcasts and free audiobooks.
Daniel Pinkwater is also known for his e-book Bushman Lives that was published serially online, starting in September last year.
You can read all about his reaction to the standardized test question at BoingBoing and NY Daily News.
A few of Daniel Pinkwater’s many books to try:
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If you are in the mood to play more Children’s Author Trivia, simply click on the icon below for a list of previous questions (or you can click on the “Children’s Author Trivia Questions” category in the left sidebar).
Enjoy!
