"Sid Fleischman, a Newbery Award-winning author who never set out to write for children but flung himself into the field on a dare..."
Website - Email: heinenjohns [at] gmail [dot] com
John Heinen
I only had the pleasure of meeting Sid once when he visited our mutual friend Art Gross, here in Sacramento. I'm happy his great gifts and charm gave him a full and fascinating life. I wish I could have spent much more time with such a magical guy !
Email: Emily [dot] tauriello [at] gmail [dot] com
Emily
I first read your book By the Great Horn Spoon and enjoyed that very much and read many of your books. Thanks Sid!
Email: maggieg [at] umflint [dot] edu
Maggie
When I was 7 years old I wrote a letter to Sid Fleischman asking if he ever planned to write more about the Hackett family from Mr. Mysterious & Company. I loved it so much when my dad read it to me, one chapter at a time, each night before bed. I was delighted to receive a postcard back from him dated 21 Sept. 1978 even though he said he had no plans to continue that story. I loved all of his books and even got an autograph in 1981 in my copy of the The Case of the Cackling Ghost from the Bloodhound Gang. Now I am beginning to read these wonderful books to my own children and it is a delight to enjoy them all over again. Thank you Sid Fleischman!
J. Julia Gow
You inspire writers every where. You gave wonderous adventures through your books. THANK YOU!!! Rest in peace, Mr. Fleischman!
Email: bradley [dot] gard [at] gmail [dot] com
Bradley Gard
I first read 'The Whipping Boy' as a young man and was hooked. I proceeded to devour every one of your books I could get my hands on and enjoyed every word. Not since Mark Twain has an American author so perfectly captured the essence of boyhood. What adventures we had! Pirates, gypsies, cowboys, scalawags, magicians and the like for our companions! I will never forget the hours spent lost in your stories. Thanks for taking us along for the ride. Rest in peace, Mr. Fleischman.
Email: mchugh12745 [at] gmail [dot] com
Peter McHugh
Mr. Mysterious and Company is a wonderful story to read a loud to children. I read it my children and my students when I taught 5th grade. Nice job Mr. Freischman!
Jes Andresen
I went through an old address book today and found a name I fondly recall even though I had no contact in almost 25 years.
So I looked up that name and reached this site to learn that Sid Fleischman has passed away a little over a year ago.
Sid came on board our vessel many years ago to take a freighter-trip and perhaps to remind himself of past days in the Navy.
I recall how surprised he was to find me alone in wheelhouse on his first day since he was expecting a busy lot of people there.
He observed daily, conversed always and asked (many) questions. I was a young officer at the time and curious about this writer of whom I had never heard.
We went ashore a few times in Italy but often I was too busy to accompany him and he would return with amazing stories and information about the places he had seen in a short time.
One day I had given a command to the helmsman: "Port 10" only to observe that he started to put he wheel to the wrong side. "THE OTHER PORT SIDE PLEASE!" I bellowed at the helmsman and Sid looked at me with a grin and said: "Funny, may I use that line in a book?". It would have been fine with me - I never heard if he did have a chance to use it ...
As Christmas drew near, Sid had been my 'longest ever passenger' and constant companion in chats about everything. To my surprise he returned from an excursion ashore to announce that he had called his wife (and family?) and obtained permission to stay on board for the Christmas Holidays.
Then Sid conspired with one of the engineers and had him prepare steel rings. These and other props were used when Sid entertained all the crew with his magic skills for Christmas. Never before, never after have I seen an audience (our crew) so thankful for the effort made for them.
On his departure Sid gave me a copy of the "Whipping Boy" complete with his autograph. The book lives happily in our house in Canada (where I have long since moved), a bit ignored by my children, who are grown up now. Of course, they would not appreciate the effort that the writer put into it all those years ago. I on the other hand had the privilege to meet him in person and chat with him every day for a while ...
I just regret that we never had the chance to meet again, perhaps I should have picked up a phone or put the wheel to the other side.
I hope that many children will continue to enjoy the efforts made by Sid. As he pointed out to me once - children's books are timeless, they always get a new generation of readers.
A true gentleman who will be missed by his audience, me being one of them.
Good bye.
Jefferson P. Swycaffer
I recently read "The Giant Rat of Sumatra." At first, I was disappointed, thinking it would be a Holmes and Watson story. But I quickly got over that, and fell into the joy of the story for what it is! (And with a subtitle like "Pirates Galore" how can it be anything other than glorious!) I loved all the "local color" in the story, and admired the depth -- and the comfort! -- of the research. The book had lots of touches of serious real history, but wasn't overwhelmed by it. I'll definitely be reading more by Mr. Fleischman, and only regret I didn't get a chance to tell him how much I enjoyed his work.
Email: merrymusick [at] gmail [dot] com
Emily
The first Sid Fleischman book I remember hearing is By The Great Horn Spoon when my mom read it to us when I was maybe three or four years old. The first one I read by myself was either Bandit's Moon or Jim Ugly when I was about six. Over the years I've read portions aloud to my mom to make her laugh and have eagerly searched the shelves of several different libraries, looking for one I haven't read.
My older brother once acted out a portion of Clancy And The Grand Rascal for a presentation. If I remember right it was the scene where Clancy gives that memorable tall tale, "I believe every haw-jawin' word you said."
Our library's edition of By The Great Horn Spoon got so broken up and worn out that recently it was taken off the shelf. I sure hope they get a replacement.
All through my life his books have refreshed and relaxed me; even when I didn't feel so well and it breaks my heart to find out that he is gone. My condolences to the family.
Website - Email: acasillas [at] pbvusd [dot] net
Andre Casillas
Over the years, I have read By the Great Horn Spoon! many, many times with my classes of fourth grade students. I wait to read the book until the end of the year because I want to save the best for last. My students love the story's action, the characters, the figurative language (so many great similes!), and the unexpected surprise at the end. I have my students write "Chapter 19," where they "finish" the book, and the writing is always the most memorable and inspired writing of the year because the characters are so well-developed and interesting.
Thanks to Sid Fleischman and his family for helping to enrich my life and the lives of countless children.
Mr. Fleischman was a blessing to readers of all ages and lovers of language everywhere... he will be missed. What a writer!
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