Whimsy & Woe
A Brief History of the Baldersquash Medal
A Brief History of the Baldersquash Medal
Legend has it that, one day in early 1894, Dr. Heinrich Hoffman heard
a knock at his door in Frankfurt, Germany. On his porch he found a
single chicken, holding in its beak what appeared to be a golden coin.
Fifty years earlier, Dr. Hoffman had published his classic book of poetry
Struwwelpeter (or Shock-headed Peter in English).
Two days later, an anonymous letter arrived at the offices of the Boston
Globe, addressed to the editor-in-chief. It announced that Dr. Heinrich
Hoffman was the winner of the inaugural Baldersquash Medal honoring
“the very best in high-falutin nonsense.” German chemists quickly
confirmed that the medal received by Dr. Hoffman from the chicken was
indeed solid gold.
A media frenzy ensued...
Watch on YouTube.
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Tales of Whimsy, Verses of Woe is quite possibly the most dangerous book of poetry ever written. Do you dare? It’s so good it will make you sneeze. 🤧
What becomes of a girl who absolutely detests the color green? What about a king who joins a punk band? And the little boy who calls up God on the telephone? Winner of the prestigious Baldersquash Medal, which honors the very best in highfalutin nonsense. 🏆
Tim DeRoche and Daniel González, author and illustrator of the best-selling Ballad of Huck & Miguel, return with a book of verse that will delight anyone who loves Lemony Snicket or Shel Silverstein.
⭐REVIEW from Kirkus: "Joyous poems. A rare work of pure, unbridled fun."
⭐REVIEW from the American Library Association: "Incredibly funny, periodically poignant, and wonderfully unafraid to challenge readers."
timderoche.com
baldersquash.com
Tim wrote about children's poetry for Literary Hub.
Watch our book trailer on YouTube.
Buy it on Amazon.
A Brief History of the Baldersquash Medal
Legend has it that, one day in early 1894, Dr. Heinrich Hoffman heard
a knock at his door in Frankfurt, Germany. On his porch he found a
single chicken, holding in its beak what appeared to be a golden coin.
Fifty years earlier, Dr. Hoffman had published his classic book of poetry
Struwwelpeter (or Shock-headed Peter in English).
Two days later, an anonymous letter arrived at the offices of the Boston
Globe, addressed to the editor-in-chief. It announced that Dr. Heinrich
Hoffman was the winner of the inaugural Baldersquash Medal honoring
“the very best in high-falutin nonsense.” German chemists quickly
confirmed that the medal received by Dr. Hoffman from the chicken was
indeed solid gold.
A media frenzy ensued...
Watch on YouTube.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tales of Whimsy, Verses of Woe is quite possibly the most dangerous book of poetry ever written. Do you dare? It’s so good it will make you sneeze. 🤧
What becomes of a girl who absolutely detests the color green? What about a king who joins a punk band? And the little boy who calls up God on the telephone? Winner of the prestigious Baldersquash Medal, which honors the very best in highfalutin nonsense. 🏆
Tim DeRoche and Daniel González, author and illustrator of the best-selling Ballad of Huck & Miguel, return with a book of verse that will delight anyone who loves Lemony Snicket or Shel Silverstein.
⭐REVIEW from Kirkus: "Joyous poems. A rare work of pure, unbridled fun."
⭐REVIEW from the American Library Association: "Incredibly funny, periodically poignant, and wonderfully unafraid to challenge readers."
timderoche.com
baldersquash.com
Tim wrote about children's poetry for Literary Hub.
Watch our book trailer on YouTube.
Buy it on Amazon.