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.

The Phone Call

One day after school I came home to see
A note by the phone addressed to me:
“God called this afternoon for you.
Call Him back at 555-4692.”

Hmmm, I thought, this is mighty queer.
He and I haven’t spoken in many a year.
Dialing the number I got kind of nervous,
Half-hoping the line would be out of service...

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.

My Father to Save

“In the end it is you who must stand alone,”
Said the Wizard whose wisdom was widely known.
“Your father—the King—has been brutally slain,
But wallow not in your sorrow and pain.
Instead form a crew of seven men brave.
Lead you they will to the lair of the Beast,
Who made of your father a holiday feast.
For the Beast, make that lair a horrible grave.”
...

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.