Irving and Me

by Syd Hoff

The adventures and mishaps that befall Artie Granick, a 13-year-old Brooklyn boy, when he moves to Florida. As he seeks companionship and excitement in his new home town, he learns to value his own abilities and succeeds in finding true friendship.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1967

About the author

Whether you’re seven or seventy, the chances are you’ve probably come in contact with one of his many books (150 plus), or cartoons that have appeared in over 200 magazines in the course of his lifetime, including Laugh it Off which was syndicated for 20 years. His comic strip Tuffy, about a little girl who did funny things, was declared essential for national morale during WWII by William Randolph Hearst.

Syd has worked in diverse genres. He had the distinct honor of working with Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen as a contributor of short fiction writing. He was awarded national advertising commissions for large companies such as Chevrolet, Maxwell House Coffee and others. He had his own TV show (Tales of Hoff on CBS), traveled the world as entertainment on cruise ships and entertained children and teachers in schools and libraries across the country.

Reviews

[Rodney Haydon · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a cartoonist, and Syd Hoff's how to draw books were my education, with the two at the top being How to Draw Cartoons and Syd Hoff Shows You How to Draw Cartoons. I also had read his Danny the Dinosaur books when I was even younger.
What I didn't know was that he wrote a chapter book for older kids, with Irving and Me being his first novel. I wish I would have read this when I was twelve or thirteen, as I feel I would have enjoyed this even more than I do now. Recommended.

[Brendan Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a joy to read. A lot of fun. Having moved many times in my life, while not understanding what it meant to be Jewish, I identified with Artie's character, and read the book at a time when I was going through some of the same things Artie went through. From moving to a new place, trying to make new friends, meeting girls, and just learning to understand and cope with life. I don't recall too much about Irving And Me, but enough to remember I loved it over 40 years later. THAT'S a good book.