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963 entries.
Hi there! I'm a 30-year old trans girl who grew up seeking out any fantasy novels she could find, and I think Skull of Truth was the first book I ever read to openly feature a gay man as more than a quick aside or sly gag. I always thought it was really neat how you worked a discussion about queerness into your story's themes about honesty and loyalty. The Magic Shop series has probably influenced my own writing a lot more than I realize. Was the uncle's coming out always planned as part of the story, or did it develop organically when you were looking for ways the skull's power could cause mischief?
Reply by Bruce Coville
That's a great question. I approach different books in different ways - sometimes with a full outline, sometimes with just a concept and a vague idea of where I'm going. The Uncle Bennie strand of the story rose organically when I was working on the dinner/disaster scene.
It was groundbreaking for the reason you mention, but also because it did not dominate the story. There were a few books with gay characters, but they were "problem novels" where the whole book was structured around the issue. To the best of my knowledge this was the first MG novel where the gay character was essential to the story, but was not the central issue of the book, just a part of the matrix of Charlie's life.
BC
It was groundbreaking for the reason you mention, but also because it did not dominate the story. There were a few books with gay characters, but they were "problem novels" where the whole book was structured around the issue. To the best of my knowledge this was the first MG novel where the gay character was essential to the story, but was not the central issue of the book, just a part of the matrix of Charlie's life.
BC
I noticed in a reply to an entry to mentioned two series that crashed and burned in their final volume and I am curious to know the names of those series. I have been disappointed in a series last volume as well….too many times.
This is not a question but a thank you. I am a 42 year old man who has had a lifelong love of reading. I can trace this directly back to Jeremy Thatcher Dragon Hatcher. Today I was scrolling the Dungeon Crawler Carl book subreddit and ran across a comment that mentioned JTDH and that led me to thinking about how your books ( I read every book of yours I could get my grubby little hands on) spawned my passion for fantasy books. This brought me here. My nephew and nieces are all under 4 but they will have bookcases filled with your books soon. In the meantime I think I will have a reread.
I sincerely thank you,
Will
I sincerely thank you,
Will
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hey, Will -
Many thanks for this delightful message. Nothing sweeter for an author than knowing that a book was not only appreciated, but also remembered. That is the greatest accolade you can ask for.
I hope the nephew and nieces will find the same pleasure in the books that you did!
All best,
BC
Many thanks for this delightful message. Nothing sweeter for an author than knowing that a book was not only appreciated, but also remembered. That is the greatest accolade you can ask for.
I hope the nephew and nieces will find the same pleasure in the books that you did!
All best,
BC
Dear Mr. Coville,
Happy New Year! I haven't seen a guestbook format in a very, very long time but I'm happy I get to even in a small way communicate with you.
Growing up in the late 90s/early 2000s had me spending a lot of time in the library, since I was very introverted and already keenly aware of being "weird" (though not completely since words like "neurodivergent" or "queer" hadn't entered my vocabulary) I ended up reading a lot. I loved fantasy worlds in particular and was drawn towards your Magic Shop books! Jennifer Murdley's Toad meant a lot to me in particular, being the "ugly" girl that one day hoped something would just magically snap into place and make me "beautiful".
I still think about Mr. Elives' words of "most mirrors are mere errors" and the scene of Jennifer looking into the magic mirror. How effectively you portrayed the perspective of a girl dealing with bullying and unrealistic beauty standards stays with me, especially in terms of her self-esteem. It's not often that I saw stories like that where the magical solution wasn't the best and even caused trouble for Jennifer, but instead finding happiness and love within herself for who she is.
So, in all that, I just wanted to say thank you for being a part of some lovely memories I had with reading as a young weird (and obliviously closeted) kid. Hope you have safe travels, dry socks, and a warm bed wherever you go.
Happy New Year! I haven't seen a guestbook format in a very, very long time but I'm happy I get to even in a small way communicate with you.
Growing up in the late 90s/early 2000s had me spending a lot of time in the library, since I was very introverted and already keenly aware of being "weird" (though not completely since words like "neurodivergent" or "queer" hadn't entered my vocabulary) I ended up reading a lot. I loved fantasy worlds in particular and was drawn towards your Magic Shop books! Jennifer Murdley's Toad meant a lot to me in particular, being the "ugly" girl that one day hoped something would just magically snap into place and make me "beautiful".
I still think about Mr. Elives' words of "most mirrors are mere errors" and the scene of Jennifer looking into the magic mirror. How effectively you portrayed the perspective of a girl dealing with bullying and unrealistic beauty standards stays with me, especially in terms of her self-esteem. It's not often that I saw stories like that where the magical solution wasn't the best and even caused trouble for Jennifer, but instead finding happiness and love within herself for who she is.
So, in all that, I just wanted to say thank you for being a part of some lovely memories I had with reading as a young weird (and obliviously closeted) kid. Hope you have safe travels, dry socks, and a warm bed wherever you go.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Monica -
Many thanks for this lovely message. JENNIFER MURDLEY was a difficult book to write, precisely for the reason you mention - I absolutely could not give her the happy ending of getting what she wanted. That the book spoke to you so clearly and meant so much to you . . . means a lot to me!
I think the greatest accolade a writer can get - beyond sales, beyond good reviews - is knowing that a book touched reader's life, and is remembered long after it was first read. So many thanks for that!
All good wishes,
Bruce
Many thanks for this lovely message. JENNIFER MURDLEY was a difficult book to write, precisely for the reason you mention - I absolutely could not give her the happy ending of getting what she wanted. That the book spoke to you so clearly and meant so much to you . . . means a lot to me!
I think the greatest accolade a writer can get - beyond sales, beyond good reviews - is knowing that a book touched reader's life, and is remembered long after it was first read. So many thanks for that!
All good wishes,
Bruce
Dear Mr. Coville,
I hope all is well with you, and I’m happy to say that we’ve met before! According to your signature in my Unicorn Chronicles book (the beautiful hardcover one with the first 2 volumes included), you were at my elementary school in 2007. I’m almost 30 now and I still cherish the memory!
I was thrilled to meet you and hear your presentation! I loved your books and dreamed of becoming an author/illustrator. I haven’t become an author yet, but I am happily living a different dream of being a music lesson teacher!
I wonder if you can guess what instrument a lover of unicorns would play? One of the most magical instruments of all, the harp! But the best part of my job is that I get to spend time with so many wonderful people every day. Some of my students will tell me in great detail about the books they’re reading, which is always a delight!
I gifted your collection “A Glory of Unicorns” to one of my young students earlier this year. I found it at a thrift bookstore and had originally planned to keep it for my own collection. But upon learning that my student was being pressured to grow out of unicorns by her mean nanny, I felt like she needed it much more than I did! I’m so glad I happened to have that book on hand to lift her spirits and reassure her that you don’t have to grow out of unicorns at any age!
I’ve been revisiting books from my childhood and just ordered the box set of The Unicorn Chronicles. I had no idea there were more volumes and I’m looking forward to diving back into it! I also just started reading Jeremy Thatcher again, and only 30 pages in it has already made me smile so much.
Thank you for being an inspiration and sharing so many wonderful stories with the world!
Wishing you all the best,
Caitlin
I hope all is well with you, and I’m happy to say that we’ve met before! According to your signature in my Unicorn Chronicles book (the beautiful hardcover one with the first 2 volumes included), you were at my elementary school in 2007. I’m almost 30 now and I still cherish the memory!
I was thrilled to meet you and hear your presentation! I loved your books and dreamed of becoming an author/illustrator. I haven’t become an author yet, but I am happily living a different dream of being a music lesson teacher!
I wonder if you can guess what instrument a lover of unicorns would play? One of the most magical instruments of all, the harp! But the best part of my job is that I get to spend time with so many wonderful people every day. Some of my students will tell me in great detail about the books they’re reading, which is always a delight!
I gifted your collection “A Glory of Unicorns” to one of my young students earlier this year. I found it at a thrift bookstore and had originally planned to keep it for my own collection. But upon learning that my student was being pressured to grow out of unicorns by her mean nanny, I felt like she needed it much more than I did! I’m so glad I happened to have that book on hand to lift her spirits and reassure her that you don’t have to grow out of unicorns at any age!
I’ve been revisiting books from my childhood and just ordered the box set of The Unicorn Chronicles. I had no idea there were more volumes and I’m looking forward to diving back into it! I also just started reading Jeremy Thatcher again, and only 30 pages in it has already made me smile so much.
Thank you for being an inspiration and sharing so many wonderful stories with the world!
Wishing you all the best,
Caitlin
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Caitlin -
Many thanks for this delightful message! It means a great deal to me to hear from adults who read and loved my books as kids, and still remember them now with such fondness even today.
The harp is indeed one of the most magical of instruments . . . congratulations on that choice!
It also delights me to know that you can return to JEREMY THATCHER and still read it with pleasure. (C. S. Lewis said that a good children's book is one that can be read with equal pleasure by an intelligent adult!)
I loved your reason for giving A GLORY OF UNICORNS to that young student! A perfect counter measure to the nasty nanny!
Thanks for the book order. I hope you noticed the temporary out of stock message (it's in fairly small type, which is annoying but how the inventory program announces it). We have all but book 5 in stock right now, and we should have that one in a couple of weeks. As soon as it arrives I'll sign the books and ship your order.
Best wishes for a wonderful 2026!
BC
Many thanks for this delightful message! It means a great deal to me to hear from adults who read and loved my books as kids, and still remember them now with such fondness even today.
The harp is indeed one of the most magical of instruments . . . congratulations on that choice!
It also delights me to know that you can return to JEREMY THATCHER and still read it with pleasure. (C. S. Lewis said that a good children's book is one that can be read with equal pleasure by an intelligent adult!)
I loved your reason for giving A GLORY OF UNICORNS to that young student! A perfect counter measure to the nasty nanny!
Thanks for the book order. I hope you noticed the temporary out of stock message (it's in fairly small type, which is annoying but how the inventory program announces it). We have all but book 5 in stock right now, and we should have that one in a couple of weeks. As soon as it arrives I'll sign the books and ship your order.
Best wishes for a wonderful 2026!
BC
My name is Kelso.
I have read your Unicorn Chronicles with my older sister since I was a little girl. We loved it so much that the first book and the second book were worn with pages falling out and maybe even chocolate stains or doodles in em. Even my mom read em and loved too.
The books must been read hundreds of times. Literally they were loved and it showed.
I used to dream being in Luster as I’d walk the woods behind our backyard. I was obsessed with unicorns, to that degree, and dragons. My love for fantasy fiction, I’m sure started with you.
I even bought others of your works like Glory of Unicorns whenever my mom and dad would take us to Barnes and Noble saving my allowance.
I’d also keep a look out for the sequel to book 2, but I slowly lost hope as I got older.
I was so excited when as an adult I got Dark Whispers from my mom and I could continue the story that was never complete to me. I was to able to keep the story going.
Over the last many years I would check in Barnes and Noble when my family would go there for holiday shopping for the sequel to Dark Whispers. They never had it on hand and the shipping price was crazy. Books have become a pricier indulgence I very seldom allow myself anymore. My three kids get what we can at the public library which they also don’t have it.
Now I’m 35 years old and your 3 incomplete book series stayed on my bookshelves in my collection of precious reads. Every now then I’d read em but the story was never finished for me. It always bugged me because as I’ve said I adore Luster and unicorns and all the magic and danger and the backstory lore and the hunters with Beloved.
In passing I had mentioned and talked to my partner about your series. Passionately telling him about the story and how long had em but never got your last book.
My birthday was on 19th of December. On Dec 27th I got a belated Birthday package from my partner which he apologized for. Guess what he got me. 😭
It was your fourth book! I think I cried for about a good 5 minutes hugging him and admiring the book’s artwork. In disbelief that I finally FINALLY after all these years get the missing puzzle piece.
Now I’m settled in bed to binge read all books and finish the story that I’ve wanted to hear for so so long.
I already know it’s going to be amazing.
Thank you Bruce for Luster and by far one of favorite books as child and even as an adult. 🩷
I have read your Unicorn Chronicles with my older sister since I was a little girl. We loved it so much that the first book and the second book were worn with pages falling out and maybe even chocolate stains or doodles in em. Even my mom read em and loved too.
The books must been read hundreds of times. Literally they were loved and it showed.
I used to dream being in Luster as I’d walk the woods behind our backyard. I was obsessed with unicorns, to that degree, and dragons. My love for fantasy fiction, I’m sure started with you.
I even bought others of your works like Glory of Unicorns whenever my mom and dad would take us to Barnes and Noble saving my allowance.
I’d also keep a look out for the sequel to book 2, but I slowly lost hope as I got older.
I was so excited when as an adult I got Dark Whispers from my mom and I could continue the story that was never complete to me. I was to able to keep the story going.
Over the last many years I would check in Barnes and Noble when my family would go there for holiday shopping for the sequel to Dark Whispers. They never had it on hand and the shipping price was crazy. Books have become a pricier indulgence I very seldom allow myself anymore. My three kids get what we can at the public library which they also don’t have it.
Now I’m 35 years old and your 3 incomplete book series stayed on my bookshelves in my collection of precious reads. Every now then I’d read em but the story was never finished for me. It always bugged me because as I’ve said I adore Luster and unicorns and all the magic and danger and the backstory lore and the hunters with Beloved.
In passing I had mentioned and talked to my partner about your series. Passionately telling him about the story and how long had em but never got your last book.
My birthday was on 19th of December. On Dec 27th I got a belated Birthday package from my partner which he apologized for. Guess what he got me. 😭
It was your fourth book! I think I cried for about a good 5 minutes hugging him and admiring the book’s artwork. In disbelief that I finally FINALLY after all these years get the missing puzzle piece.
Now I’m settled in bed to binge read all books and finish the story that I’ve wanted to hear for so so long.
I already know it’s going to be amazing.
Thank you Bruce for Luster and by far one of favorite books as child and even as an adult. 🩷
Reply by Bruce Coville
Kelso -
Thank you for this marvelous message. I am so glad that you finally get to read the end of the series!
I carried the burden of not having an ending for ten years, and felt constant guilt about it. My only excuse is that I wanted to get it right - especially after I watched two brilliant and well-loved series crash and burn with their final volume. Taking so long wasn't fair to my readers, but giving them a bad book that didn't lift them up would have been even worse.
I finally finished the story at 2 AM in a hotel room in Bangla Desh! When I was done I flung myself on the bed and sobbed both because it was finally over, and because I loved what I had.
Then, for reasons I have never understood, Scholastic never released the book in paperback, which is where we had always had the vast majority of our sales. So for a series in which the first book sold over a million copies, there were only about 17,000 copies of THE LAST HUNT. It was crazy.
Anyway, I hope the ending will live up to your expectations. And three cheers for your partner! Welcome back to Luster!
All good wishes,
Bruce
Thank you for this marvelous message. I am so glad that you finally get to read the end of the series!
I carried the burden of not having an ending for ten years, and felt constant guilt about it. My only excuse is that I wanted to get it right - especially after I watched two brilliant and well-loved series crash and burn with their final volume. Taking so long wasn't fair to my readers, but giving them a bad book that didn't lift them up would have been even worse.
I finally finished the story at 2 AM in a hotel room in Bangla Desh! When I was done I flung myself on the bed and sobbed both because it was finally over, and because I loved what I had.
Then, for reasons I have never understood, Scholastic never released the book in paperback, which is where we had always had the vast majority of our sales. So for a series in which the first book sold over a million copies, there were only about 17,000 copies of THE LAST HUNT. It was crazy.
Anyway, I hope the ending will live up to your expectations. And three cheers for your partner! Welcome back to Luster!
All good wishes,
Bruce
Dead Mr. Coville,
When I was in 7th grade, I read all of your books that my middle school library had copies of. I remember the Magic Shop and My Teacher is an Alien books in particular, along with Odder Than Ever.
Earlier today, I happened across a copy of The Letter Q and read your short piece in it about being bisexual.
This obviously doesn't change how I felt about the books then, or now, but it has made me think about there having been something special happening, without my knowing it, when I was a young gay boy (somewhat cognisant of that fact, but not fully) reading fantasy that I loved by another queer man. Across time and distance, without you knowing me and without me knowing anything about your identity, an older queer man created fantasy that was beloved by a younger one, a joy found within a building and age that was largely unwelcoming.
Apologies for this not necessarily being a full thought, and I obviously don't want to reduce you to a label or imply that the work isn't special on its own terms. There's just something nice about inter-generational queer stories, and I'm happy and thankful for what you did in your career, creating books that me and others could love.
Best,
Eric
When I was in 7th grade, I read all of your books that my middle school library had copies of. I remember the Magic Shop and My Teacher is an Alien books in particular, along with Odder Than Ever.
Earlier today, I happened across a copy of The Letter Q and read your short piece in it about being bisexual.
This obviously doesn't change how I felt about the books then, or now, but it has made me think about there having been something special happening, without my knowing it, when I was a young gay boy (somewhat cognisant of that fact, but not fully) reading fantasy that I loved by another queer man. Across time and distance, without you knowing me and without me knowing anything about your identity, an older queer man created fantasy that was beloved by a younger one, a joy found within a building and age that was largely unwelcoming.
Apologies for this not necessarily being a full thought, and I obviously don't want to reduce you to a label or imply that the work isn't special on its own terms. There's just something nice about inter-generational queer stories, and I'm happy and thankful for what you did in your career, creating books that me and others could love.
Best,
Eric
Reply by Bruce Coville
Eric -
Many thanks for this message, which quite warmed my heart. Your description reminds me of the boy I was myself long ago, and I loved the intergenerational aspect of what you described.
All best,
Bruce
Many thanks for this message, which quite warmed my heart. Your description reminds me of the boy I was myself long ago, and I loved the intergenerational aspect of what you described.
All best,
Bruce
Dear Mr. Coville,
Our third grade class just finished reading Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher and started The Monster’s Ring. We think both stories are wonderful and imaginative.
Our class was captivated by the beginning of Jeremy Thatcher where Jeremy finds Tiamat at the magic shop. We thought that it was sweet and mysterious.
We loved all the funny parts of the story. For example, we enjoyed the scene where Mary Lou is invited to dinner at Jeremy’s house. We laughed wildly when Tiamat was chasing Jeremy’s cats at the dinner table. It was funny when Jeremy’s dad tried to catch the cats, but accidentally splatted into his mashed potatoes.
We felt a little sad when Tiamat had to leave for her dragon world. However, we liked the plot twist in the Epilogue where she returns into Jeremy’s mind to share beautiful images with him. We were wondering why you had Tiamat leave for her dragon world.
Even though we just started The Monster’s Ring, we are very impressed with Katherine Coville’s illustrations and think they are mind-blowing funny.
We would love another magic shop book where all the characters in Mr. Elive’s Magic Shop appear together. What do you think of this idea? How about a girl running the shop?
Thank you for writing wonderful books. We think that you’re an amazing author.
Happy Halloween!
Best wishes,
Your fans in Ms. B’s third grade class
Our third grade class just finished reading Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher and started The Monster’s Ring. We think both stories are wonderful and imaginative.
Our class was captivated by the beginning of Jeremy Thatcher where Jeremy finds Tiamat at the magic shop. We thought that it was sweet and mysterious.
We loved all the funny parts of the story. For example, we enjoyed the scene where Mary Lou is invited to dinner at Jeremy’s house. We laughed wildly when Tiamat was chasing Jeremy’s cats at the dinner table. It was funny when Jeremy’s dad tried to catch the cats, but accidentally splatted into his mashed potatoes.
We felt a little sad when Tiamat had to leave for her dragon world. However, we liked the plot twist in the Epilogue where she returns into Jeremy’s mind to share beautiful images with him. We were wondering why you had Tiamat leave for her dragon world.
Even though we just started The Monster’s Ring, we are very impressed with Katherine Coville’s illustrations and think they are mind-blowing funny.
We would love another magic shop book where all the characters in Mr. Elive’s Magic Shop appear together. What do you think of this idea? How about a girl running the shop?
Thank you for writing wonderful books. We think that you’re an amazing author.
Happy Halloween!
Best wishes,
Your fans in Ms. B’s third grade class
Reply by Bruce Coville
Ahoy Ms. B's Class -
Many thanks for this marvelous message! I'm delighted that you have enjoyed the adventures of Jeremy Thatcher and Russell Crannaker. I have indeed thought about doing a book that brings together all the Magic Shop kids, but haven't come up with a plot for such a story yet! Maybe it will happen someday.
It might interest you to know that Russell and Eddie are both based on kids I had in my own classroom back when I was teaching 4th grade!
Have a fabulous Halloween!
Your friend,
Bruce Coville
Many thanks for this marvelous message! I'm delighted that you have enjoyed the adventures of Jeremy Thatcher and Russell Crannaker. I have indeed thought about doing a book that brings together all the Magic Shop kids, but haven't come up with a plot for such a story yet! Maybe it will happen someday.
It might interest you to know that Russell and Eddie are both based on kids I had in my own classroom back when I was teaching 4th grade!
Have a fabulous Halloween!
Your friend,
Bruce Coville
Dear Mr. Coville,
I read a thing recently where a gay man said that as a kid in the 90s, the first time he learned homosexuality existed, it was in the context of a gay man who had been a very dangerous criminal. It was basically presented that the person being gay and being a dangerous criminal were the same level of bad, and it had a profound impact on his youth.
This made me realize that the first time I learned homosexuality existed was from your book The Skull of Truth in the hilariously awkward Thanksgiving dinner scene, where everyone in the family is magically compelled to tell the truth. The main character’s uncle was being needled about getting a girlfriend, and he said (with perfect truthfulness) that he had a boyfriend, and everyone would be happier if the accepted that. I remember being about 8 and going “neat, didn’t know that was a thing”. The main character’s uncle later tried to say that he couldn’t hang out with his uncle now, but couldn’t (it not being true) and instead said it would feel weird. This element of the minor character wasn’t dwelled on more heavily than any other serious issue in the book, such as cancer, but it stuck with me. The book also taught me that a lot about truth, and how although it is good, it can also be scary, and painful, and even dangerous. It’s rare, especially for kids literature in that era, to find a book that handles such heavy topics and does so with such finesse and respect.
I remember feeling like your books never talked down to kids (and I read many of them), but The Skull of Truth taught me a lot, and I recently realized that it helped me grow up as the well-adjusted person (and gay uncle) that I am now.
I wanted to thank you for that.
I read a thing recently where a gay man said that as a kid in the 90s, the first time he learned homosexuality existed, it was in the context of a gay man who had been a very dangerous criminal. It was basically presented that the person being gay and being a dangerous criminal were the same level of bad, and it had a profound impact on his youth.
This made me realize that the first time I learned homosexuality existed was from your book The Skull of Truth in the hilariously awkward Thanksgiving dinner scene, where everyone in the family is magically compelled to tell the truth. The main character’s uncle was being needled about getting a girlfriend, and he said (with perfect truthfulness) that he had a boyfriend, and everyone would be happier if the accepted that. I remember being about 8 and going “neat, didn’t know that was a thing”. The main character’s uncle later tried to say that he couldn’t hang out with his uncle now, but couldn’t (it not being true) and instead said it would feel weird. This element of the minor character wasn’t dwelled on more heavily than any other serious issue in the book, such as cancer, but it stuck with me. The book also taught me that a lot about truth, and how although it is good, it can also be scary, and painful, and even dangerous. It’s rare, especially for kids literature in that era, to find a book that handles such heavy topics and does so with such finesse and respect.
I remember feeling like your books never talked down to kids (and I read many of them), but The Skull of Truth taught me a lot, and I recently realized that it helped me grow up as the well-adjusted person (and gay uncle) that I am now.
I wanted to thank you for that.
Reply by Bruce Coville
Marco -
Many thanks for this warm and heartening message. At the time I wrote SKULL, the few books for that age group that dealt with homosexuality were "problem novels" - that is, books where an issue was the main driving force of the story. My goal with SKULL was to integrate the issue into the fabric of the story, not as a PROBLEM, but as simply a part of real life that Charlie had to deal with. Your message is a clear affirmation that I managed to pull that off!
I did, as I had anticipated, suffer some blowback for it (canceled school speaking engagements). But I figure what's the point of being an author if you don't talk about things that matter to you!
Anyway, I wanted to let you know that your message was received and much appreciated!
All good wishes,
BC
Many thanks for this warm and heartening message. At the time I wrote SKULL, the few books for that age group that dealt with homosexuality were "problem novels" - that is, books where an issue was the main driving force of the story. My goal with SKULL was to integrate the issue into the fabric of the story, not as a PROBLEM, but as simply a part of real life that Charlie had to deal with. Your message is a clear affirmation that I managed to pull that off!
I did, as I had anticipated, suffer some blowback for it (canceled school speaking engagements). But I figure what's the point of being an author if you don't talk about things that matter to you!
Anyway, I wanted to let you know that your message was received and much appreciated!
All good wishes,
BC
My dearest sir! I hope you are well. We have "met" in the past through our correspondence and you actually video chatted with my class several years ago. I had told you how I had been using your "My Teacher is an Alien" series in my classroom for what has to be 3 decades now. After having to use a godawful reading curriculum set (that we, thankfully have since gotten rid of), I just received permission to use that series in my classroom again as my official reading for the curriculum. I already have 25 of each of the books, but now as I am teaching 2 classes my school is kindly purchasing a second set of each book. I am excited to be using these books again. I had already created materials in the past and now have a whole catalog of necessary resources to support my newest foray into using these books again. Since I teach science as well, much of the science fiction you offer in these novels will give my students food for thought. Even though they were not used as curriculum these past years, I continued to read them and the children enjoyed as much as my past students have and we discussed the science fictions aspect such as the transcendental elevator and the URAT. We've have some fun conversations about those, I have to tell you! I can't wait to start this new journey with my students in September! Thank you for such a wonderful series of thought provoking books!
Reply by Bruce Coville
Hi, Jeannine -
Many thanks for this delightful message! I used to be a teacher myself, and created a novel-based reading curriculum for my classroom that was soooo much more effective than the basal readers. It thrills me to my toes to know that another teacher is using my own books in the same way!
Please tell your students I said hello . . . and to keep their eyes on the stars!
All good wishes,
Bruce
Many thanks for this delightful message! I used to be a teacher myself, and created a novel-based reading curriculum for my classroom that was soooo much more effective than the basal readers. It thrills me to my toes to know that another teacher is using my own books in the same way!
Please tell your students I said hello . . . and to keep their eyes on the stars!
All good wishes,
Bruce