Welcome to the Guestbook!
I’m always eager to read your comments about my books and stories, so please feel free to pitch in. Here are a few things for you to know:
1) I answer the messages here personally.
2) No message shows up here until I actually answer it to prevent spam and other inappropriate postings. So there will sometimes be a delay before your message posts, especially if I am traveling.
3) Teachers, a gentle request: Please do not have multiple children send me variants of the same message. A group email is much easier to respond to and not such a drain on my time. My thanks in advance for being alert to this.
Sign the Guestbook!
Dear Mr. Coville.
I hope this message finds you well. I'm a library worker currently employed by the Chicago Public Library. I want to take this opportunity to reach out to you and express my admiration, appreciation, and gratitude.
When I was a kid in the 90's growing up on the southside of Chicago I simply could not get enough of your books. On the not uncommon occasion that my sisters and I restrained ourselves from name calling, hairpulling, or other activities that children excel at for an extended period of time, my parents would reward our good behavior with trips to the library. I'm a voracious reader now, but back when we first started going to the library I had a hard time reading. Even so, I still loved stories. I'd rush over to the Children's section and make a beeline to the little wooden shelf that held the Library's collection of books on cassette. There, time after time, I'd find the white clamshell case with the bright yellow label and an enormous green monster that was my favorite thing in world; "Bruce Coville's Book of Monsters".
Mr. Coville, I must have checked those tapes out dozens of times over the years. I would listen to you, Joe R. Lansdale, Jane Yolen and every other author in your "living anthology" when it was my turn on the radio on stormy nights when I wanted to dream of Always October. On family vacations to the woods of Wisconsin I'd convince myself that I'd stumble upon Duffy's jacket around every tree. My sisters, on the other hand, might have preferred if we'd spent less time hearing about Bloody Mary, but you and I know there's nothing like a good story with a good monster.
As I got older and reading grew exponentially easier, your books became constant companions. Each new school year I'd find a new homeroom with a new homeroom library. And on those library shelves? There was always another well loved Bruce Coville adventure waiting for me. From The Monster's Ring to My Teacher Flunked the Planet, every Bruce Coville novel I found opened up my imagination to exciting views of a strange and wondrous world. And whenever I'd find one of your "Book Ofs", oh boy, it felt like Christmas, Halloween, and my birthday all rolled into one.
I've been working with Chicago Public Library for almost a year now. In that time I've found life in the Library to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my own. I feel more connected to my community than ever before, and I'm proud of all the chances I've gotten to share the resources and wonders of the Library with my neighbors. One of the benefits of the job I didn't anticipate is the vicarious thrill I get every time I check out one of your books to a brave young reader. Mr. Coville, I am happy to report that your books are still circulating and still inspiring the imaginations of young readers.
As I approach the end of my first year as a Library worker, I've been taking the opportunity to express my gratitude to the people who've made a positive impact on my life. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you Mr. Coville. Thank you for your Monsters, thank you for your Aliens, thank you for your fantastic worlds. Thank you for the hours of joy, wonder, and excitement. It's been a pleasure to grow up reading your books, and I'm so excited to share them with new readers for years to come.
May this message find you and your family in a moment of peace and prosperity,
-MG
I hope this message finds you well. I'm a library worker currently employed by the Chicago Public Library. I want to take this opportunity to reach out to you and express my admiration, appreciation, and gratitude.
When I was a kid in the 90's growing up on the southside of Chicago I simply could not get enough of your books. On the not uncommon occasion that my sisters and I restrained ourselves from name calling, hairpulling, or other activities that children excel at for an extended period of time, my parents would reward our good behavior with trips to the library. I'm a voracious reader now, but back when we first started going to the library I had a hard time reading. Even so, I still loved stories. I'd rush over to the Children's section and make a beeline to the little wooden shelf that held the Library's collection of books on cassette. There, time after time, I'd find the white clamshell case with the bright yellow label and an enormous green monster that was my favorite thing in world; "Bruce Coville's Book of Monsters".
Mr. Coville, I must have checked those tapes out dozens of times over the years. I would listen to you, Joe R. Lansdale, Jane Yolen and every other author in your "living anthology" when it was my turn on the radio on stormy nights when I wanted to dream of Always October. On family vacations to the woods of Wisconsin I'd convince myself that I'd stumble upon Duffy's jacket around every tree. My sisters, on the other hand, might have preferred if we'd spent less time hearing about Bloody Mary, but you and I know there's nothing like a good story with a good monster.
As I got older and reading grew exponentially easier, your books became constant companions. Each new school year I'd find a new homeroom with a new homeroom library. And on those library shelves? There was always another well loved Bruce Coville adventure waiting for me. From The Monster's Ring to My Teacher Flunked the Planet, every Bruce Coville novel I found opened up my imagination to exciting views of a strange and wondrous world. And whenever I'd find one of your "Book Ofs", oh boy, it felt like Christmas, Halloween, and my birthday all rolled into one.
I've been working with Chicago Public Library for almost a year now. In that time I've found life in the Library to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my own. I feel more connected to my community than ever before, and I'm proud of all the chances I've gotten to share the resources and wonders of the Library with my neighbors. One of the benefits of the job I didn't anticipate is the vicarious thrill I get every time I check out one of your books to a brave young reader. Mr. Coville, I am happy to report that your books are still circulating and still inspiring the imaginations of young readers.
As I approach the end of my first year as a Library worker, I've been taking the opportunity to express my gratitude to the people who've made a positive impact on my life. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you Mr. Coville. Thank you for your Monsters, thank you for your Aliens, thank you for your fantastic worlds. Thank you for the hours of joy, wonder, and excitement. It's been a pleasure to grow up reading your books, and I'm so excited to share them with new readers for years to come.
May this message find you and your family in a moment of peace and prosperity,
-MG