This has to be one of my favorite Coville books ever--and since I've collected about 50, that's saying something. This story continues where MY TEACHER IS AN ALIEN left off, and lets you know the story behind Duncan Dougal (the class bully). His life is pretty rough, seventh grade is going pretty badly, and he only has one nice teacher--Miss Karpou. When he finds out that one of the teachers at the school IS an alien and no one believes him, Duncan feels that he has to prove there's a threat.
He ends up getting his brain *fried* to increase its brain power--and meets the alien's pet, Poot. Poot has to be one of the most appealing sidekick-pets ever. A telepathic, green-glowing, shape-shifting slug, Poot instantly takes a liking to Duncan.
I don't want to reveal the ending, suffice to say that I highly recommend this book!

My Teacher Fried My Brains
By Bruce Colville

This book is about aliens who do something about Earth. They think we're poison! There is a boy named Duncan and he always gets into trouble. He zapped his brain and got smarter somehow, and meets Poot, a purple glowing slug.
I like this book because you never know what is going to happen next. Once Duncan got sucked into an alien ship. I didn't know what was going to happen to him.
I think the author wrote this book to make people wonder if there are aliens.

I thought this book was good. It was suspenseful and you didn't know what would happen next. The book was about a kid named Duncan. He is not too bright until his principal also called the Mancatcher volunteers him to go to the front of the class in science and put a big machine on his head. Then someone turned the crank and it felt like ants were walking around his brain. Then he realized it made him smarter. He went back at night to the classroom and used it again. But he used it too many times and now he has five senses. He can hear the radio and tv in his head. He goes to the home economics teacher which he thinks she is not the alien but boy he's in for a surprise. If you want to know what happens to Duncan, you sould read My Teacher Fried My Brains.

I really was moved by this novel. I usually am not a reader, but when I read this book I became entwined in novels, espeacailly by Sparks. I would like to write my own books someday, and the way that Sparks writes is very moving. If he ever reads this I would just like him to know that I have read all his books. Also, that he has become my idol for many books I hope to someday publish.

A masterpiece is defined by the Websters dictionary as "a work done with extraordinary skill." Both The Notebook and Message in a Bottle exemplify this definition. A Walk to Remember, his latest publication lives up to these standards as well. Nicholas Sparks is an innovative writer, who personalizes his stories to the extent that the reader is not the same after reading. The love he portrays is something I only wish I will have the opportunity to experience!

this book walked me through my dad's last couple of years with alzheimers, i only wish he had a spouse who loved him that much. i wonder how my husband would cope in that situation, or if he even remembers how it all began and everything that has happened. it was hard to read through my tears but i could not put it down.

If you and your child (or even if you don't have a child) love the song and story of the Teddy Bear's picnic, then you will adore this book.

The text is pretty straight forward - as well all expect it to be. But the illustrations are just delightful - full colour on every page, teddies everywhere you look and getting into all manner of interesting things. This is what is so charming about this book - the sheer delight of finding a bear and seeing what it is doing - is it eating cake? Climbing a tree? Falling asleep? Avoiding the children in disguise?

It may be a difficult book to find, but it is just lovely, and well worth the effort.

Good book with good illustrations to accompany familiar song.

"If you go down in the woods today You're sure of a big surprise If you go down in the woods today You'd better go in disguise For every bear that ever there was Will gather there for certain because Today's the day the Teddy Bears have their picnic."

This is such a fun book to read to my kids! The rhyming verse has a nice rythem to it, but its the pictures we enjoy the most. They make you feel like you are peeking through the trees at this wonderful picnic! This book is a treasure!

I only wish that I could write 1/4 as well.

This is one of the two or three very best histories of the Civil War ever written. It is on a par with "Battle Cry of Freedom." It brings events to life. It has the ring of absolute truth. Its characterizations of events and individuals are poetic and deeply moving. It teaches us tremendously important lessons of character and history.

In addition, it's a real page-turner - not a hard read at all. I've quoted more sections of it to my wife, my children (ages 11 and 13) and my co-workers than any other book I can think of.

I recommend this book to my brothers and sisters who are descendants of Confederate veterans, as well as those of us who are descended from the Union side. It is of a character and stature commensurate with General Lee.

Tim Oksman, City Attorney
Portsmouth, Virginia

I read this book twice; once before and again after reading the Grant Trilogy--Capt. Sam Grant, Grant Moves South, and Grant Takes Command followed by The Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant. The author drew liberally from primary sources, and what he writes you can believe. He writes very well. My first reading was an introduction without knowledge; the second pulled all the other readings together. I recommend them all, of course, but this seems to me a must because it so accurate, complete, and insightful. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I'll make it short and sweet-if your ANY kind of collector of beatles records, then this book is a ABSOLUTE must! As great as the VJ book that was done earlier, this is a MUST HAVE!!!

If you have any interest at all in The Beatles' American issues, this book is the last word on the 45 rpm singles that changed the way music is packaged, marketed, enjoyed and celebrated. Bruce Spizer takes you on a chronological journey from late 1963 to mid 1968 with a detailed account of how and why Capitol Records packaged their Beatles releases for the US market.

There are many people, who are beginning to discover, collect, and appreciate vintage vinyl and The Beatles' issues are undeniably among the primary treasures. However, since the issuance of only the British catalog titles on compact disc, there has not been a resource available to explain the vintage US releases to collectors, let alone dealers. Numerous rumors, counterfeits, bootleg CDs and other pitfalls have been observed in shops, yard-sales, trading floors and auction houses where records can be found, flooding the market with misinformation and ambiguous facts.

This book, and its counterpart, present itemized and detailed information that is practical in style and rich with color illustrations of labels, sleeves, promotional materials and memoranda. For the very first time, in one publication, anyone can see firsthand what made these records so significant and fun! It is a very easy and enjoyable read from cover to cover and it's also broken into useful sections for brief research.

For all the criticisms that have been made about the Capitol releases, much of which has come from The Beatles themselves, these records were the way millions of Americans had initially discovered the "Fab Four" and a certain amount of that magic can be found in the way the music was graphically presented, remixed and issued. This book provides a thorough and highly competent segmental analysis of a cultural phenomenon that still influences generations.

After reading the VJ book I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. This book is complete in every detail about the Beatles history on Capitol. Don't get me started on the graphics, Let me just say that they are quite phenomenal in every way. I'm looking forward to Part 2. Excellent job Bruce!!!

All of Bruce's books are full of wonderful images, but this one offers something extra - a history of ALL the films nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award. If you are a film buff, or you just like beautiful images you will love this book. Every year since the inception of the awards is listed and each nominee is displayed in brilliant color. A wonderful refrence source.

Most Oscar-related books offer only limited pictures and focus on winners, not also rans. This excellent reference volume corrects those two oversights. It is filled with pictures representing the best of Hollywood--all contenders for Oscar's Best Picture are featured with a movie poster representation. Includes some rarely seen poster art, foreign posters, and multiple sized images. Excellent reference and enjoyable volume to pick up over and over.

A must-have volume for any cine-buff and film historian! This book, along with its companion first volume, "Academy Award Winners' Movie Posters" is part of movie poster maven Bruce Hershenson's exhaustive multi-volume series of books highlighting the history and beauty of what much of mainstream America has only in the last ten years begun to recognize. And that is movie posters are a "popular art" form that can stand proudly next to all other styles of art from gothic to modern, from expressionist to impressionist. Great film art borrows from all of these styles and this volume, which focuses only on posters associated with Academy Award-nominated films, illustrates innumerable examples. A fine book for any collector (get the hardcover edition if you can, it's harder to find; if Amazon doesn't have it, it's available from Mr. Hershenson directly at mail@brucehershenson.com)!

This book was recommended in Harvey and Goudvis's book "Strategies That Work". What a beautiful book! It is so powerful in presenting these statements, yet the use of Muppet characters does not present a grotesque picture for young children. I've never seen a book impact students' thinking of the world in the way that this book does. Could great reviews like the ones published on your site possibly encourage the initial publisher to re-print this book once again? I believe every classroom teacher and parent should have a copy of this book as we continue to become a more global society.

I purchased this book for my daughter when she was 3. It has become a favorite. She has taken it to school for Show-n-Tell. Her teacher read it to the class and I was told it brought tears to many of the children. Each time I sit down with my daughter to read it, she has so many questions about it. What a shame that this book has gone out of print. What a wonderful opportunity for children to learn about others who are less fortunate. Our copy will be a forever treasure indeed.

I was so disappointed to find out this book was out of print. It is a book every parent and every teacher should share with their children. In fact - many adults should keep one on their coffee table - a great conversation piece... an inspiration to realize and treasure what we have in life and realize that so, so many people do not have these basic necessities!! (I heard rumor that they were going to reissue this book. If they do - I'll buy a stock for gifts!!!)

I used to give too much to everyone: my teenaged kids, my husband, and my co-workers. I was a pushover for the Takers in my life. This book changed me. Reading it was a "Big Aha!" I now say "no" to others without feeling guilty. I walk different, talk different, and dress different, and I've stopped apologizing so much. Until I read THE GIVERS AND THE TAKERS, I was addicted to pleasing others and didn't know it. I actually thought I was assertive. After reading Evatt's and Feld's 30 Giver Traits, I saw my self-denying pattern clearly. Also, the authors say that "Since Givers expend more energy than they receive, they often eat to make up the loss." That was me, too. This book is not frivolous. It contains an original personality theory that is quite sophisticated.

The Givers and Takers is a clear concise study of human nature. After reading the book I was able to understand what makes realtionships "tick". A must read for healthier and happier realtionships.

Lakewood, CA

I didn't realize that I was such a die-hard pleaser around men until I read this insightful book. It changed my life! Now I just date Balanced Men...or I stay home with my cat, Josh.

This is my first introduction to Greene & Greene's work. If you have never seen it before, think of Frank Lloyd Wright's work, except everything is allot more rounded, and comfortable looking, except for the exteriors. I would say though that Frank Lloyd Wright was a better architect, but he could have gotten Greene & Greene to make his homes interiors allot more homey looking, and less dated. If your a fan of Wright's or the Art's & Crafts movement buy the book.

The Greene brothers were architects who designed in the Arts and Crafts style. Like Frank Lloyd Wright, their style was so distinctive that they are not considered as examples of a type, but as architects whose style stands by itself. Unlike Frank Lloyd Wright, the Greene brothers' practice was almost completely limited to personal residences. This has probably limited the reach of their reputation. Outside of the Gamble house, which has been made into a museum, the work of the Greene brothers is generally not accessible to the public. All but one of their houses was in California, most of them in Pasadena. One wonders how well known Wright would be had he never designed the Guggenheim, or the Marin County Civic Center, or if he had never ventured outside of Chicago.

This book addresses the problem by taking us inside twenty-five examples of Greene and Greene's work. The text is accompanied by the breathtaking photography of Alexander Vertikoff. I own a large collection of books on the architecture of this period, and those illustrated by Vertikoff stand in a class by themselves. His photos are magnificent, doing justice to the material he portrays. I doubt if there is a finer photographer working in this field today.

With photos like these, it would have been easy to turn this volume into nothing more than a glorious picture book. Instead, Bruce Smith provides an engaging story of the careers of the two architects. The best writing is found in an extensive introduction, where the author discusses the Greene and Greene style in general terms. One can see at a glance how the style starts with Arts and Crafts. Indeed, there is a wealth of Stickley furniture in many of the houses. It is equally obvious how the two went beyond the plain craftsman designs so common further east. The Japanese influence was much stronger here, and the craftsmanship in the wood joinery was much more refined. There is more woodworking than carpentry here. The woods included Burmese teak, Honduras mahogany, Port Orford cedar, oak, maple and redwood. In some cases, the brothers were able to design furniture, landscaping and gardens to go with the architecture.

For the remainder of the book, we get a tour through twenty-five houses designed by Greene and Greene. Each house is presented in the order of its design and construction, with a history of the entire house to the present day. In some cases, this includes restoration after some abuse. Some of these houses were created on a budget; others were done with no apparent limits on the imagination of the architects. All are works of art, created as a labor of love by all concerned. For anyone unfamiliar with the work of Greene and Greene, this is an excellent introduction. For those who are already captivated, this book is a must, if only for those magnificent pictures.

As an aspiring woodworker with apparently very little natural talent, I can only view Greene & Greene's work with a mixture of awe and jealousy. While I find much of what Wright has done to be at times inaccessible and dated (primarily because so many others have attempted to copy or incorporate his style into theirs - and failed miserably by the way), the Greene's work is absolutely gorgeous, and would fit in with many current styles.....But then again you all know that. The question is why buy this particular book?

If you are looking for wonderful, full-page color photographs this is it. The first 50 pages are devoted to the G&G style; there is a page or two devoted to Materials, Joinery, Lighting etc. Descriptions are quite brief, and include a couple of pics.

The next 170 pages are devoted to 25 different houses with narration about the original design process, the ensuing history, and the current state. Again tons of color pics, and lots of shots of the furniture they designed to go with the particular house.

If you are looking for an in-depth discussion, check out Randall Makinson's "Architecture as a Fine Art/Furniture and Related Designs. These two books (now available in one edition) cover the G&G history in detail, but have less photos (many in black and white). They do have many front on center views of the furniture (as well as early drawings) so if you are interested in building their furniture, these books make a suitable companion to the one being reviewed.

The jokes are great! It got me right from the start. An excellent introduction to an excellent series.

The part when he solved the mystery the best except when he got kissed. That was very sick. I am reading the second book. My brother wants to read it too. I liked Chet and his partner the Mockingbird the best.

In Hebrew the character "Chet" is written the same way as the Greek character "pi" (any circle's circumference divided by its diameter = pi). So Chet's first name *sort of* means pi (P.I.: Private Investigator). Just another of Hale's endless, clever puns.