Coville, Bruce 1950–

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Coville, Bruce 1950–

(Robyn Tallis)

PERSONAL: Born May 16, 1950, in Syracuse, NY; son of Arthur J. (a sales engineer) and Jean (an executive secretary; maiden name, Chase) Coville; married Katherine Dietz (an illustrator), October 11, 1969; children: Orion Sean, Cara Joy, Adam. Education: Attended Duke University and State University of New York at Binghamton; State University of New York at Oswego, B.A., 1974. Politics: "Eclectic." Religion: Unitarian.

ADDRESSES: Office—Oddly Enough, P.O. Box 6110, Syracuse, NY 13217. Agent—Ashley Grayson, 1342 18th Street, San Pedro, CA 90732.

CAREER: Author, playwright, and educator. Wetzel Road Elementary, Liverpool, NY, teacher, 1974–81. Cohost and coproducer of Upstage, a cable television program promoting local theater, 1983. Full Cast Audio, book recording company, owner, producer, and performer. Has also worked as a camp counselor, grave digger, assembly line worker, and toymaker.

MEMBER: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

AWARDS, HONORS: California Young Reader Medal, 1996–97, for Jennifer Murdley's Toad; Knickerbocker Award, New York State Library Association, for entire body of work, 1997; over a dozen Children's Choice awards from various states, including Arizona, Hawaii, Maryland, and Nevada.

WRITINGS:

PICTURE BOOKS

The Foolish Giant, illustrated by wife, Katherine Coville, Lippincott (New York, NY), 1978.

Sarah's Unicorn, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Lippincott (New York, NY), 1979.

Sarah and the Dragon, illustrated by Beth Peck, Harper (New York, NY), 1984.

My Grandfather's House, illustrated by Henri Sorensen, BridgeWater (Mahwah, NJ), 1996.

The Prince of Butterflies, illustrated by John Clapp, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2000.

JUVENILE FICTION

The Brave Little Toaster Storybook, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1987.

Murder in Orbit, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1987.

Monster of the Year, Pocket (New York, NY), 1989.

Goblins in the Castle, Pocket (New York, NY), 1992.

The Dragonslayers, Pocket (New York, NY), 1994.

Oddly Enough (short stories), illustrated by Michael Hussar, Harcourt, 1994.

The World's Worst Fairy Godmother, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Pocket, 1996.

The Lapsnatcher, illustrated by Marissa Moss, Bridge-Water (Mahwah, NJ), 1997.

Odder Than Ever (short stories), Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1999.

The Monsters of Morley Manor, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2001.

Odds Are Good: An Oddly Enough and Odder Than Ever Omnibus, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 2005.

Thor's Wedding Day: By Thialfi, the Goat Boy; as Told to and Translated by Bruce Coville, illustrated by Matthew Cogswell, Harcourt (Orlando, FL), 2005.

YOUNG ADULT NOVELS

Space Station ICE III, Archway (New York, NY), 1985.

Fortune's Journey, BridgeWater (Mahwah, NJ), 1995.

(With Jane Yolen) Armageddon Summer, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1998.

"CHAMBER OF HORROR" SERIES; YOUNG ADULT NOVELS

Bruce Coville's Chamber of Horror: Amulet of Doom, Archway (New York, NY), 1983.

Bruce Coville's Chamber of Horror: Spirits and Spells, Archway (New York, NY), 1983.

Bruce Coville's Chamber of Horror: The Eyes of the Tarot, Archway (New York, NY), 1984.

Bruce Coville's Chamber of Horror: Waiting Spirits, Archway (New York, NY), 1985.

"A.I. GANG" SERIES

Operation Sherlock, NAL (New York, NY), 1986.

Robot Trouble, NAL (New York, NY), 1986.

Forever Begins Tomorrow, NAL (New York, NY), 1986.

"CAMP HAUNTED HILLS" SERIES

How I Survived My Summer Vacation, Pocket (New York, NY), 1988.

Some of My Best Friends Are Monsters, Pocket (New York, NY), 1989.

The Dinosaur That Followed Me Home, illustrated by John Pierard, Pocket (New York, NY), 1990.

"MY TEACHER" SERIES

My Teacher Is an Alien, Pocket (New York, NY), 1989.

My Teacher Fried My Brains, Pocket (New York, NY), 1991.

My Teacher Glows in the Dark, Pocket (New York, NY), 1991.

My Teacher Flunked the Planet, Pocket (New York, NY), 1992.

"MAGIC SHOP" SERIES

The Monster's Ring, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Pantheon (New York, NY), 1982.

Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, illustrated by Gary A. Lippincott, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1991.

Jennifer Murdley's Toad, illustrated by Gary A. Lippincott, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1992.

The Skull of Truth, illustrated by Gary A. Lippincott, Harcourt (San Diego, CA), 1997.

Juliet Dove, Queen of Love, Harcourt (Orlando, FL), 2003.

"NINA TANLEVEN" SERIES

The Ghost in the Third Row, Bantam (New York, NY), 1987.

The Ghost Wore Gray, Bantam (New York, NY), 1988.

Ghost in the Big Brass Bed, Bantam (New York, NY), 1991.

"SPACE BRAT" SERIES; CHAPTER BOOKS

Space Brat, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Pocket (New York, NY), 1992.

Blork's Evil Twin, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Pocket (New York, NY), 1993.

The Wrath of Squat, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Pocket (New York, NY), 1994.

Planet of the Dips, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Pocket (New York, NY), 1995.

The Saber-toothed Poodnoobie, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Pocket (New York, NY), 1997.

"ALIEN ADVENTURES" SERIES

Aliens Ate My Homework, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Pocket (New York, NY), 1993.

I Left My Sneakers in Dimension X, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Pocket (New York, NY), 1994.

The Search for Snout, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Pocket (New York, NY), 1995.

Aliens Stole My Body, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Pocket (New York, NY), 1998.

"UNICORN CHRONICLES" SERIES

Into the Land of the Unicorns, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1994.

The Song of the Wanderer, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1999.

"I WAS A SIXTH GRADE ALIEN" SERIES

I Was a Sixth-Grade Alien, illustrated by Tony Sansevero, Pocket (New York, NY), 1999.

The Attack of the Two-Inch Teacher, illustrated by Tony Sansevero, Pocket (New York, NY), 1999.

I Lost My Grandfather's Brain, illustrated by Tony Sansevero, Pocket (New York, NY), 1999.

Peanut Butter Lover Boy, illustrated by Tony Sansevero, Pocket (New York, NY), 2000.

Zombies of the Science Fair, illustrated by Tony Sansevero, Pocket (New York, NY), 2000.

Don't Fry My Veeblax!, illustrated by Tony Sansevero, Pocket (New York, NY), 2000.

Snatched from Earth, illustrated by Tony Sansevero, Minstrel (New York, NY), 2000.

There's an Alien in My Backpack, illustrated by Tony Sansevero, Pocket (New York, NY), 2000.

Too Many Aliens, illustrated by Tony Sansevero, Pocket (New York, NY), 2000.

Farewell to Earth, illustrated by Tony Sansevero, Pocket (New York, NY), 2001.

Revolt of the Miniature Mutants, illustrated by Tony Sansevero, Pocket (New York, NY), 2001.

"MOONGOBBLE AND ME" SERIES

Dragon of Doom, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Simon and Schuster (New York, NY), 2003.

The Evil Elves, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Simon and Schuster (New York, NY), 2004.

The Weeping Werewolf, illustrated by Katherine Coville, Simon and Schuster (New York, NY), 2004.

COMPILER AND EDITOR

The Unicorn Treasury, illustrated by Tim Hildebrandt, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1987.

Herds of Thunder, Manes of Gold: A Collection of Horse Stories and Poems, illustrated by Ted Lewin, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1991.

Bruce Coville's Book of Monsters, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1993.

Bruce Coville's Book of Aliens, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1994.

Bruce Coville's Book of Ghosts, illustrated by John Pierard, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1994.

Bruce Coville's Book of Nightmares, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1995.

Bruce Coville's Book of Spine Tinglers, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996.

Bruce Coville's Book of Magic, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996.

Bruce Coville's Book of Monsters II, illustrated by John Pierard, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996.

Bruce Coville's Book of Aliens II, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1996.

Bruce Coville's Book of Ghosts II, illustrated by John Pierard, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

Bruce Coville's Book of Nightmares II, illustrated by John Pierard, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

Bruce Coville's Book of Spine Tinglers II, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

Bruce Coville's Book of Magic II, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1997.

A Glory of Unicorns, illustrated by Alix Berenzy, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1998.

Bruce Coville's Strange Worlds, Avon (New York, NY), 2000.

Bruce Coville's UFOs, Avon (New York, NY), 2000.

Half-Human, illustrated by Marc Tauss, Scholastic (New York, NY), 2001.

RETELLER; PICTURE BOOKS

William Shakespeare, William Shakespeare's The Tempest, illustrated by Ruth Sanderson, Bantam (New York, NY), 1993.

William Shakespeare, William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, illustrated by Dennis Nolan, Dial (New York, NY), 1996.

William Shakespeare, William Shakespeare's Macbeth, illustrated by Gary Kelley, Dial (New York, NY), 1997.

William Shakespeare, William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, illustrated by Dennis Nolan, Dial (New York, NY), 1999.

William Shakespeare, William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, illustrated by Tim Raglin, Dial (New York, NY), 2003.

William Shakespeare, William Shakespeare's Hamlet, illustrated by Leonid Gore, Dial (New York, NY), 2004.

OTHER

(Author of book and lyrics) The Dragon Slayers, music by Angela Peterson, first produced at Syracuse Musical Theater, 1981.

(Author of book and lyrics) Out of the Blue, music by Angela Peterson, first produced at Syracuse Musical Theater, 1982.

(Author of book and lyrics with Barbara Russell) It's Midnight: Do You Know Where Your Toys Are?, music by Angela Peterson, first produced at Syracuse Musical Theater, 1983.

(With others) Seniority Travel Directory, Schueler Communications, 1986.

(With others) The Sophisticated Leisure Travel Directory, Schueler Communications, 1986.

The Dark Abyss (adult novel), Bantam (New York, NY), 1989.

Prehistoric People (nonfiction), illustrated by Michael McDermott, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1990.

Contributor to anthologies, including Dragons and Dreams, 1986, and Read On! Two, Books 4 and 6, 1987.

Author, under pseudonym Robyn Tallis, of two books in the "Planet Builder" series: Night of Two New Moons, 1985, and Mountain of Stolen Dreams, 1988.

Contributor to Harper's Bookletter, Sesame Street Parent's Newsletter, Cricket, and Wilson Library Bulletin. Associate editor, Syracuse Business and Syracuse Magazine, both 1982–83; editor and columnist, Seniority, 1983–84.

ADAPTATIONS: The Monster's Ring (cassette), Recorded Books, 1992; The Ghost Wore Gray (cassette), Recorded Books, 1993; Jennifer Murdley's Toad (cassette), Listening Library, 1996; Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher (cassette), Listening Library, 1996; Aliens Ate My Homework (cassette), Listening Library, 1998; Into the Land of the Unicorns: The Unicorn Chronicles Book I (cassette), Listening Library, 1998; The Skull of Truth (cassette), Listening Library, 1998; My Teacher Is an Alien (cassette), Listening Library, 1998.

SIDELIGHTS: Bruce Coville is well known as a writer of juvenile fiction and the author of children's bestsellers such as Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher. His novels draw heavily on mythic creatures, such as unicorns and dragons, and science-fiction traditions, such as aliens and space stations, often with a humorous twist. He has also contributed to and edited volumes of short stories and completed several musical plays for younger audiences. As he once commented, Coville cherishes memories of his childhood, noting that his early surroundings nurtured his vivid imagination: "I was raised in Phoenix, a small town in central New York. Actually, I lived well outside the town, around the corner from my grandparents' dairy farm, which was the site of my happiest childhood times. I still have fond memories of the huge barns with their mows and lofts, mysterious relics, and jostling cattle. It was a wonderful place for a child to grow up. In addition to the farm, there was a swamp behind the house, and a rambling wood beyond that, both of which were conducive to all kinds of imaginative games." It was during this period that Coville began to develop the heightened sensibility usually possessed by writers of fantasy.

Coville's father, not bookish himself, was instrumental in exposing the young Bruce to the delightful world of literature. Coville recalled: "Despite this wonderful setting, much of what went on at that time went on in my head, when I was reading, or thinking and dreaming about what I had read. I was an absolute bookaholic. My father had something to do with this." Coville went on to explain: "He was a traveling salesman, a gruff but loving man, who never displayed an overwhelming interest in books. But if anyone was to ask me what was the best thing he ever did for me I could reply without hesitation that he read me Tom Swift in the City of Gold. Why he happened to read this to me I was never quite certain, but it changed my life. One night after supper he took me into the living room, had me sit in his lap, and opened a thick, ugly brown book (this was the original Tom Swift) and proceeded to open a whole new world for me. I was enthralled, listened raptly, waited anxiously for the next night and the next, resented any intrusion, and reread the book several times later on my own. It was the only book I can ever remember him reading to me, but it changed my life. I was hooked on books."

Coville may have loved books, but like many other authors, the realization that he wanted to be a writer came very abruptly. He explained, "I think it was sixth grade when I first realized that writing was something that I could do, and wanted to do very much. As it happened, I had spent most of that year making life miserable for my teacher by steadfastly failing to respond to the many creative devices she had to stimulate us to write. Then one day she simply (finally!) just let us write—told us that we had a certain amount of time to produce a short story of substance. Freed from writing topics imposed from without, I cut loose, and over several days found that I loved what I was doing. This may not be the first time that I knew I wanted to write, but it's the time that I remember." In addition to writing, Coville himself went on to be a teacher. He held a full-time position at Wetzel Road Elementary School, in Liverpool, New York, for seven years starting in 1974.

However, writing was always to be Coville's first love. He was introduced to the possibilities of writing for children by the woman who would later become his mother-in-law. He remembered that she "gave me a copy of Winnie the Pooh to read, and I suddenly knew that what I really wanted to write was children's books—to give to other children the joy that I got from books when I was young. This is the key to what I write now. I try, with greater or lesser success, to make my stories the kinds of things that I would have enjoyed myself when I was young; to write the books I wanted to read, but never found. My writing works best when I remember the bookish child who adored reading and gear the work toward him. It falters when I forget him."

As he developed into an experienced writer, Coville worked in different genres. He created musical plays, such as The Dragon Slayers, first produced at Syracuse Musical Theater. He contributed to anthologies of fantasy stories, such as Dragons and Dreams. But it was in the area of picture books, beginning with the publication of The Foolish Giant in 1978, that Coville made a significant mark. Illustrated by his wife, Katherine, that first tale for younger readers tells of a mild, clumsy giant who has difficulty being accepted by the ordinary people of his village until he saves them from an evil wizard. In the years since its publication, Coville has published numerous other tales for children, culminating in the appearance of several of his works on children's best-seller lists.

Many of Coville's books are jam-packed with the trappings of traditional mythic imagery: supernatural spirits, tarot cards, unicorns, prehistoric monsters, and futuristic creatures at the outer edge of the universe. He once related, "Myth is very important to me. My picture books have firm roots in basic mythic patterns. Hopefully, the patterns do not intrude, but provide a structure and depth that enhances my work." Coville often combines imaginary creatures with present-day people to create a tale of mystery or adventure. In The Ghost in the Third Row, for instance, a young character named Nina discovers a ghost haunting the theater where she is acting in a murder drama. Nina returns with her friend Chris in The Ghost Wore Gray, where the two try to discover the story behind the spirit of a Confederate soldier who appears in a New York hotel. "Despite the fantasy element of a ghost, this is a mystery," noted School Library Journal contributor Carolyn Caywood, who added that the tale "evokes real feeling."

Some of Coville's most popular books have been those that involve Mr. Elive's Magic Shop. In Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, young Jeremy escapes his tormenter Mary Lou only to find himself in a strange shop where he buys an unusual egg. When the egg hatches a baby dragon—that no one else but Mary Lou can see—Jeremy finds himself in the midst of adventure. "The book is filled with scenes that will bring laughter and near tears to readers," noted Kenneth E. Kowen in the School Library Journal. Reviewer Kathleen Redmond wrote in the Voice of Youth Advocates that the story is a good combination of real and fantasy worlds and "is right on target." Coville returns to the magic shop in Jennifer Murdley's Toad, where Jennifer purchases a lonely toad hatched from a witch's mouth. In aiding her new pet, Bufo, who seeks his lost love, Jennifer herself is turned into a toad and learns to appreciate her inner strengths. School Library Journal contributor Margaret C. Howell praised Coville's theme as "particularly well handled," adding that "the story moves well, with realistic characterizations."

Coville believes that a knowledge of mythic patterns and imagery can facilitate children's growth and social understanding. "This 'making sense' is a process that generally takes a lifetime and yet, sadly, it is all too often never even begun," he asserted. "To utilize myth as a guide in this quest one must be familiar with its patterns and structures, a familiarity that is best gained from reading or hearing myth and its reconstructions from earliest childhood on." Coville thinks that the literature he writes plays a part in exposing young people to the mythological realm. "I do not expect a child to read my picture books and suddenly discover the secret of the universe," he explained. "I do hope that something from my works will tuck itself away in the child's mind, ready to present itself as a piece of a puzzle on some future day when he or she is busy constructing a view of the world that will provide at least a modicum of hope and dignity."

Beyond his grounding in classic fantasy, Coville has filled many of his books with a zany, pungent humor aimed squarely at his young audience. In reviewing Planet of the Dips, School Library Journal critic Anne Connor referred to the book as "literary junk food" appealing to "beginning readers with a passion for weird words, stupid jokes and odd behavior." For his part, Coville defends the outrageous extremes of such stories. "There are those who want to keep children's books 'tasteful' and ten-year-old boys are not tasteful," he asserted. "One of the reasons we have this problem of reluctant readers, especially among boys, is that we're not writing to who and what we are. If you write a book that's a brilliant character study and is wonderfully tasteful and no kid ever reads it, you've failed…. There's another problem, where you publish to only the lowest common denominator, where you start with that and don't go anywhere else. If you do that, you've failed, too. To me, there's a sweet spot in between, where you start with boisterous energy that will engage, and then you take the reader somewhere else."

Coville acknowledges that he has a particular knack for fast-paced comedic storytelling, a talent borne out by the success of his four books in the "My Teacher" series, each of which sold over one million copies. But he also diversified into other types of books dur-ing the 1990s, including a series of retellings of Shakespeare's classic plays. Coville found the task of adapting The Tempest, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, and other works a satisfying challenge. "I've learned little ways to squeeze in more and more of the language, but keep it accessible," he maintained. "Both my editor and I are aware of the hutzpah of what we are doing. We want to be respectful of the source and of the audience. We work really hard on these books." Reviewing William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in Booklist, Michael Cart called the picture book "an accessible and entertaining introduction to one of Shakespeare's most popular works." Describing the text for William Shakespeare's Macbeth as being "true to the dark, brooding spirit of the play," Booklist contributor Hazel Rochman predicted that Coville's "dramatic narrative will keep [middle graders] reading." Reviewing Coville's William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night for the School Library Journal, Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan called it a "verbal and visual treat." Another School Library Journal contributor praised Coville's "taut, suspenseful prose" in William Shakespeare's Hamlet, while Graceanne DeCandido, reviewing the same title for the Teacher Librarian, felt Coville "made a coherent tale" of the Shakespeare classic.

Expanding further, Coville published several novels for young adults during the 1990s as well. Fortune's Journey combines action and romance in its tale of a resourceful teenage actress leading a theater troupe across the West during the Gold Rush era. The book received mixed reviews, with some critics praising the work strongly and others faulting the author for less-than-believable characters. "Part of it was, people complained that it was warped by a kind of contemporary mindset taking on these historical characters," Coville remarked. "But I'd done the research, and I knew there was a lot more that young women were doing back then than people now think." Armageddon Summer follows the story of two teenagers caught up in a religious cult with their parents. Cowritten with author Jane Yolen, the novel received more consistently favorable reviews. Writing in Booklist, Roger Leslie praised Coville and Yolen for "explor[ing] their rich, thought-provoking theme with the perfect balance of gripping adventure and understated pathos, leavened by a dollop of humor."

Coville has remained committed to educating as well as entertaining young people. He explained: "This may seem like a long-term goal and a minimal result for the work involved, but I am, after all, a teacher. This has always been our lot. We deal with a child for a year, pour our hearts and souls into his development, and then send him on his way with the scant hope that somehow, someday, some little of what we have tried to do may present itself to him when it is needed…. But this is idle speculation. The first and foremost job in writing is to tell a whacking good story. You just have to hope it might mean something before you're done."

Personal motivation and social idealism fuel Coville's commitment to children's literature. "There are two reasons that people go into writing for children," he declared. "It's either to heal a wounded childhood, or to celebrate a happy one. It's about nine to one (in favor of) the healing to the happy. But I had a happy childhood, and I love children's books. They're delicious … the writing is better, the stories are more interesting. I do it out of a sense of joy and excitement. But it's also a political choice. I feel that one of the ways I can have real impact is working for kids."

Coville has also branched out to audiobook production. As he explained to Candace Smith in a 2003 Booklist interview: "I took my daughter on a cross-country trip about 13 years ago, and we listened to audiobooks as we traveled. I fell in love with them. Tim Ditlow, from Listening Library, wanted to buy the rights to one of my books. We evolved our idea of producing full-cast-style recordings into a fantasy imprint." Then, when Listening Library was sold, the project ended, but not Coville's interest. "I missed it! I loved being in the studio. I loved directing and working with the actors, and I didn't want to let go. So I decided to start my own company." The result was the creation of Full Cast Audio, Coville's production company in which he serves as producer and sometimes performer. This commitment to audiobooks has not, however, slowed production of his own books. Returning to the picture book format with The Prince of Butterflies, Coville tells a tale of a youngster who helps migrating monarch butterflies find green spaces on their route. Later, as an adult, this friend of butterflies pursues political action to help the monarchs, and as an old man he is visited by his butterfly friends once more. Kathie Meizner, reviewing the title in the School Library Journal, felt "the narrative adopts a brisk, documentary tone," while a Publishers Weekly contributor characterized the same work as a "sometimes moving, but ultimately puzzling picture book."

Coville returns to magical adventures and silliness for middle-grade readers with several other titles. The Monsters of Morley Manor features a scary house and a pair of siblings who want to explore its reaches. Writing in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Michelle West called the book a "frenetic everything-but-the-kitchen-sink story." Coville adds to the "Magic Shop" series with his 2003 book Juliet Dove, Queen of Love. Shy Juliet attracts legions of boys wherever she goes since putting on a magic amulet. Finally she learns why she has been given the magic amulet: in order to bring Cupid and Psyche, mythological lovers, back together. Coville blends mythology and realism in this "story [that] has surprising depth, with musings on honor, power, strength, courage, and, above all, love," according to the School Library Journal contributor B. Allison Gray. Louise Brueggemann, reviewing the same title for Booklist, felt fans of the series "will enjoy this latest installment."

Coville launched a new series with "Moongobble and Me," whose first installment was The Dragon of Doom. The books feature the fractured magician Moongobble, and in the first book he must face the Dragon of Doom as a test in order to enter the coveted Magician's Guild. Teresa Bateman, reviewing the tale in the School Library Journal, found it a "humorous, off-beat story." The Weeping Werewolf finds Moongobble, aided by young Edward, facing his second test. Accompanying them are the Rusty Knight and Urk the toad, a rather abysmal crew for magical combat. Jenna Miller, writing in the School Library Journal, called the second book in the series a "lighthearted fantasy."

More humor is presented in the 2005 stand-alone title, Thor's Wedding Day, "a rare and funny tale from Norse mythology," according to a Kirkus Reviews critic. Coville presents a human narrator, Thor's goatherd Thialfi, at the center of this tale about a lost magical hammer and the trickery involved in getting it back from the giant Thrym. The Kirkus Reviews critic further felt that Coville's rendition provides a "hilarious alternative" to more traditional retellings of the myth.

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, March 15, 1994, Karen Harris, review of The Ghost Wore Gray, p. 1385; October 1, 1994, Chris Sherman, review of Into the Land of the Unicorns, p. 325; December 1, 1994, Mary Harris Veeder, review of The Dragonslayers, p. 680; October 15, 1995, Susan Dove Lempke, review of Fortune's Journey, p. 401; November 1, 1995, Ellen Mandel, review of Planet of the Dips, p. 473; March 15, 1996, Barbara Baskin, review of Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, p. 1306; November 1, 1997, Hazel Rochman, review of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, p. 464; August, 1998, Roger Leslie, review of Armageddon Summer, p. 272; December 1, 1999, Michael Cart, review of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, p. 700; December 15, 2001, Frances Bradburn, review of Half-Human, p. 723; April 15, 2003, Candace Smith, "The Booklist Interview: Bruce Coville," p. 1485; January 1, 2004, Louise Brueggemann, review of Juliet Dove, Queen of Love, p. 854.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, February, 1990, review of Herds of Thunder, Manes of Gold, p. 133; July, 1992, review of Jennifer Murdley's Toad, p. 292; July, 1996, review of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, p. 385; January, 1998, review of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, p. 117.

Horn Book, March-April, 1990, Elizabeth S. Watson, review of Herds of Thunder, Manes of Gold, p. 200; September, 1996, review of Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, p. 566;

Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2005, review of Thor's Wedding, p. 846.

Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, March, 2002, Michelle West, review of The Monsters of Morley Manor, p. 34.

New York Times Book Review, October 31, 1982, Anne Jordan, review of The Monster's Ring, p. 27; October 23, 1994, Francine Prose, review of Oddly Enough, p. 30; April 23, 1995, Maxine Kumin, review of William Shakespeare's The Tempest, p. 27; July 28, 1996, Judith Viorst, review of My Grandfather's House, p. 21; December 19, 1999, review of Song of the Wanderer, p. 30.

Publishers Weekly, July 5, 1986, Diane Roback, review of Operation, Sherlock, p. 193; January 19, 1990, review of The Foolish Giant, p. 112; August 2, 1991, review of The Unicorn Treasury, p. 74; April 20, 1992, review of Jennifer Murdley's Toad, p. 57; July 27, 1992, review of Space Brat, p. 63; November 8, 1993, review of Aliens Ate My Homework, p. 77; August 22, 1994, review of Into the Land of the Unicorns, p. 56; August 21, 1995, review of Fortune's Journey, p. 66; August 11, 1997, review of The Skull of Truth, p. 402; May 10, 1999, review of Odder Than Ever, p. 69; November 15, 1999, review of Into the Land of the Unicorns, p. 69; March 18, 2002, review of The Prince of Butterflies, p. 104.

School Library Journal, September, 1988, Carolyn Caywood, review of The Ghost Wore Gray, p. 183; May, 1991, Kenneth E. Kowen, review of Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, p. 91; September, 1992, Margaret C. Howell, review of Jennifer Murdley's Toad, p. 250; December, 1994, Patricia A. Dolisch, review of Oddly Enough, p. 106; December, 1995, Anne Connor, review of Planet of the Dips, p. 79; December, 2001, Janet Hilburn, review of Half-Human, p. 133; May, 2002, Kathie Meizner, review of The Prince of Butterflies, p. 111; December, 2003, B. Allison Gray, review of Juliet Dove, Queen of Love, p. 148; February, 2004, Nancy Menaldi-Scanlan, review of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, p. 83; April, 2004, review of William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, p. S47; October, 2004, Teresa Bateman, review of The Dragon of Doom, p. 84, Jenna Miller, review of The Weeping Werewolf, p. 111, and review of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, p. S50.

Teacher Librarian, February, 2005, Graceanne DeCandido, review of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, p. 31.

Voice of Youth Advocates, June, 1991, Kathleen Redmond, review of Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher, p. 106; December, 1994, review of Into the Land of the Unicorns, p. 285; February, 1995, review of Oddly Enough, p. 344; February, 1996, review of Fortune's Journey, p. 369; April, 1998, review of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, p. 39.