Phillip Done

What can I say about Phillip Done's recounting of his elementary school teaching years except that it was a fun, fulfilling read?

Mr. Done's writing is what I assume his teaching style to be like - - lighthearted, humorous and entertaining. I was drawn into his book from the first page, partly out of curiosity for the teaching profession and partly due to his "getting to know you" style. I can imagine that reading Mr. Done's book is akin to sitting down with him over dinner and letting him show more talk about all his third grade adventures.

He begins with right before school begins, with the summer ending, and each section is a different month of the school year. Everything from Back to School Night, where the seasoned teachers know to hide from the excitable students and their talkative parents, to never letting your profession slip while buying school supplies to the dreaded Picture Day.

I found myself chuckling with reminders of my own school days - - the plastic combs given out on Picture Day, the show and tell (or what is now called "Sharing"), learning cursive writing, adventurous spelling and those crushes on classmates.

If you get nothing else out of this book, the memories are worth reading it alone. I dare you to read this book and not remember your own third grade teacher, or the best friend you had, a favorite outfit from that school year or the little boy (or girl) you had a crazy crush on.

Well done, Mr. Done. show less

This was Phillip Done's love story to teaching. There are trials, tribulations, challenges, but Done shows that in the end there are some things that make it all worth it. Hilarious throughout with some really poignant moments that made me tear up. I loved it. I have a feeling this will become one of my comfort books. I have the urge to buy a copy for all my teacher friends now.

After reading a Gothic, ghostly tale and two Civil War themed books, i was having much trouble getting into a A Separate Country, another book stemming from the Civil War. That was when I picked up "Close Encounters of the Third Grade Kind" by Phillip Done.

What a joyous read for anyone who can remember being a third grader, parents of a third grader, teachers, would be teachers ….oh, just anyone who enjoys young kids. I think it was Bennet Surf that wrote the book "Never Get Personal with show more a Chicken" who first taught me the joys of the minds of young ones. Mr. Done has done a grand job continuing that legacy. What a grand teacher he must be! I would wish him on every third grader!

I am so glad i got to read this book for all the joy it gave me. I feel lighter than air and ready to hug all teachers and read to a bunch of little kids one of my favorite children's books. show less

Over the years when I met Ann Rutherford at various events in Lone Pine, Los Angeles, Kent State, or Marietta, I would tell her that she needed to write a book about her experiences. She always responded that she was too busy living life to write a book. Thank goodness author Phillip Done has done it. This book captures Ann Rutherford as she was - her wonderful stories of the Golden Age of Hollywood and her love of life and energy. Done combines tape recorded conversations with Rutherford as show more well as his experiences during his meetings with her. While Rutherford did not actually ask Done to write this book, he had the cooperation of numerous people in Rutherford's life, including her daughter Gloria. His writing style is easy to read and very descriptive - I felt like I had visited Rutherford's house along with Done. I noticed one error on page 98 when Bonita Granville's husband was incorrectly referred to as Jack Rather rather than Jack Wrather. However, this book is sure to please any fan of Hollywood's Golden Age and recapture many memories for the Windies who always valued the time Ann Rutherford devoted to their events. It is a well-deserved tribute to a most deserving and charming lady. show less