Customer Reviews

The Marvelous Inventions of Alvin Fernald

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This is the first title in an outstanding series of Alvin books by Clifford Hicks. Sadly, they all seem to be out of print.
The Alvin books were my favorites as a kid. I checked them out from the library repeatedly and devoured them. As a 10 year old, I wanted to hang out with Alvin and Shoey. The books are full of laughs, adventure, and great storytelling. They take us back to small town America, before kids had to deal with grownup problems.
If you have a kid, buy this book for him. Buy it used, buy it on Ebay, buy it at a used bookstore! The other titles (all very good) in the series are ALVIN'S SECRET CODE, ALVIN'S SWAP SHOP, ALVIN FERNALD FOREIGN TRADER, ALVIN FERNALD MAYOR FOR A DAY, and ALVIN FERNALD SUPERWEASEL. All are great. Another great series if you like the Alvin books is the Mad Scientists Club books by Bertrand Brinley. Check them out.

Alvin Fernald in "The Marvelous Inventions of Alvin Fernald" gives us the character we've been wanting to see for a long time. No pretentious, Einstein-like, nauseating child characters as are so often found in children's books today. The words "believable" and "energized" fit this character and this book. Alvin is entertaining, hilarious and inventive. This book is REFRESHING. Kids are free from dealing with divorce, AIDS, broken promises, puberties-gone-bad and all the other bibliotherapy themes that seem to permeate the current books for children. Not that those aren't important, but this one is a time-out from seriousness, and is a roller coaster ride, a non-stop comedy routine, and a mystery which actually develops in a BELIEVABLE manner. It is such REFRESHING FUN. The story line is so adeptly crafted by its author, Clifford B. Hicks, a talented writer of much expertise and experience. Books like this separate the usual books that have plagued the children's market for the last several years by formula hack writers from those written by truly talented children's writers, like Clifford B. Hicks. It's such a relief to read something so enjoyable and so NOT-FORMULA. Single this book out for your children and leave the over-used theme, big yawn books to others less discriminating. This book is SPECIAL. Give YOUR kid's their childhood's back with "The Marvelous Inventions of Alvin Fernald."

I am 45 years old... my 44 year old brother came over and talked about how this book changed his life. He read it as a kid and became an inventor of sorts himself... a perpetual tinkerer. He wasn't sure of the name and I found it for him and ordered him a copy as well as my 9 year old son. It took some insistance to get by boy, Nick, to read it. He couldn't put it down and when my brother came over to visit he quized Nick on select parts of the book. They both smiled and laughed. Having read it myself I can tell you it is a most wonderful book. Buy it! Your kid will remember it always.

The Magnificent Inventions of Alvin Fernald is coming back in print in 2006! For those who have enjoyed this book and its companion books over the decades, Bethlehem Press is bringing it back! You can find out the publishing dates, etc., at www.bethlehembooks.com and it will be available here through Amazon as well. There is a such an enduring universality of the themes of the Alvin books, that this series will just go on forever...and deservedly so.

When I was about 11 years old, I read many of Alvin's adventure stories. This book in particular inspired my imagination. I have vivid memories of trying to copy Alvin's inventions! One summer while staying at my grandparent's camp, I rigged a security device similar to the one in the book so that no one could enter my bedroom. I have been looking for this book for a very long time, as I seem to have lost my copy. It thrills me that these books are listed by Amazon . This book is without a doubt my favourite and I would love to share it with my daughter.

The Alvin Fernald books were in fact made into movies for the Wonderful World Of Disney. They are Alvin the Magnificent, The Wiz Kid and The Mystery of Riverton, The Wiz Kid and the Carnival Caper. I just wanted to let any fans know. The bad news is that none of them have been released on video or DVD. But how knows, maybe Disney will get smart and release them.

Growing up I thought my my mother and sister were so boring because they read so much! I hadn't read anthing that interested me until Alvin. My mother and sister still may be boring at times but reading is exciting! Thank you Mr. Hicks!

Clifford B. Hicks is a genius. Alvin Fernald is a genius. The entire Alvin Fernald series is genius. I love this series and will reread these delightful stories even as an adult. When I was a kid inventor and scientist I took inspiration from Alvin Fernald and his truly marvelous inventions! The Alvin Fernald books by Clifford B. Hicks are recommended for any girl or boy who likes to read good stories about inventions and adventures.

...then nothing will. This book rules, from its plausible-sounding inventions to its the-kids-save-the-day-from-the-bad-guys climax. You (or your kid, or maybe both of you) WILL turn your bedroom into a museum of time-saving inventions shortly after finishing this one. A treasure.

This book is a true classic as it inspires all who read it to explore the creative side of their mind. In it's day (and it was ahead of it's time) it was targeted for the perfect age. I cannot imagine anyone who read it not taking 2 cloths pins and some string and making their bed. What a great gift for any young person. I read it around 5th or 6th grade, and I purchased a copy when I was in my early 40's for my first born grandson. It is so important to me that I keep it in the safe deposit box at the bank. Just good wholesome reading and experimenting. Truly inspiring.