Burke, Jim. The English Teacher's Companion: A Complete Guide to Classroom, Curriculum, and the Profession. Portsmouth, NH: Boynton/Cook, 1999. California high school teacher Jim Burke begins his book with a full discussion of topics to benefit classroom teachers; these range from vocabulary and grammar instruction to performance standards for writing. The back of the book may catch the readers' attention first with the letter to the new teacher and essays on teaching and the law, getting a job teaching English, the politics of the profession, and ideas for parent-teacher conferences. Burke's book makes a great gift for the first year or student teacher, but veteran teachers will also benefit from reading this manual for the English educator. Contributed by Janet Jelavich, 1998 Invitational Participant.