Editorial Review

Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hair . . . lots of hair, when Disney Tangled comes to theaters Holiday 2010! This Little Golden Book retelling will thrill young children with its beautiful full-color illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews

By one of the concept artists that worked on the film, December 11, 2010
Bought this because the illustrator is one of the concept artists that worked on the film. Beautiful pictures. Definitely check it out if you like Disney concept art (which I adore). The pictures are a little reminiscent of Mary Blair's work.

Right story, odd pictures, November 30, 2010
The illustrations in this book mimic the scenes from the movie however they are oddly drawn. In other authorized books the characters clearly look like they do in the movie however in this book they are more square-ish and not as 'friendly' looking. The story line in this book is true to the movie which is nice but my young daughter doesn't like how Rapunzel looks so this one is heading to the used pile quickly. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Requested again and again, here, at last, is the Thomas Bright and Early Board Book Box Set. All four of the enormously popular Thomas board books are here: Go, Train, Go!; Stop, Train, Stop!; A Crack in the Track!; and Blue Train, Green Train. Boxed together in a nifty little “lunchbox,” these four books are a feast for Thomas’ smallest fans. The box features a sturdy handle and a velcro close and is perfect for Thomas lovers on the go. ... Read more

Reviews

Great
The book was great. By nephews loved it. A lot smaller than I originally thought, but I guess for 3 year olds, it is perfect.

Thomas Books
These are great little books and just the right size for travel. Love the case too.

Must have for your Thomas Fanatic
My son loves anything Thomas - so naturally he loves this book set. The set consists of 4 books in a carrying case. The books are on the smaller side but that makes it easier for my 2 year old to "read" the books by himself. I also love the fact that the set consists of Board Books as my son tends to play a little rough with his books. These books will last a long time and my son loves the stories.

A BIG hit with my 2.5 year old
My daughter was beyond excited when she opened the box. The stories are simplistic, but she likes them and likes identifying all the engines she knows. The size is perfect for her to take a couple of them along when we're out and about.

I also think this is a good value for the money. Board books of this size can sell for $5.00 on their own, so $10.00 for a whole set is a good deal. I'd recommend it as a gift for any Thomas fan!

Great little book set
I bought this book box for my nephew who was turning 2 and absolutely loves Thomas the Tank Engine. The box was small enough that he's able to carry them around by himself and the books were the perfect size for his little hands with thick pages making it easy for him to turn on his own. It's a great present for any little reader who loves Thomas. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

For Harry Potter Fans Young and Old, November 21, 2010
Both ruggedly built and finely crafted, this book is a delightful blend of exceptionally detailed art and in-depth, behind-the-scenes information that both children and adults can enjoy equally. When I first opened the book, I was enthralled with the breathtaking art. The pages are lush and realistic; flipping through them is like flying through the world of Harry Potter on your Firebolt.

As if the fantastic artwork were not enough to make me buy this book, the unbelievable amount of source information on the filming of the Harry Potter franchise puts this book in a rank of its own. I have seen other well-made pop-up books about famous films, but I have never before seen one that explains about how the film was made and how the scenes were conceived. This book goes so far as to tell you the real-life name of Hedwig and the fact that the owl had "stand-ins." Because of this level of detailed information, reading it is a very satisfying learning experience. And if you are thinking that this information targets a more mature audience, think again. This book's descriptions of behind-the-scenes facts are written in a manner that most reading levels can easily grasp.

Adding together the brilliant artwork and informative content of this book, I would highly recommend its purchase to any Harry Potter fan.

A wonderful book for first-years, fans and fine folk!, November 17, 2010
The Harry Potter Pop-Up book is the type of thing that comes along once in a while and reminds you that not all art is found in galleries and museums. Overall, the quality of this book is exceptionally good, something I would not have expected from a book that costs under $50 (let alone the current price of under $20).

At first, I was alarmed by the intricacy of some of the pop-ups, especially the Hogwarts Castle's tall spires and minarets, but the pages all open and close without folding, creasing or anything to cause concern. Truly, this is a remarkable feat of paper-engineering (is that a profession?)

In addition to the main pop-ups, which are stunning, there are numerous extra interactive bits on every page. From invitations, to letters, to small sized pop-ups, this book is filled with wonderful details. The main pop-ups, and the extras on each page, are made of high-quality cardboard.

The text reads easily enough for a child, but is detailed enough for fans to get a tantalizing taste of anything, from a description of how the special effects were done, to stories about the actors themselves.

This is simply a phenomenal book.

Must Have book for all Harry Potter Fans, November 16, 2010
I took an early lunch break and headed to Barnes and Noble to get my copy of the Pop Up book. I was glad to have gone early, because I wasn't alone and when I left the store, there were only a few copies left.

The book has five pop ups, which are of Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, Magical Creatures, Magical Games and sports and the Dark Arts and they're accompanied by little side pop ups and interactive features. I'm amazed at how much stuff they put into the book. I feel like every time I open it, there is something I hadn't seen before.

I think all the pop ups are great, but where are Ron and Hermione? They are nowhere in this book. I would have liked to see them in at least one pop up. Even though there is no supporting cast, I still think this book is a must have for all Potter fans.

wow, wow, WOW! A seriously incredible book., December 6, 2010
I don't usually write gushing reviews like this, but in this case I have to. I was, quite honestly, blown away by this book. The pop-ups are amazing, the art is lovely, and the behind-the-scenes facts were really interesting. It's obviously written so that kids can read it, but it definitely doesn't pander like a lot of children's books do. Also, I don't think I've ever seen a pop-up book that was about moviemaking like this -- usually they are more traditional stories.

I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, but tend to stay away from the merchandise produced by Warner Bros. because most of it is cheap crap aimed at ten-year-olds. This book, however, was obviously the result of a lot of thoughtful work and was a lot nicer than I expected. My favorite pop was the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes store with Fred (or George) tipping his hat to reveal a rabbit -- so cool! I also loved the "Undesirable No. 1" poster that came with it (the book had some posters in an envelope at the front) and have already hung it in my room. Here's a breakdown of what's in it in case you are wondering:

Ministry of Magic envelope with 3 posters (Undesirable No. 1, Advice from Ministry, cover art)
Howler -- looks really cool even though it doesn't make noise!
Diagon Alley -- pretty much every store
Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes
Hedwig in her cage
Hogwarts Castle -- huge! I don't know how they got it to fit in the book when folded
Durmstrang ship and Beauxbatons carriage
Hagrid's hut and Buckbeak
Grawp, centaurs, thestrals, Aragog
Fluffy -- coming out of Monster Book of Monsters! LOL
Professor Sprout holding a mandrake
Harry getting egg from Hungarian Horntail
Ron as Quidditch keeper
Chess game from first movie
Graveyard scene from Goblet of Fire
Dementor
Nagini
Inferi scene from Half-Blood Prince

All in all I highly recommend this book. Fans will not be disappointed.

Harry Potter Pop Up is amazing!, November 17, 2010
I love this book! As a huge Harry Potter fan I found that seeing the movie stills and sets in a pop up book format made me re-live the movies and their magic all over again. Along with the main pop ups that take most of the page, the side pop ups are perhaps my favorie part of the book. They add interaction to, and create fun suprises on, each and every page. Although the font is alarmingly small, Lucy Kee managed to pack a huge amount of written information about the creation of the movies on every page.
I highly recommend this super fun book for adults and kids alike. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Learn everything you ever wanted to know about Anakin, Rex, Ahsoka, Cad Bane, Obi-Wan, Yoda, Jabba and all your other favorite Star Wars Clone Wars characters! The Star Wars Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia will give you all the vital information from Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber skills to Ziro the Hutt's scheming, and everything in between. Includes characters from Seasons 1 and 2 of the hit TV series!



(c) 2009 Lucasfilm Ltd. (r) & TM All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization. ... Read more

Reviews

Good Visual Reference for the Clone Wars Universe, July 1, 2010
This is a great value for a visual reference of over 200 characters from the ongoing Clone Wars Animated Series. For the average cost of three action figures you get a full body image of every major character, clone trooper, droid, and alien that has played a role in this series along with a few quick facts from their respective story lines. Definitely a nice reference book for kids and fans of the series that might want to draw or create some fan comics of their own within this universe.

Awesome book, September 6, 2010
I gave this book to my 8 year old grandson and he absolutely loved it. Has wonderful illustrations to go with each character. Would recommend it highly.

It has everybody!, July 29, 2010
My little Star Wars enthusiast thinks this is something every kid should have. And it deserves a thousand stars.

Seriously, he practiced math facts every day on vacation in order to "earn" minutes of reading this book. This was a tremendous way to reward my little boy for a job well done.

Clone Wars - books and DVDs, August 15, 2010
I have recently watched Season One of The Clone Wars on DVD while, at the same time, reading The Official Episode Guide to see if I missed anything while I was watching. The DVDs are wonderful, and it has been great fun to watch the episodes again after seeing them originally on TV. Each episode includes a featurette showing director Dave Filoni and other key members of the production team talking about the development of the episode. All were very interesting. Also, a few of the episodes are presented as director's cuts, so they show some footage we have not seen before. Great fun. The package also includes a booklet showing drawings and pictures.

The Official Episode Guide is also very useful. Each episode is covered separately with a synopsis, pictures, background information, and lists of the cast, characters, weapons, and vehicles. I found the book to be helpful if you read about each episode after watching them on the DVD.

Then there is the Character Encyclopedia for Clone Wars. The book covers more than 200 characters and gives you a description, statistics, a picture, and specific background information for each. The characters are listed in alphabetical order so you can always look up a particular one you might be interested in. As is true with most Clone Wars items, the book has a great look to it.

I am pleased that The Clone Wars series has been successful enough to spawn all of the books and the DVDs that have been issued. The quality of the packaging has been excellent, and I am optimistic that we have a great deal more to look forward to.

BEST book ever!, August 12, 2010
If you have a Clone Wars fan of any age then I highly recommend this AWESOME book! It has over 200 Clone wars characters, with beautiful pictures from the Clone Wars Movie and the TV series! It contains Information on each character and pics! It's defiantly worth more than the Amazon price, I would pay $30 for this book! It's the very best clone wars book I have, and I have A LOT! You or your Clone Wars fan will love this! Thanks, I hope I was helpful.

Cool book. A little short on the info. No Boba Fett?, June 21, 2010
If you are a fan of the series and are a Star Wars nut like myself this is a must buy. Just about every character from the series has there own page. No Boba? Huh? I was hoping for more info on each, but for the price this is a good deal. They have a little blurb about the episode and their part. And that's about it. They only talk about 2 or 3 things each when it comes to their wardrobe/weapons/equipment. If you are looking for an in depth look into the characters from the series you might want to wait for another edition of this or the huge Star Wars Encyclopedia. But, like I said, if you are a huge Star Wars nut like me, order this as soon as you can. For this price it's a steal.

Good Casual Reference Guide, August 7, 2010
This is a good quick-reference guide that contains virtually every character, creature, droid, etc. that has appeared through the end of Season 2 of the Clone Wars. The only glaring omission is the young Boba Fett, which I found odd, because all of the other bounty hunters are featured. I primarily purchased it because I wanted to keep track of the various clone troopers that have been introduced so far, but I was happy to find it also covers all the droids (from the astromechs with their unique designations to the different models of battle droids to even the most obscure power droid) and quite a few of the background characters. As other reviewers have stated, there is not a wealth of information to be had here--each character is only afforded a blurb or two of biography and maybe 2-3 callouts as to costume details, weapons, etc. Still, the layout of each page is striking, with a full-color rendering of the character and stills from the episodes that feature them. The book is nicely bound in a durable, glossy hard cover and is smaller than the typical DK reference guide, only about the size of a standard hardback book. I think fans of all ages will enjoy this one as a casual armchair encyclopedia. Those who can be patient, though, might be wise to wait another year, as there will undoubtedly be an expanded edition released at the end of Season 3. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Girls can read the story of Disney’s Tangled and then use the musical hairbrush on their own hair! The brush will have a musical sound effect embedded that is motion-activated when the girl brushes her hair. ... Read more

Reviews

Love my grandkids!!!, November 27, 2010
Bought this for my grandaughter as a gift. Can't wait to give it to her. Everything is great. The movie is just being released and she is in love with all the princesses. Couldn't ask for better delivery and care taken with the products. It is the cutest story and the storybook is just like described.

AWESOME, December 4, 2010
Great book. Beautiful music while you brush your hair. My 8 year old loved the movie and loves the book. So good to see such a unique product in the market to get my daughter vs. the same old.

Great for Helping Kids comb hair, December 16, 2010
I bought this for my four year old grandaughter that refused to let me comb her hair.
She loves brushing her hair with this brush. It plays songs when in motion. It is a
great gift for kids that don't like their hair brushed ... Read more

Editorial Review

Provides a complete, comprehensive overview of the Prequel movies (Episodes I-III) and the Trilogy (Episodes IV-VI), this is the definitive photographic guide to the entire Star Wars saga. ... Read more

Reviews

Wow!, September 27, 2006
What an amazing, thorough, comphrensive guide to everything Star Wars. NOTHING is left out. You get not only in depth profiles of every major character, but every OTHER character in the universe. It's so detailed that they break down each PART of each weapon, ship, etc. For someone like myself who isn't the biggest Star Wars geek (but wanting to learn more), this is a godsend. There are many, many, hardcore fans out there that can reference almost anything and anyone to do with Star Wars. Well, now you can too, and you don't have to see the films 3245 times to do it.

It's a great companion to the "Ultimate Visual Guide" as well. It is a combination of the Visual Dictionaries for the the other films, so all Episodes 1-6 are covered.

Buy it, NOW!

Nice 4 in 1, November 10, 2006
I bought this for my 9 year old son, who already owns the visual dictionaries from episodes 1 and 3. When this came out and it had all 4 visual dictionaries plus extra goodies thrown in at a fraction of the price to buy all 4 I jumped on it. My son loves it and has noticed many of the illustrations and info not included in the visual dictionaries he already had before. The one gripe I have is that it seems to not have the same quality of photos as the other visual dictionaries, but it might just be me. I don't think he has noticed.

THE ULTIMATE STAR WARS REFERENCE BOOK, January 31, 2007
I'm a Star Wars fan but I am not a fanatic. I can't name each character, droid, or vehicle the way die-hard fans can. So for guys like me, the Star Wars Complete Visual Dictionary makes the perfect and complete reference sourcebook. This oversized hardcover books is packed with 270 pages full of information on the Star Wars universes and backed up by hundreds of full-color photos direct from the films.

The book covers all six Star Wars films beginning with Episode I, The Phantom Menace. We meet Darth Sidious on the very first page and learn about the founding of the Republic. From there we meet characters such as Mace Windu, Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. But this isn't just a book that shows a picture of the character and their name, all sorts of interesting details are included. On the Obi-Wan two-page spread we'll see typical Jedi gear including their lightsaber. Each character, creature, druid, weapon, or vehicle entry includes a text entry about the subject.

Next, the book covers Episodes II and III in the same detail and with the same brilliant color photography. I never realized just how many different blasters were used in the films until I read this book. There's the Naboo Blaster, the KYD-21 used by Zam Wesell, The DC-15 Blaster carried by Clone Troopers, and the Westar-34 blaster of Jango Fett, and many, many more.

Finally the first three original Star Wars films are covered all as one section and if I do have one complaint about the book it's that these films only get 70 pages of coverage while the first three films get 200 pages. I think you can chalk that up to the newer films being broader in scope and having a much larger cast of characters and gadgets. Still, it was the original three films that I was most interested in reading about and I suspect that many share my feelings.

No matter how big a Star Wars fan you are, you'll still want to own this book!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

The ultimate visual guide to the characters and creatures of the "Star Wars" saga, October 18, 2006
To tell you the truth, I think this volume is entitled "Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary" because if they said it was a visual encyclopedia they would be leaving room for complaint. But DK is marketing this as a dictionary that provides "The ultimate guide to characters and creatures from the entire 'Star Wars' saga," and on that basis they certainly deliver. This volume brings together the four "'Star Wars' Visual Dictionaries," with new material including an more detailed look at Utapau, Mustafar, Order 66, and clone battle tanks from "Revenge of the Sith." At the same time coverage of the original trilogy has been expanded with overviews of the Rebel Alliance, Imperial personnel, the Sarlacc, R2-D2, and the unusual crowd down at the Cantina. So if you have the original four Visual Dictionaries you will find more here, but chiefly the appeal will be to newcomers who need help explaining to the next generation of "Star War" fans the names of all of the members of the Jedi High Council, exactly who makes up the Separatists, and how a Wookie bowcaster works.

I am one of those persons who went to the first showing of each of the films in the original trilogy. I went back repeatedly to see all three films, spending one afternoon watching "Star Wars" twice in a row just so I could pay attention to a different quadrant of the screen each time. This book is fully cognizant of the fact that nearly every scene in the "Star Wars" movies are filled with a wealth of visual information, from the instrument-laden starships and the uniquely crafted weapons to the architecture and culture of dozens of alien worlds. Over the years there have been "Star War" novels, reference books, comics, toys, and games that have provided names and back-stories to many of the backgro8und characters, devices, vehicles and structures George Lucas and the folks at ILM crammed into hundreds of frames. But this visual dictionary goes beyond that, as amply proven by the look at the INSIDE of a Stormtrooper helmet, that explains the four layer construction of outer plastoid composite armor, inner insulation, anti-laser mesh, and magnetic shielding, in addition to the Comtech Series IV speaker that uses three-phase sonic filtering for clear sound, the atmospheric cyclic unit, power cell, and other features all crammed inside the iconic white helmet. In other words, there are enough details here to keep die-hard "Star Wars" fans quite happy indeed and even those with an encyclopedic knowledge of the films will find new information,

"Star Wars: The Complete Visual Dictionary" is written by Dr. David West Reynolds ("'Star Wars' Episode I: The Visual Dictionary"), James Luceno ("Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader"), and Ryder Windham ("'Revenge of the Sith' Scrapbook"), so collectively they have bona fides to spare. The book is divided into four sections representing Episode I, Episode II, Episode III, and Episodes IV-VI, so this visual dictionary follows the numerical chronology (not to be confused with the actual order in which these movies came out). The approach of the book, quite familiar to those who read DK's publications, is to provide a two-page spread on everything from the Phantom Menace to an expanded look at R2-D2. One of the nice things about working so closely with Lucasfilm and Industrial Light and Magic is that this book is able to incorporate hundreds of photographs that are not simply lifted from the films but taken for publicity, costume checks, and the like. The back of the book includes a brief Glossary of terms such as "carbonite" and "Tibanna gas," and an Index of several dozen key places, people and things (not a comprehensive index, but enough to help you track down all references to Coruscant, Padawans, and Luke Skywalker. Consequently I am convinced that my brother, who has all of the original "Star Wars" movie posters framed on the wall of his family room, will really enjoy this book as his Christmas present this year.

A Must for Star Wars Fans, November 10, 2006
These visual dictionaries are wonderful-- clean layouts, stunning photos and inventive descriptions. My son holds this one in high regard!

Star Wars Visual Directory, November 9, 2006
This rendition depicts full color pictures of a host of Star Wars characters. The utility tools of Star Wars are shown. i.e. pouch,
light saber, the druids photo receptor, the Senate Guard blue robe and the
tool demagnetizer. The Revenge of Lith is shown, as well as Order 66.
Phantom robots are depicted as well. The acquisition is perfect for
children and young teens. Star Wars enthusiasts will enjoy the rich color
presentation of the characters and the exotic machinery/tools depicted.
This would be a good holiday gift for young audiences.

don't bother if you already own all the visual dictionaries, December 26, 2006
I already own the visual dictionaries for I-VI. I thought there was going to be a lot of extra material in this book. I was disappointed. Most of the material is a carbon copy of what's in the individual visual dictionaries. So don't buy this book if you already own the visual dictionaries.

Good if you don't own the others, January 7, 2007
This is basically a compilation of all the previous Star Wars Visual Dictionaries. I use it mostly for prop reference and there's no reason to keep the other 4 Visual Dictionaries if you buy this one, plus there's a few pages of previously unpublished material added in to spice it up a bit.

A Great Read!, January 18, 2007
I gave this book to my 10 year old son for Christmas. He likes the book because when he watched the Star Wars movies he had many unanswered questions. This book not only points out the amazing features in this series, but it also answers some of those questions. He has spent MANY hours reading the information and looking at the wonderful images. That is why we think any Star Wars fan should read this book!

The Complete Visual Dictionary of Star Wars, March 16, 2007
I love it! All four visual dictionaries in on book and with extra pages. I think it is a great book for any Star Wars fan of any age. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Olivia notices all the attention her mom gets when she's out with baby William. This makes Olivia wonder... what if she had "Little Olivias" to show off? Before long, Olivia's pets are wearing baby clothes and have had their names changed to Little Olivia 1 and 2. A fun new spin on "playing house", Olivia style! ... Read more

Reviews

Lovely story, May 17, 2010
Really nice Olivia book. My 4 year-old loves it! Well written story, nice illustrations, nice book quality! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Based on Disney's latest computer-animated movie, Tangled, this Deluxe Coloring Book features 96 pages plus a sparkly cover. ... Read more

Reviews

Perfect gift for twin girls!, December 24, 2010
I bought these for my best friend's twin girls for their 5th birthday. (along with a few other things)...My friend told me the girls LITERALLY squealed when they opened it up and started coloring immediately! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Sabuda and Reinhart Studios have created another spectacular pop-up book for George Lucas's epic STAR WARS movies! Bestselling pop-up artist and engineer Matthew Reinhart has designed a thirtieth anniversary commemorative edition that comes packed with a variety of novelty features -- pop-ups, working light sabers, pull tabs, and other interactive looks at the exciting and popular movies. This beautiful book will impress all fans of STAR WARS and gives a whole new perspective to the films.

MATTHEW REINHART is a renowned paper engineer and bona fide STARS WARS aficionado. He has worked with Robert Sabuda on many wonderful pop-up titles such as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, A B C Disney, Encyclopedia Prehistorica: Dinosaurs, andMovable Mother Goose. He also created Mommy? by Maurice Sendak, The Pop-Up Book of Nightmares, and The Pop-Up Book of Phobias. He lives in New York City. ... Read more

Reviews

Fantastic pop-up book, March 7, 2008
This is a brief video walking you through this incredible pop-up book.

The best classic saga tie-in of the 30th anniversary year., October 22, 2007
This book is a strange and wonderful surprise. Easily the best Star Wars classic sage tie-in of the 30th anniversary year, 2007. This is a unique labour of love to be sure, and perhaps the most inspiring and creative piece about the Holy Trilogy that I have ever seen in a book form. In fact, I would even go so far as to say perhaps the best book that I have ever read. Seroiusly, I read this book with my 4-year old son together, and we savoured every page, every fold-out, and every flap. If you do read this book with a child, read it slowly and enjoy the one-of-a-kind surprises that are waiting behind every handcrafted door. For collectors, I would buy an extra copy or two beacause this is also a beautiful collector's item. Save one for later, you never know when you might want an extra copy as an incredibly special gift. I expect to be reading this book many, many more times.

The Force Is With Them!, October 24, 2007
Baby, this one will knock your socks off! Brilliant!

Encyclopedic in its content, inspired in its mechanics, this one is a must-have! It stirs the memory, and the heart, and the imagination.

SPOILERS: Letting the reader glimpse behind the Vader face mask is both chilling and poignant. And for the grand finale, you'll find Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker brandishing light sabers that actually light up! You just have to pull the little clear plastic protector tab away from the battery hatch on the back cover and our favorite battling father and son demonstrate a very special effect! Way cool!

Amazing!!!!!, October 31, 2007
The quality and workmanship that went into making this book is simply amazing. Each page contains an impressive pop-up. This alone would have made the book worth the price. But each page also contains tons of pictures, facts and trivia, and incredible extras.

I bought one for a friends birthday. The day I got it and actually saw how wonderful it is I orderd another for my daughter. This book is a MUST have for any Star Wars fan. For that matter it is a must have for any pop-up collector too.

AMAZING, November 14, 2007
AMAZING...AMAZING...AMAZING...AMAZING!!! This is by far the most creative POP-UP book related to Star Wars ever published. Matthew Reinharrt equals his genius partner Robert Sabuda in developing the STAR WAR SAGA in 3D. The only question I have is why this masterpiece is so reasonably priced. My personal opinion is people are not yet aware this book in the Star Wars Galaxy of Books has not come to earth yet.

DO NOT PURCHASE THIS WONDERFUL WORK OF ART IF IT IS USED. The detail of this book in all of its glory must be taken care of. If you are thinking about seeing Matthew's wonderful work make sure you examine a sample copy, and before purchasing it open every page to make sure it is in perfect condition. Above all keep it in plastic and take it out only for your enjoyment and the galaxy of friends you want to share it with. This is the type of book that should only be handled by the owner. DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE ELSE TO THUMB THROUGH THE PAGES. This may seem crazy; however, I wear white lint free gloves when handling this masterpiece. This book is easily three inches or more in thickness and if not handled with respect, the pop-up portions can easily be bent or worse. Matthew Reinhart created a work of love, and as a consumer one should treat it as such.

This book will disappear in two or three years. Get it NOW at a price anyone can afford.

I LOVE THIS BOOK MORE THAN ANY OTHER STAR WAR'S BOOK EVER PUBLISHED. It truly is an amazing work for all to enjoy.

Steve Horwitz

Perfect gift idea for fans, no matter what their age, November 30, 2007
Robert Sabuda and his prot�g�, Matthew Reinhart, have brought pop-up books back into the mainstream, not only as concept and novelty books for very young children but as genuine works of art and engineering. Their wonderful creations attract readers of all ages, and many a Sabuda/Reinhart project has found its way to coffee tables alongside glossy art books. Reinhart's latest solo effort, STAR WARS: A POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY, is another such project that will find an audience not only among young readers but also among aficionados of paper engineering and, most importantly, nostalgic adult fans of the Star Wars franchise who will revel in this volume, timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the first Star Wars film.

Reinhart, like many adults his age, was raised on the Star Wars mythology, and his knowledge of and appreciation for the Star Wars universe is apparent through the details he integrates into his paper creations, as well as in his dedication "to the visionary artists of STAR WARS, who fashioned a wondrous, distant galaxy with words, paint, clay, sound, and celluloid, inspiring generations of young artists around the world." The text itself is rich, dense, detailed and filled with the facts, figures and history of the fantastic world George Lucas created.

The book focuses primarily on the characters and events of the three original Star Wars movies, although certain elements of the mythology do come from Episodes 1-3. Topics for the two-page spreads include the geography of the galaxy, discussions of the galaxy's social and political structures, descriptions of vehicles, the history of conflicts between the Rebels and the Empire, and Luke Skywalker's story. Since this is more of an encyclopedic guide rather than a storybook, the text does not focus on any single storyline or tell a unified narrative. Instead, it assumes its readers already know the films' plotlines and fills in the details on everything from the origins of the criminal underworld to the technical specifications of R2-D2 and C-3PO.

The design of STAR WARS: A POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY will be familiar to fans of Reinhart's and Sabuda's other projects, particularly the Encyclopedia Prehistorica series. Each two-page spread consists of a large pop-up feature at its center (examples include the Millennium Falcon and a menacing Darth Vader mask), as well as several smaller, text-heavy foldout "mini books" on a certain theme, each of which may also contain one or more smaller pop-up constructions. These nested "books within a book" result in an unusually rich, interactive reading experience that will keep fans young and old poring over the pages for hours.

The advertised highlights of the illustrations are Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker's working lightsabers, which turn on when their mini-books are opened. As Yoda would say, though, "Patient you must be" --- the lightsabers in my review copy took a good 10-15 seconds to light up after the page was opened.

STAR WARS: A POP-UP GUIDE TO THE GALAXY is a tour de Force --- the perfect gift idea for fans, no matter what their age.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

Three amazing reasons this book rocks!, January 19, 2008
I bought this book for a friend who is a real star wars fan. And a real ladies man too. I know, seems totally impossible and now maybe I've lost all credibility with my review. But here goes:

This book is amazing. Trust me. If you want to be surprised by this work of art, stop reading HERE.

Ok, you are still reading, so that means you are ok if I spoil the three surprises I found waiting for us in this book:

1. Each page has not ONE giant pop up, but MANY! Five or so. That's a LOT of pop ups! It can take you many minutes per page to pop stuff up and read the little snippets of info. GREAT!

2. Some pop ups have pop ups INSIDE them! We didn't even notice that till the second time through! Pop-ups INSIDE pop-ups!? That's just CRAZY!

3. Ok here is the real spoiler. Turn back now if you are already convinced. Still here? Ok, here it is: On the last page, two of the smaller pop ups have Luke and Darth Vader in them, with light-sabers drawn. But they weren't colored right. They were both clear! I said to my learned Star Wars friend, "why aren't their light sabers blue and red?" He said, "I don't know, that IS odd." Then he said "wait hold on a second." He turns the book over and there is a piece of tape on the back of the book. He pulls the tape off, turns the book over and we open to the last page again and pop up Luke and Darth. And BEHOLD! Their sabers GLOWED! GLOWED! Awesome.

So tons of popups, popups within popups and glowing light-sabers!? This is a must have for any hardcore Star Wars fan.

Perfect For Stars Wars Fans Of All Ages!!!!, December 2, 2007
'Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy' is a wonderful albeit short journey through the wonders of the Star Wars universe. The kind of book that is perfect for all ages and genders, this book will jump out at you with wonderous paper architecture by the author and enrich you with the facts of Star Wars! Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the release of this beloved series, this is great gift, collector's item, or anything of the sort for all followers of the force.

If you or anyone (market is mainly kids) loves Star Wars and want to enrich your knowledge in a fun book-form way, pick up this wonderfully produced book and may the force be with you!!!

***** HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Sooooooo neat!, November 1, 2007
I purchased this for a friend who is a star wars fan and collects lots of star wars stuff. he was SO excited to receive this. the pops ups are amazing! so detailed and intriguet. everypage has so much to look at and read. they try to fit as much as they possibly can on each page, its packed! on the last page the light sabers that pop up also light up! how cool it that. i highly recommend this book to anyone who loves stars and collects.

Our bedtime reading routine just got more fun..., December 7, 2007
My 5 year old came up to me in the bookstore and said, "They have a whole encyclopedia of Star Wars over here." and showed me this book.

Even though its the most expensive book I've bought for him, it's absolutely worth it.

He's never seen the Star Wars trilogy, but he now knows all the characters and the world of Star Wars. The art and the craftsmanship are stunning and it is a like a puzzle that has multiple unfolding dimensions.

We read it every night and there is something new to discover in each page. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Put your design skills to the test with this book based on the hit TV Show Project Runway. ... Read more

Reviews

Great for basic information, June 15, 2010
This book is great for the basic's....I bought it for my 9 year old grand daughter, but found it taught me the names of a few fashion styles. For example, it explains and shows the different types of necklines, or the different types of shirt styles....great explanations for the budding designer to know exactly what is what.

Not what I expected, December 7, 2010
When I purchased this book for my niece, I was going by another review as a basis of what this book was about - and they must have been reviewing a different book! This book is nothing more than page after page of empty squares with suggestions of what to draw there. Luckily, I didn't pay much for it, because it is nothing my niece would be interested in...

What a hit!, April 10, 2010
If Project Runway had a subscription service, I'd sign up - I have 3 girls - 6, 8 and 11 and they LOVE this stuff! ALL OF IT!

Not as expected, December 15, 2010
With no explaination on the description I'm not sure why I'm surprised that I'm disappointed in this product. The book is nothing more than a small fill in the blank book. I really saw no real value to it and am seriously unsure if I should keep it. Sure it's a cheap item but it really shows. Even at $3.99 I feel like I was cheated.

Waste of MONEY, December 11, 2010
I purchased this book for my daughter for x-mas is a waste of money. This book is nothing more than page after page of empty squares with suggestions of what to draw. If it was not only 3.99 I would return this. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Uh-oh! Elmo has lost his blanket! Young readers can help Elmo in his search by lifting over 30 flaps to reveal dozens of super Sesame Street surprises. ... Read more

Reviews

Sturdy with lots of interesting pictures, May 2, 2003
My one-and-a-half year old daughter loves this book. Even though she knows what is under each flap, she still flips each flap with excitement. There lots of pictures of common items, like a ball, banana, fish, etc... so the book is helpful in teaching and reinforcing new words. The book is has many pages and keeps my daughter's attention for a long time. It is sturdy and not a single flap has torn, in spite of her constant use. A+.

A fun favorite, March 12, 2005
Our toddlers love Elmo, and we have lots of Sesame Street books, most of which keep their attention past the first few lines. This one does the job right through till the end, thanks to the adventure of finding Elmo's little blanket. Each page has a flap and a question as to where you can find Elmo's beloved blanket, and your youngsters should enjoy lifting and discovering on every page. And of course, all our favorite characters join in the hunt ~ Big Bird, Grover, etc.

We usually don't go for lift-the-flap books since they tear so easily, but these are sturdier than most others and have withstood reading for several months so far!

Lots of fun, and a MUST for plane rides with toddlers!, February 12, 2006
I took this on the plane with my daughter recently. Anyone who flies with a little one on your lap knows it's a challenge keeping them entertained - and yourself sane - for the whole flight. So I can't say enough about this book - because it absolutely saved us!! It probably bought me an hour of calm, quiet reading time total (going and coming back). She is a huge Elmo fan and loves this book. The story is a cute one where your chlid can help Elmo find his blanket. It has all the favorite characters in funny scenarios with pages that have many different and fun things to look at, and my daughter loves lifting the flaps and finding out what's inside -- over and over (thank God!!). So I highly recommend this book --particularly for plane rides or any time you need your kid to stay calm and quiet. She loves sitting and "reading" it at home too. I am looking forward to buying more "lift the flap" Elmo/Sesame books for her.

lots to do on each page, April 11, 2000
My 14 month old loves his blankie and loves Elmo. I could't have asked for a better book. He loves the flaps to open and seems surprised when he looks under each one. If your child loves Sesame Street this will hold his interest every time.

Great lift the flap book you'll love it!, November 10, 2002
This is one of my kids favorites, starring Elmo, Big bird, Zoe, Ernie, Grover, Grouch...It's not real long though, only about 5 pages. Great for little little ones. It has about 30 flaps.

it was fun, September 23, 2005
My two year old loved this book. she found it very exciting that she got to look under alot of different flaps. i would recomend this to any one with a toddler

Entertaining, August 17, 2005
My 9 month old son loves to look under the flaps and turn the pages. The pages are more easy to turn than some other board books because they are quite thin. But he must read it under supervision as yet, or I am afraid he might rip the flaps. But so far he has been real gentle with it, it is his most precious book. And it is more sturdy than one might think.

Son's favorite book for a while, December 27, 2004
We give my son (now 15 months) lots of books to read--there's a heavy rotation. So we notice when he continues to enjoy a particular book. Even though he's had this book for more than 2 months now, if he even glimpses the cover he'll still smile and clap in excitement.

He loves to look at all of the pictures, which include drawings of most of his Sesame Street friends. He likes to lift the pop-up flaps himself, but will get frustrated if they are difficult to lift (something any parent should bear in mind, unless your child has long fingernails!), so I help him if necessary.

Really, I think the only downside of this book is that there's very little language. Granted, a very young child isn't ready for tons of paragraphs on a page, but I thought this book could probably fit in a few more sentences per page and still hold a small child's interest.

That being said, I still recommend this book. It's a cute story, and the many details in each picture mean that a child will notice new things each time he/she reads it.

A cute one, August 19, 2006
There isn't really a plot here - you're just looking for Elmo's blanket through the flaps, but it's fun for my [...] daughter. There are plenty of flaps, and so far they are sturdy enough to withstand her handling, and the illustrations are nice. If you're looking for fun rather than content, this one is for you.

Good, but better for 18 mos and above, March 16, 2006
My 15 month old Elmo lover enjoys this book. There are certainly a lot of flaps to open. I think he will enjoy this book more when he is a bit older and able to appreciate all of the characters. As a blankie and Elmo lover, I am looking forward to sharing this book a lot with him. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Color�the sillies out in I Love to Color, a far-out coloring book that comes with 3 double-sided crayons. Brobee, the little green one, is here to be your tourguide and�show you all the awesome sights and fun friends that make up the wacky and wonderful world of Yo Gabba Gabba! ... Read more

Reviews

Great, June 24, 2009
Yo gabba gabba is my 19 month old daughter's favorite show. She loves it, the crayons are big so it's easy for her to hold them. Everything was as expected.

Perfect for toddlers!, February 25, 2009
My niece loves Yo Gabba Gabba. What's cool about it is that the crayons are connected (as you can see in the pic) so my niece didnt have to fiddle around in the car to pull out a bunch of crayons. She had the 3 crayons at her reach to color in six different colors. Great way to keep a kid entertain.

Big in quality, moderate in substance, January 20, 2010
This is a good quality coloring book that is sure to excite the avid Yo Gabba Gabba fan, and the included 2 tone crayons are a great bonus. However, for the price, I was expecting a slightly more expansive collection of coloring pages. I purchased 20 as party favors, so with the 4-for-3 promotion, the price dropped by $1 per coloring book, which made the purchase more appealing. It gets two big thumbs up from my 3 year old and her party guests.

FUN Book, December 8, 2009
This is the only coloring book my 2 yr. old Greatgranddaughter looks at. She "colors" in it, and talks about the items on the pages. She LOVES this book!

Broken, August 9, 2010
I ordered this book and it came with broken crayons!!! I'm sure my nephew will really enjoy getting a broken birthday gift. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Shh...It's almost bedtime, and Dora and Boots are heading home. Along the way they hear some animal sounds. Who's making them? Readers can lift the flaps to find out -- and learn to say good night, just like Dora. ... Read more

Reviews

My 2-yr-old and 11-mth-old both love this book!, September 15, 2003
I have a boy and a baby girl, and they both love this book; the pages and flaps are sturdy enough for my little girl to turn handle without tearing them, and the story is just the right length for both!

Poorly Bound; short life; story good but not a keeper, July 16, 2002
MOST lift the flap books are board books. This one is a very cheaply bound (saddle stapled) book with less than stable pages. The lift the flap elements are great, if you aren't 2 years old. If you are 2 years old you need a helper to hold the floppy book. This book won't last long...due to poor construction. However, the story is cute, the flaps interesting and so it is maybe worth the price if you have an older child who can manage it alone.

Cute way to learn spanish words, July 14, 2003
This is a very fun and cute book that my 2 year old loves. She now knows how to say goodnight and a few animals in spanish and loves to read this book every night. I reccommend it!

Great for Kids and Mom and Dad Too, July 29, 2002
The story is very cute and the concept of some of the key words being in English and some in Spanish is great! Not only does it help children learn a few words in Spanish, it's great to help Mom and Dad too. :-)

My kids love it! 2 yr old girl and 3 year old boy., November 26, 2003
The book is colorful. It keeps the children interested. It involves the children in the book by asking "do you know who's making that sound?". They adore this book, I only wish they wouldn't fight over the "flaps"!

Simply Magnifico, March 12, 2003
This is an excellent bedtime book. My daughter makes her Dora Night Night book request ever since we purchased it. It has excellent pronunciations for the Spanish illiterate as well as great illustrations. I highly recommend this book for your little Dora fans as well.

A great Dora book, July 29, 2002
If you're child is into Dora, this a well recommended book. I use it to help teach my daughter spanish and basic reading skills. Its fun and kids love it.

A Gentle Story That Teaches Spanish Words For Animals, May 9, 2005
Good Night, Dora! is a Lift-the-Flap story by Christina Ricci, with illustrations by Susan Hall.

On her way home, Dora and Boots discover that many creatures are either already asleep or are getting sleepy. As they make their way home, they say Buenas noches (good night) to each of them.

The pages are thicker than regular Dora books, and the large, colorful flaps reveal not only the sleeping/sleepy creature, but also the Spanish word. For example, as Dora and Boots skip across stones in a pond, they hear "Ribbet, Ribbet". She says: "Hey, someone's making a sound in the pond. Do you know who?" When you pull down the flap, you see one purple frog that's happily asleep...while the other is getting drowsy. The words under the flap say "Good night, frogs! �Buenas noches, ranas!"

In addition to the frogs, youngsters learn the Spanish word for birds, bees, chickens, ducks, snakes, frogs, and owls. It's a great story for bedtime, because there aren't too many words to read. Yet, the gentle story will teach youngsters a variety of Spanish terms for 8 different creatures. At the end of Good Night, Dora!, her Mami (Mom) tucks her and Boots into bed.

This book holds up well, especially since the flaps aren't the kind that are over little niches/holes imbedded in the story (what you usually find in board books or those with very stiff pages...some Arthur and Bear in the Big Blue House flap books come to mind).

Highly recommended!

Thank you Dora, October 6, 2004
Our neighborhood bookstore has a very good children's section and my son has the habit of zeroing in on anything with Dora's picture. We, of course, had to buy this one and he has taken over reading it to our one year old daughter. The flaps have held up well and it's become the number one bedtime choice for many nights in a row. I've given up counting. A gentle story to end the day.

A Delightful Lift-the-Flap Bedtime Story for Dora Fans, October 19, 2005
Good Night Dora is a delightful lift-the-flap story about Dora and Boots heading home for bedtime and encountering various animals along the way to say good night to.

It is an excellent bilingual book. As the child lifts the flap to see what animal is hiding under it, he or she encounters both the English and Spanish good night greetings for each animal. The noises each animal makes are written on the page too, so that a child can guess what might be hiding under the flap.

My three-year-old daughter loves this book. The vivid illustrations really hold her interest, and she loves saying "Buenos Noches" to all of the animals. This is a great book that any Dora fan would definitely appreciate! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This very special collection of coloring and activity pages features girls' favorite Disney Princesses. A dream come true for all Disney Princess fans!

Format: Trade Paperback, 224 pages
... Read more

Reviews

Not just a coloring book, January 3, 2007
It has beautiful pictures of the most popular Disney stories, puzzles to do and color, and stories in the back. Wonderful.

excellent for new readers, January 21, 2007
This was purchased as a stocking stuffer, and is a great value for the price. The little princess I bought it for is using it as something fun to help her learn to read, and also allows her to be creative at the same time. This + a box of crayons or other colorful writing utensils provides hours of fun.

even teens love coloring!, June 2, 2009
I purchased this for myself while away at college to use when I was bored. The coloring book is HUGE, and I love that it features and array of the Disney Princesses. It is an awesome value for the price and I definitely recommend it!

Dreams Come True Forever (Fun Coloring Book), August 14, 2008
This is a great jumbo coloring book. My grandaughter is getting it for her fifth birthday. I know she'll love it! Nana

Huge, January 7, 2009
This is a huge book I bought for use at daycamp. The only issue the kids had was when there were two equally awesome pictures on either side of a page.

Highly reccomend :)

Wonderful coloring book, however..., April 7, 2010
This is a thick (average in height and length) coloring book which includes both coloring pages and activities. It features the princesses (Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, Jasmine, Ariel, and Snow White), their princes, as well as other secondary characters.

My only disappointment was that from the pictures online, it seemed like the quality of the paper would be better (pure white, non see-through) but the pictures on the back of the pages were visible from the other side and it is printed on normal coloring book paper.

Can't Beat the Price!, January 26, 2009
My daughter loves Dinsey princesses and received this as a birthday present. Since she's still three she isn't the greatest at coloring, but I don't feel that this coloring book was a waste of money. We tend to get the cheapest coloring books possible since it takes her little to no time to color each page, therefore the book is finished quickly. This book is huge! All the pages have something wonderful to color or work on. The age range is spot on, my three year old can't do all the workbook stuff, but I'm sure she'll try when she's ready. Recommend this book far above the crayola color wonder princess book (which is what everyone else gives her)!

How well do you like your blue and pnk crayons?, July 14, 2008
This coloring book is really sweet. Each page shoes a pivotal scene in the movie(s). The pages can suit a variety of ranges in experience. Even I've got back into the act of coloring (says the 34 year old).

My one gripe with this particular coloring book is that you walk away asking yourself if there are any places where you can by just the pink and blue crayons. ... Read more

Editorial Review

With this unique recordable storybook, a parent can be there for that special “read-to-me” time–from anywhere! When the batteries are changed, your recording will not be erased—creating a treasured keepsake. Based on the hit movie, Toy Story 3 Record-A-Book features Woody the cowboy, Buzz Lightyear, and the rest of the heroic toys in their greatest adventure of all. Relive the toys’ journey to Sunnyside Daycare, where they meet new friends, encounter ruthless villains, and learn the true meaning of teamwork. 

With a simple recording device and speaker that sits in the storybook, Toy Story 3 Record-A-Book is so easy to use! An adult can record the story, and when a child plays back the recording he can hear the story and follow along in the book. As the child grows, he can learn to record the book himself. Perfect for everyday play, Toy Story 3 Record-a-Book is sure to make a great gift.

How to record the story on your Record-A-Book:

Please read all instructions prior to starting your recording. 

1. Move the switch on the side of the recording device to record mode.
2. Press and hold the button until you hear “Record One.” Release button immediately.
3. Press, but do not hold, the button again. When you hear a beep, begin reading the text indicated with a 1, located on the inside front cover.
4. Press, but do not hold, the button again when you are done reading the first section. You will hear a beep. This indicates the recording has stopped.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until all sections are recorded.
6. Move the switch to play mode.

Reviews

Correction noted, December 1, 2010
I am the creative director for this title and I wanted everyone to know that the instructions incorrectly state that your recording is erased if you need to replace the batteries. Your recording is saved if you need to put new batteries in the toy. So your treasured recorded keepsake is not lost. Thanks. Julia Sabbagh

I can be Woody From Toy Story!, December 5, 2010
I don't know about you--but the children in my life love it when I change my voice while reading. This book was so much fun to use because I recorded the book in the voice of Woody for my nephew! It was great silly fun that I hope he enjoys!

The Best Thing!!!, November 24, 2010
This is the best thing. My son lives in Mass. and I am in GA. I want him to beable to here my voice and know I care so this lets me do it from a far. Thank you sooo much.

Won't save recording if batteries are removed, November 24, 2010
This book is NOT what I expected at all. The pages are paper, not board-like as most of the other recordable books are and while the story is cute, the quality of the recording is muffled somewhat. Once the recording is started playing, you have to turn the pages at the right "beep," as it continues through the whole story without pausing (note: you can manually pause it if you want, but you cannot start in the middle of the story). It is definitely NOT a keepsake that will hold on to the recording, as it says the when the batteries are removed, the recording is erased. The other books I purchased all retain the recording, even if you remove the batteries. Spend the extra and get the "real thing."

great book, December 15, 2010
This is a great recordable very easy to record... This would be for the older toddler 3 to 5 years old.... Book was well made I highly recommend this..This is the second book of this kind that I have purchased and it was equal in quality to the higher priced brands....

Toy Story 3 Record-A-Book, December 10, 2010
Great product. The grand kids love hearing their stories read by Grandma and Grandpa, even 1,000 miles away. Instructions about recording could be better. We did not realize that the first spot is for an introduction so we were one page off during the record process. ... Read more

Editorial Review

From the first release of Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977 to the 2009 second season of The Clone Wars, Star Wars Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle is an unparalleled chronological journey through the making of the most epic science fiction series ever! Featuring incredible illustrations and stills, the book chronologically details the history and development of the Star Wars movies; the events, press, and logistics surrounding the making of each movie; and exclusive interviews with people who worked behind the scenes. The year-by-year format includes images from the movies, TV series, comic books, video games, and novels as well as movie posters, memorabilia, book covers, and more.

(c) 2009 Lucasfilm Ltd. (r) & TM. All Rights Reserved. Used Under Authorization. ... Read more

Reviews

The perfect gift for the fan who has everything because this book chronicles everything, September 4, 2010
DK Publishing continues a trend of producing lavish coffee table books filled with page after page of montages of full color images. In this case, the topic is the Star Wars phenomenon.

This coffee table book is very large - one inch thick, 10 inches wide and nearly a foot high. My copy does not have the color cover featured by Amazon, but rather it is black and white with very similar photos of the exact same characters in the exact same positions on the page. I did verify that it is the same book by using Amazon's sneak peek feature.

This book could just as easily have been called "George Lucas Year by Year." Star Wars dominates Lucas's career like the Eiffel Tower dominates the Paris skyline. Perhaps, even more so.

As the title states, the book is a visual timeline of George Lucas, Star Wars and the people and companies involved in its production and promotion. We see early handwritten notes about "Journal of the Whills" - one of the first drafts of Star Wars Episode IV. Later on, we see further updates, including the introduction of a character named Luke Starkiller who, of course, became Luke Skywalker in later revisions. We learn about Lucas's early life, his early films and his influences and a bit about the research he did to create the series.

Included in the timelines are other bits of news about movies, politics and space exploration. For example, on pages 34 & 35 we read about July through December 1974 which includes the first draft of the script for Episode IV, some very early drawings for the TIE Fighters, X-Wings and the Death Star, Nixon resigning as President, the birth of the actor that played Darth Maul in Episode I, early plastic models of the Y-Wing Fighters, the release of "The Godfather: Part II" (the director is a colleague and friend of Lucas), the production of the first script for another Lucas movie - "The Radioland Murders" and Christopher Lee's (Episodes II & III) role in a James Bond movie. Every picture has a detailed caption and the story goes on for page after page after page.

It is a fascinating read. I particularly enjoyed the pictures and descriptions of the Star Wars dolls that I collected and nearly wore out as a child. There is also information on the different videogames, novels, radio dramas, fan magazines, board games, fan clubs, appearances on TV shows, the famed Star Wars Christmas Special, John Williams, the cartoon shows, the Lego sets and even the Darth Vader Mr. Potato Head toy.

Lavish, thorough, massive and entertaining - this promises to be a hit with any fan. A can't miss gift.

Great book, September 13, 2010
My autistic son has everything Star Wars and never wants other stuff and we'd run out of ideas for his birthday so this came out just in time. This books is great, you're Star Wars fan will love it! I bought 2 copies of this book because my nephew has the same Star Wars fetish and he loves his too!

Star Wars Year By Year is a great wonderfull book, November 17, 2010
Daniel Wallace has written a fantastic book on star wars in the context of pop culture. Star Wars Year By Year is a great wonderfull book and a great read.

Wonderful book, but may show too much cleavage for young children, December 15, 2010
This is a wonderful book! Highly recommended. I do want to let you know that if you are buying the book for young Stars Wars fans you might want to review the book first. I was looking at the book at Barnes and Noble for my 10 year old nephew. There are a few large photos of Princess Leia that I felt like showed too much cleavage (a bit too racey for his young age). I am by no means a prude or over protective, but it did give me pause. I was SO glad that I flipped through the pages before I purchased it. I decided to wait until he is older. Once a Star Wars fan always a Star Wars fan! ... Read more

Editorial Review

20 great tunes, with a fun Mickey Mouse stand provide readers a great package.

Packed with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse fun, this book features four fun sections of song lyrics: Action Songs, Counting Songs, Learning Songs and Silly Songs. Following the prompts in the book, children play each one of the special songs on their Mickey Mouse music player (20 songs in all!). Songs include such favorites as “ If You’re Happy and You Know it…” and “Head Shoulders…”, as well as Hot Dog, Hot Dog, Hot Diggity Dog!” which is featured in the show. The Mickey-shaped base is an irresistible and useful add-on, to use on the go or as a great place for kids to store their music player.

... Read more

Reviews

Songs Without Words, January 9, 2010
The book has large lyrics for the music, but young people like to sing along. The music has no words and young people generally don't read. I didn't give it to my 3 year old granddaughter for this reason. She is REALLY a Mickey Mouse fan, but this book would frustrate her. In my opinion, children like to sing with music that has words. They won't learn too much with listening to just music; it is boring.

Poor audio quality, January 22, 2010
This may be entertaining to an infant, but my 3 year old daughter, who loves the MM clubhouse, is not interested in the midi sounds coming out of the device.

Which the digital age, I was expecting the same audio as from the show, the sounds annoy me and more importantly my daughter. I've heard hallmark cards with better sound quality.

my 1 year old loves it., September 17, 2010
Cool toy. My 1 year old loves it. The songs are just the tunes, no lyrics. Couple other reviews complained about audio quality.. well, its a cheap toy.. i wasn't expecting dolby surround sound and i was dead on accurate, LOL. As long as my kid likes it, i'm happy.

Great travel toy, June 26, 2010
My 2 1/2 year old loves this. On 2 back-to-back 5 hr trips in the car, this little toy kept him very busy. He quickly learned how to get to the songs he loved the best (Hot Dog and Mickey Went Over the Mountain) by pushing the appropriate buttons whatever number of times. He is not the best traveler, and this thing was a lifesaver. So my recommendation would be to get this and save it till you are about to be stuck in the car with your kiddo for awhile, then give it to him. Just be prepared to listen to the same tunes over and over again. Also he loved to look at the pictures that coordinated with the tunes in the book. My husband or I were in the back seat with him and would help him find and sing the songs in the book. I think that made it more fun for him.

Bright and colorful, just what I expected!, October 13, 2009
This has 20 different songs, 5 on each character's button. The little mickey song player can be held seperately from the book and is fun for the child to use while you pick the songs to sing together. Great for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse fans!

What I expected, December 8, 2009
There are more than 4 songs, you have to follow the directions on the inside cover(pretty easy) Each character has their own set of songs.
It does only play the music and not the lyrics, so this will not teach your child the words, you will have to do the singing. Some songs are completly new to me so singing the words to the tune can be a little difficult at first but I'm sure after a few tries we can get it down. Most of the songs are variations of classics like B-I-N-G-O & Hot Dog!
My five year old can operate the music player by herself and she undersatnds the concept of how to get to the next song, but since she does not read completly on her own I have to sing along with her.
My 2 year old loves it, and can press the music buttons but tends to keep on pushing all the buttons therefore interupting the song.
I would recomend this for any age that loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse but do keep in mind that this is an activity that you and your child will have to do together.
My only complaint is that the music player is a little on the quiet side, but maybe that's a good thing??

Really entertaining!, April 13, 2009
I gave this to my 16 month old son for Easter. He is a Mickey kid. Loves loves loves the hot dog song! He absolutely loves the handheld mickey shape tune box. He holds it up to his ear like a cell phone. The book is nice too. It will be a couple months before he will truly enjoy it though. If your child likes music, then this will be a hit!!

ok, April 8, 2009
only 4 songs. lyrics are not played, you have to read/sing them from the book and if you don't know the song it makes it difficult.

Perfect sign along., October 3, 2010
The musical Mickey is a great "take along" and perfect for the mickey Mouse fan.

grandson LOVES it!, February 13, 2010
My 1 year old grandson absolutely loves this toy! He carries it around with him everywhere (just the right size), and gets such a look of delight on his face when he recognizes the sounds from the TV show he loves. ... Read more

Editorial Review

With 224 pages of Cinderella, Belle, Ariel, and the rest of the beloved Disney princesses to color, this jumbo book will be a dream come true for Princess fans! ... Read more

Reviews

Better than expected, October 4, 2009
I didn't realize there were stickers in the book when I purchased this, so that was a vey pleasant surprise for my daughter! Nice, thick book that shes already had hours of fun with! Worth the price, and I usually don't spend more than a buck or two on coloring books. The Princesses alone make it worth it though!

Fun Coloring and learning English, March 11, 2010
I live in Brazil and bought this for my 7 year old granddaughter who loves coloring and can at the same time practice the English (which is simple enough!) associated to princess stories she knows so well in Portuguese.

NOT Jumbo!, December 13, 2009
Disappointed with the size of this book. Was expecting much larger pages...paid more with shipping than would have if bought from retailer store. Not worth it, in my opinion. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Series Description:
Best friends and stepbrothers Phineas and Ferb are determined to make each mind-numbing rotation of Earth into something special. But their sister, Candace, is determined to reveal their crazy endeavors to their mom. Meanwhile, Perry the Platypus—Agent P—is called on repeatedly to save the world from the dangerous Dr. Doofenshmirtz. Spend some time with Phineas and Ferb and see just how exciting and outrageous a summer’s day can really be!

Title Description:
What is Ferb’s favorite month of the year? 
Ferb-uary, of course!  

Editorial Review

Grab your pencil.Pick up some paper.And get ready to tdraw the coolest, most action-packed Pokemon art ever.Catch step-by-step secret tips on drawing your favorite Pokemon, like Pikachu, Togepi, Chikorita, Meowth, Pichu, Houndour, Lugia, Cyndaquil, and more!Plus, draw bonus poses of Pokemon in action, and create your own battle scenes!You'll be a Pokemon drawing-Master in no time! ... Read more

Reviews

great for the price, November 7, 2004
If your kid loves pokemon, you won't be disappointed. My two boys, ages 5 & 8 love this book. I think the other reviews were too critical and maybe they didn't try hard enough. They have had it since Christmas '03 and they still use it. It is the only book they keep handy in their desk drawer and not on the bookshelf.

Fun for the Pokemon fan, January 9, 2007
My daughter, age 7, is an avid Pokemon fan and loves to draw. This book has been lots of fun for her even though I think some of the drawings are hard to do. However, she is a much better drawer than her Mom and does not express any frusturation while following the directions. I think the book could have provided more step by step instructions but if your child has some talent drawing, they should have fun with it.

Ignore all other reviews!, January 30, 2006
I beleive that the other reviews were written by furious begginer artists whom had tried a few times and were uspset with their results. It takes time to learn how to draw and drawing simple shapes such s circles is not as easy as it is made out to be! I don't think this book could be made any simpler and is perfect for the begginer.
Note: I noticed that other reviews stated: I got better results when I traced the pictures. Well of course you did! No matter how simple the book was, the artists would have been drawing for years and five hours of drawing is nothing compared to that.

Not bad, November 21, 2004
I agree that the other reviews were a little harsh. My 7 year old prefers to trace the characters rather than draw them. This book is a favorite.

a parent-pleaser, January 16, 2007
I got this for my eight-year-old nephew as a supplement to an order that was not quite the $25.00 required for free shipping. To my surprise, not only did he like it better than the other Pokemon publication I purchased, but his mom really liked it. An unexpected bonus!

Cool and easy, January 4, 2007
This is a wonderful way to learn to draw fro those of us not gifted in that area and for youngsters who don't know where to start. My 6 year old enjoys trying his hand at these and he does not normally enjoy drawing or coloring.

Exactly what he wanted, January 9, 2007
My 9 year old was thrilled to receive this book - he loves to draw Pokeman, but doesn't do too well freehand. This book gives him the help he needs to make impressive drawings...

Wonderful, May 13, 2007
I bought this for my son as a reward for doing well in school. He is 9 years old and in the fourth grade. It turns out my 5 year old and 4 year olds both enjoy it immensely, much to the dismay of my son (no girls allowed, lol.)

My son decided to trace the images for a quilt we are making to donate to kids in a loval hospital.

Pokemon Book, May 12, 2007
The step by step instructions is so easy anyone can do it once you practice with it. Once you get the hang of it you will be drawing Pokemon like a pro. This is a really good way to learn to draw some of your favorite Pokemon. I give it an A+++.

For the budding Artiste, June 18, 2007
Set by step instructions made it easy for my some to draw his favorite Pokemon characters. ... Read more