Book Description

Transformers: The Ultimate Guide is a detailed look at the fantastic world of these mechanical marvels. Follow each character's history and witness the amazing evolution of the Transformers, from physical structure and weaponry to personalities, alliances, and important battles. Detailed illustrations show exactly how each character "transforms" from warrior robot to high-powered vehicle. Special feature spreads cover all aspects of the Transformers' world and include specially commissioned maps and detailed city plans of their home planet of Cybertron, descriptions of the giant space ark in which the Transformers traveled to Earth, major wars in Transformers history, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

How Ultimate Is It?
This is a book that has guts - with its back cover proclaiming it to be "the first fully authoritative history" of the Transformers, and the interior introduction claiming that it is the "one true history" of G1, hardcore Transfans would not be frowned on for finding such statements insulting, sounding for all the world like the book will be dismissing the original comics and cartoon in favour of what IT says is right and wrong.

Thankfully, the reader will discover that this is NOT the case. The "one true history" that the entire G1 section revolves around proves to be that of the latest incarnation of G1 - the Dreamwave comic book series. While perhaps a little disrespectful to the cartoons and comics that CREATED the universe that these comics have to thank for their existence, it's understandable that this is the route taken - and the cartoons and comics themselves are hardly set by the wayside, getting multiple pages to cover their own stories. With everything from the geography of Cybertron, the history of the civil war, massive cutaways of Optimus Prime, Megatron and Unicron, profiles on selected individual soldiers and sub-groups like the Dinobots, Constructicons, Headmasters and Pretenders, the book provides a wide, general look at the G1 universe. However, it is in the cartoons and toy sections that its weakness shows, as scribe Simon Furman's lack of knowledge outside of the DW and Marvel comics results in several niggly factual errors - he's done his research, but he hasn't gone far enough to eliminate all his errors. The look of the pages is worsened by the fact that many of the toys photographed are mis-transformed, or look somewhat worn. It would have been child's play to find fans with toys that looked better than this, but they didn't bother.

Of course, the book doesn't stop at G1. There are sections for all the ensuing series - Generation 2, Beast Wars, Beast Machines, Robots in Disguise, Armada and Energon. The Beast sections are some of the nicest-looking ones in the book, with beautiful CGI art from animation company Mainframe, but each section could have done with just one or two more pages to add a little more details on the events of their latter seasons, with information on the BW events relating to G1, Transmetal 2's, or BM's Noble, Botanica and Megatron's numerous bodies limited only to the vague episode guide page (like every section of the book dealing with cartoons, the episode guide only has enough to room to include selected key episodes, so the whole story evades the reader even in these entries).

The G2 and Robots in Disguise sections, however, leave a bad taste in the mouth. There is very little to say about G2, and the section required nothing more than a comic summary and toy pictures, but in addition to this, it's been padded with an entry on G.I. Joe crossovers and fanfiction - two things which, while presented and written perfectly fine, are simply needless, and whose pages would have been bettered served elsewhere - namely in the RiD section, which is stuck only showing pictures of toys, lacking any real information on the cartoon series or characters (speculation was that this was because Disney, who own the show, wouldn't allow competitors DK access to it in time for print, but other comments by Furman imply it was bumped for the Energon section). Worsening the matter is that most of the pictures for the section are taken from adverts and package art for the toys, and feature some pretty bad mistransformations and missing parts.

The book ends with a look at Armada and it's current, sequel series, Energon, then a brief look at the Dreamwave comics, two of the best-handled sections of the book.

Looking back at what I have written here, it seems overly critical - but please, make no mistake, I heartily recommend this book. It's a brilliant overview of the history of Transformers and as concise a written guide as you could want - but it's just infuriating to me that DK's other guides for characters like Superman and Spider-Man, with their 60 and 40 years of history, could be so comprehensive, and yet the 20 years of Transformers has to be so abbreviated, with so many characters and episodes flat-out left out, to make the book an acceptable length. I am not pointing the finger of blame at anyone, however - Transformers simply has a *massive* history of characters, concepts and scenarios, making it all the more impressive and enduring. Furman's name power may make him come off as the most qualified person to write a book such as this, but some fan assistance would not have gone amiss. This would have stopped the mis-spellings (Elita One becomes "Eleta-1", for example, or the Armada episode "Cramp" becomes "Clamp") which are just the result of carelessness and not enough research, and would have provided superior toy pictures, and more accurate information about them. The toy pages are truly the weakest sections of the book - not one of them goes by that a factual error is not made. A fact-checker who truly knows his stuff - or perhaps several of them, one to each category, toy, comic, cartoon - would have caught these errors, and the book would have felt as though more care had gone into it.

Bottom line - this book is by no means an "Ultimate" guide. Entirely too much is left out, generalised or glossed over for that. But it's still a brilliant overview of Transformer history that both hardcore and casual fans should not hesitate to add to their collections.

More Than Meets The Eye
Every Transformer fan, new and old, needs to have this book. People who are only familiar with the newest incarnations can learn how it all started and long time fans will appreciate having a complete chronological account of the phenomonon. The book starts right where it should - before the original toy line or TV show and eplains the history of the Transformers homeworld Cybertron and the beginning of the war between the Autobots and Decepticons. What follows is a detailed examination/explanation of EVERY incarnation of the Transformers up to and including Energon. Character bios, selected show synopsis, toy descriiptions and inner workings of key players are all covered and supported by detailed artwork and photographs. Multiple pages are givin to the Japanese toy line and continunity as well as the US and UK comics, including the latest from Dreamweave. What more could you ask for?

Before reading this book I was skeptical about it's ablity to cover the entire Transformers universe with the detail it demands. Now that I've read all 141 pages, it has become a jewel in my Transformer collection. For once the title "Ultimate Guide" has been used appropriately!

These Transformers ARE more than meets the eye!
When I first picked up my copy(today) I thought "I'll just pick it up for Nostalgic Value and to put on my coffee table along with every other DK book" This book rocks!!!! It has like every thing Transformers ever! It has Transformers things that came out like 2 months ago! Thats really suprising to me. This book has toy guides, episode lists, detailed character bios, and comic book runs! My nitpicks about it are...
1.No prices on the toys(I have about 100 of them!)
2.Episode Listings only have about 10 eps for every season. If youre going to do it at all,do it right!
3.Major characters get 1/4 of a page bio. Bumblebee NOOOOOOO!!!!
Anyway, buy this book if you like any form of Transformers. If it be G1,Beast Wars, or even Armada...

This IS The Ultimate Guide!!!
As a longtime Transfan who hasn't even gotten halfway through this book yet, what can I say but...WOW!!!
I'm well aware of just how comprehensive and attentive to detail DK's series of guide books are - from the Marvel and DC Comics character guides to the Star Wars books, from that super-cool James Bond guide detailing every movie up to 'The World Is Not Enough' to the Lego Book which contained almost every bit of info on the Lego company you could cram into print. But the Transformers guide goes above and beyond to appeal to both the rabid fanbase and those uninitiated in the multiverse of the Robots In Disguise. If you're not a diehard Transfan but are fascinated by that little toy line that became something of a pop-culture phenomenon, then this is the perfect place to acquaint yourself with the Transformers saga.
For starters, the first part of the book deals primarily with the story that started it all - the Generation One saga. And it's pretty expansive. Everything you could possibly want to know about the Transformers - from the geological makeup of the planet Cybertron to the exact inner workings of Optimus Prime and Megatron themselves, to the personalities that make up the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons - is covered here in glorious full-color detail. Veteran TF scribe Simon Furman was the right man to put in charge of cataloguing every little detail, smartly melding elements of both Marvel Comics' continuity and that of the G1 cartoon AND the newer Dreamwave Productions comics into one cohesive timeline. Furman does pick a little at the continuity conflicts and errors that have cropped up in the past twenty years of the franchise, but it's largely unimportant as the most critical elements are still covered. And there are some elements injected therein that even a Transfan would crack a smile at: Macadams Old Oil House, for one (complete with a transforming bartender who more or less looks like an Old West barkeep in robot mode), and even a chapter outlining Optimus Prime's many deaths and resurrections (I'm not sure, but I think only Dracula has come back from the dead more times).
But there's more. The book also covers the ill-fated Generation 2 segment of the franchise, the Beast Wars days and Beast Machines, Robots In Disguise and even the Armada-Energon continuity, all with the same depth and informative style, although not nearly as much as G1 given the rapid succession of these later series. And apart from character schematics, historical data and episode synopses galore, the book also hits upon the toys themselves, detailing some of the greats and even touching upon their Japanese upbringing in lengthy exposition. It allows for a great sense of prehistory to the Transformers franchise, explaining how the original G1 line was culled together from figures included in a multitude of toy lines released in Japan by Takara.
The comic book continuities are not left out, either, making up quite a bit of the foundation of the G1 backstory. Publishers and entire story arcs are referenced here, as are some of the defining personalities who helped flesh out an ever-growing mythology - from original TF writer Bob Budiansky to innovative TF artist Don Figueroa. There are segments dealing with both Marvel's American comic and its UK counterpart (both written, at one point, by Simon Furman, which gives him further credential for bringing this thing together).
But I would be remiss if I did not mention some of the more tantalizing, more mystic aspects of the Transformers saga brought up in this volume. Specifically, the origin of Cybertron itself, and of the everlasting duel between the heralds Unicron and Primus. Their struggle adds something not expected in a toy brand involving robotic characters: a defined mythology to their world. The Transformers' religious reverence for their origins highlights another dimension to the saga that, in the big picture, may enable the unseasoned reader to understand why these big lugs continue to ignite the 'sparks' of countless legions of fans.
When they say the Transformers are 'more than meets the eye', you'd better believe it...and if you don't, get this book. Kids will be drawn in by the outstanding graphics, and the young-at-heart who enjoy all things sci-fi and fantasy-related will not be disappointed. It's worth ever penny.

the ultinate guide transformers
This book is absolutely fabulous. The illustrations and graphics are wonderful. Definetly worth the wait and money. My son is 5 and adores this book. This is his new bible. ... Read more

Book Description

The only all-access AUTHORIZED behind-the-scenes look at the making of the smash TV show, with reflections and anecdotes that readers won't find anywhere else - from cast members, writers, and creator/executive producer J.J. Abrahams. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

You need this book!
"Alias: Declassified" is THE book you have to get if you're into "Alias" or want to get into the adventure that is "Alias". Between the cover, which contains amazing graphic work, you find the absolute coolest information on all things "Alias" :there are character dossiers, behind the scenes info on stunts, special effects, costumes, and so many wonderful pictures. Mark Cotta Vaz takes the reader on a totally unique journey behind the scenes and into the world of "Alias".

While this might seem only like a great read for a true fan of the show, we all know there are people out there who are interested in the show but a little bit put off by the Bristow family tree and Rambaldi's prophecies - now, in detail every plot line is uncovered, getting you fully informed. "Alias" is honestly too-good to miss, and with this book, you'll only feel like you are more and more a part of the wonderful mythology behind the most creative and well-written television show on primetime today.

So buy "Declassified" - between the excellent photography, the fast-paced facts and details, you'll more than get your moneys worth!!

Declassified - The Best
Well, I am a huge Alias fan, and when I find out there was a book, I definitely needed to get it. It is an AWESOME book. If you've missed out on episode reviews, then this book has it. If you want to find out behind the scenes from the show, this book has it! And plus, you get one awesome DVD. FOR FREE!! It's so awesome. Totally worth it. Anyone would enjoy it. 220+ plus of PURE enjoyment!

Alias review
This book was a great read. I think that all fans should have a copy! I couldn't put it down for hours!

Wow - Exciting, Interestering, and Fun to Read!
I am a huge Alias fan. I found this book to be a great addition to my Alias collection. The book is very interesting with details about the characters, actors, design sets, and just about everything. I was interested in how some of the actors and actresses have kind of created their own characters behind the "script". It was a very fun and exciting read. I would reccomend this to anyone who is a fan of alias. You will not be disappointed as this book is entertaining AND informative, which is quite hard to find these days. If you enjoy Alias, you will love this book.

A must for any Alias fan...
This is a great book for anyone that is hooked on the spy show, Alias. I didn't start watching until the second season, so I got it to give me background on the episodes, characters, and stories. There's lots of great behind the scenes info, and facts about the cast. It's a fun, must have book for everyone that's been sucked into the world of Alias! ... Read more

Book Description

"We're the protectors of the innocents.
We're known as the Charmed Ones."
-- Phoebe Halliwell, "Something Wiccan This Way Comes"

When Phoebe Halliwell returned to San Francisco to live with her older sisters, Prue and Piper, in Halliwell Manor, she had no idea how much her life -- all of their lives -- would change. Because when Phoebe found the Book of Shadows in the manor's attic, she learned that she and her sisters were the Charmed Ones, the most powerful witches of all time.Battling demons, warlocks, and countless evil spirits, Piper and Phoebe lost Prue but discovered half-witch, half-whitelighter Paige Matthews, the sister they never knew. The Power of Three was reborn.

Now go behind the scenes on television's sexiest supernatural thriller with The Book of Three, the first fully authorized companion to Charmed. Featuring:

• Exclusive in-depth interviews with the cast and crew
• An introduction by Executive Producer Brad Kern
• Episode guides
• Character profiles
• Notable quotes
• Color photo insert

and more! The Book of Three -- your essential companion to the witty, witchy world of Charmed! ... Read more

Reviews (12)

I can't complain
This book rocks!!! It's really cool! Definitely a must-have for any Charmed fans. First of all, the appearance is cool, it has great pictures, nice printing, easy to read fonts.
It contains so much information about the show including episode guides, history, the characters, and interview with casts and crews!
I think the writers have done the best they could. I'm willingly give it five stars.
I'm really satisfied with this book. And if you like Charmed and thinking of buying it, buy it NOW!

The Best First Only Charmed Companion
The book is great, it has eveything you need, except color photos. It has the episode guide, character profiles, the spells used in tht show defenitons of terms, evey good witch's name, interviews and biographies of the charcters. Also for those of you in the dark side, it has the Grimore(think that's how you spell it), the name of every evil person, and some of the Grimore's spells. There is a speacial intro by Aaron Spelling. Just buy it and find out more, it's the best and only OFFICIAL Charmed companion.

Almost perfect book
I am obsessed with the charmed show!! This book almost a perfect companion. I am also a Prue fan, and it did not have a interview with Shannon. It also did not have a very good review of when Prue died. Otherwise, this book is really awesome! I loved the spell part of the book. The "demon-dictionary" was another highlight! I gave this book 5 stars because other than some minor glitches, I would reccomend this book to anyone in a heartbeat.

Charmed at heart

Wonderful !!!
Well, I have spent a really long time waiting for a book of Charmed like this !!! It's a treasure, a Bible of every kind of informations we could expect for about the show : the démons, all the spells until the 5'th saison, interviews... and several things moreover. Besides, it's a very confortable book to read since there is a great distribution of all the chapters. for the fans of the show, you should buy this book!! I swear you won't be dissapointed!!!

Charmed forever in our heart

The Book of Three
This book is like all the charmed books. It has a picure inside. (thats cool!)Its like this ....... Piper, Paige, and Pheobe wake up in the morning. A demon attacks so they try to find ways to kill it.So they call leo to see what he knows. If he doesn't Know anything they look in the book of shadows. They can't find anything about it in the book of shadows. Finally the Demon attacks again. So they check in the Book of Shadows again. They see a spell and potion. They make the potion and write the spell. When the demon attack the third time everything is ready so they kill him. That's mostly what happens in the charmed books. ... Read more

Book Description

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER CAN TOSS A ONE-LINER MORE LETHAL THAN HER RIGHT HOOK -- WITHOUT BREAKING A SWEAT. NOW FANS OF BUFFY'S WICKED WORDPLAY WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS EXHAUSTIVE COLLECTION OF THE FUNNIEST, MOST TELLING, AND OFTEN POIGNANT QUOTES FROM THE EMMY-NOMINATED TELEVISION SHOW.

CATEGORIZED, CROSS-REFERENCED, AND COMPLETE WITH A COLOR-PHOTO INSERT, THIS NOTABLE QUOTE COMPENDIUM WILL HAVE YOU EAGERLY ENHANCING YOUR BUFFY-SPEAK.

Reviews (15)

Nice Compilation But Not For Fanatics
Quotable Slayer is a compilation of quotes and memorable dialogue from Buffy Season 1 to Season 7. Its organized into sections such as Buffy On... and Quotable Slayer (about Slayers. Its very well organized and small enough to carry around in your bag where ever you go. The choice of quotes is good. There are a few minor errors. It includes full color photos.

A highlight is the Quotable Intro which is a nice intro to the book. I would recommend this for fans who'd like to remember things about the show, but for die hard fanatics, this book is not a necessity. You'd probably be able to rant of quotes off your mind right now without the book.

Overall, the book is nice but not something that stands out or a necessity for fans at all.

Hope they do one for Angel too.
Fun little book that compiles many of the most memorable quotes for all seven seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The book covers a wide range of quotes from the hilarious to the touching. I really enjoyed this book but I do have a few complaints. I noticed an error, they have the Xander/Andrew talking about Anya's death quote labeled as coming from "End of Days" instead of "Chosen." I think there may have been a few more mistakes but I'd have to check on those. Also, The book didn't have my favorite quote which is; "For God's sake, man, she's eighteen. And you have the emotional maturity of a blueberry scone. Just have at it, would you, and stop fluttering about." ~ Giles to Wesley (The Prom) Still, If you are a die hard Buffy fan I highly recommend this book. It's good for quick Buffy fixes on the go.

Quote Book For the Buffy Geek
This book is just so much fun. It has some of the best Buffy the Vampire Slayer quotes.
Well organized because it goes by characters and character status. Could have been more detailed by scenes. However, all , and all. Excellent keep sake.

The Quotable Slayer-lets hope for The Quotable Vampire soon
Its every fans dream. 200+ pages of the hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking dialogue of one of the best shows television has ever given us.

With sections including: The Quotable Slayer, The Quotable Watcher, The Quotable Scoobies, The Quotable Other People, and Buffy on..., and 8 pages of Color Photos, you really couldnt expect more, unless of course it was a script book.

Of course it wont have all of your favorites, because that is impossible with all of the great quips on the show, but Ostow and Brazenoff do a great job of compiling this essential quote book.

I love the cover which includes Buffy's gravestone "She Saved the World A Lot". I would definitely recommend this book.

Hopefully we get an Angel Supplement soon.

Remember that time...? No, me neither.
This is an interesting concept, and it's not bad for the price. I just wish they'd done a better job editing the book before rushing it out. There's a few quotes that are attributed to the wrong episode. That's not so dire, though. They did that in the Watcher's Guides, too. No big deal.

What bothers me is that there are quotes in the book that never made it on air. It seems their only source material was the shooting scripts, instead of actually watching the episodes. I really wasn't ready to see Tara's "Sweetie, I'm a fag." from the 'Dead Things' script be released commercially yet. ... Read more

Book Description

This colorful guide to the world of Scooby-Doo is packed with fantastic facts about Scooby-Doo and the gang, including their scariest adventures, creepiest moments, and deepest secrets. Find out what is inside a haunted house, who's in the Doo family tree, and what exactly the gang keeps in the Mystery Machine. Specially commissioned artworks, stills from all 25 original episodes and the live-action movies, and classic images of the gang and their ghostliest villains make this a unique insight into the spooky world of Scooby-Doo. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (6)

Great book
Super book, very informative, my daughter couldn't put it down. has alot of great pictures in it also great buy!

Awesome Hilary Duff book
Get all the Hilary Duff information and facts you want with this awesome book! This book is a compilation of Hilary Duff information and over 50 beautiful, high-quality photos. This book is stuffed to the brim with quotes, secrets, facts, and interesting information that Hilary Duff fans will all want to get their hands on. It gives you a brief biography of Hilary Duff, including her early movies and her Lizzie McGuire fame, up to her Metamorphosis CD and singing career. Plus, the book even includes facts on Hilary's upcoming projects, such as her new movies, and her new project, Stuff by Hilary Duff, a girl's clothing/product line. Not only that, but you'll also get information on other Hilary Duff stuff such as a day in the life of Hilary (with cool facts like what her bedtime is!), her fashion style, boy rumors uncovered, and Hilary Duff on her friends, family, singing career, acting, and more. For all Hilary Duff fans out there, this is a wonderful addition to your collection of Hilary Duff stuff. Just make sure to watch out- this book is unauthorized, so some of the facts may be wrong. Other than that, it's a fabulous Hilary Duff book!

Beautiful Hilary Duff Scrapbook
HANGIN' WITH HILARY DUFF features 48 full pages of some of the greatest photographs ever taken of Hilary, and fantastic Hilary facts that all Hilary fans will love to read. This book features information on Hilary from birth, to dance, to CASPER MEETS WENDY, to LIZZIE MCGUIRE, and so on. With information about her upcoming movies (CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, A CINDERELLA STORY, etc.), that will have fans jumping up and down about. HANGIN' WITH HILARY DUFF also features a day in the life of hilary, her pet peeves, information about her upcoming clothing/accessories/make-up line, and even contact info for her fan club.

This is a must-have for any Hilary Duff fan, as it features everything you've ever wanted to know about America's Teen Queen.

Erika Sorocco

She's a hottie
And a great influence for teens everywhere, I think she'll be a great star!

Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff is a teen pop sesation adored by tweens all over the country. This is the have-to-have book for all of her faqns. if you live Hilary Duff you will love this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (8)

Cool book
I love the tv show The OC and this book gave me lots of info that I wanted on the show's hot young cast! You'll learn everything you want to know about Adam, Ben, Rachel, Mischa and the rest of the gang. I always love to hear how my fave actors got started in their careers. It also has some funny tidbits about OC life and about the show.

Buy this book!
This book is SUPER funny! I love Adam Brody and was happy to find lots of great information on him in OC Undercover. Plus, this is cool because it is the only book on The O.C.

Excellent!
This book has tons of info on the show and the actors. I couldn't put it down! It's full of fun quotes and factoids. The quiz was fun, too. I think that all O.C. fans should pick up this book.

Fun and Straight to the point
I loved this book. Ms. Kent is hilarious in many of her comments and observations. I, unlike some other people, didn't buy this book with hopes of getting a "travel guide" of Orange County. That's not the point of this book. It is a funny and witty account of the fabulous TV show that I love so much. I love the sections on the stars (Adam BRody is my fave!)and the pics! Great summer read!

Most of this stuff isnt even true!
This book is lame! If you are going to write a book about Orange County (excuse me, the OC) then you should at least get the facts straight...I have lived in the OC all my life, and this book gave me a great laugh because it was wrong on SO many levels! People who actually live here are making fun of this book like crazy because it is SO lame. ... Read more

Book Description

This revised edition of the official biography of Mary-Kate and Ashley contains new, never-before-seen photos from the Olsen family album, info on behind-the-scenes action from their movie sets, updated fun facts, personal anecdotes and much, much more. There's a whole new chapter devoted to fashion describing what it's like for Mary-Kate and Ashley to design and own their own fashion line. They have also added insights on being executive producers and what it's like to have fashion dolls made in their image, as well as personal information about what kind of clothes they like to wear, what kind of guys they like, where they'd like to go to college, and what their plans are after college. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

MKA, teen millionaires maybe, but won't get 1 million starz
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen grew up on TV and still are on TV to this day. This is the biography written about their lives.

First time I read this, I just thought B-O-R-I-N-G cos it wasn't exactly interesting enough to hold my near-to-zero attention span. I paid about the equivalent of $6 for this book in hard back, but personally I thought that I'd put this book in the trash and read the Harry Potter books I bought in that same day.

However, then maybe I thought that I'd just give it 1 last chance. I read it again, trying to pick it up and make it as interesting as possible. No result - my brain found it boring. I DID put it back of the pile, and I DID read the Order of the Phoenix. When I finished that book and started re-reading the Goblet of Fire, but I had an overdose of Potter Magic, and I needed to get down-to-earth. I was rummanging through my book case for a factual book to help me, and my only choice was "Our Story."

I read it, reading slowly, I only planned to read it for 10 minutes, but i got hooked and read it for 1 hour. It just made me think, but it was short, so I got back to The Goblet of Fire.

Then, I read it through the day AGAIN and I found it fascinating and sooo good, I was shocked how down-to-earth they were. However then I read it again a few weeks later, and I hated the book again. So I gave it to MY twin sister Ryoko "Dark Willow" Kravaya and she h8ed it and reviewed it too. I had to do the same.

Though I enjoyed the book, I got bored of it, and probably won't read it for a while. I liked the photos, but it was not only short, but hard to make interesting...really. So I had to be patient. My sister gave it 2 stars, I gave it 3. But personally, I liked the book (after ages) but now it got boring.

Just Olsen, Just that
Mary-Kate and Ashley olsen are twins. They are actresses. So what? Tons of girls are!
This book reflects the lives of these girls. How they made it big. How they live their lives. And it explains all their endorsements. Big whoop.
This book (on the whole) is quite boring. Unless you have young girls (age 5-11) then buy it. I personally am 11, but I don't act like bubblegum pop, I listen to Good Charlotte and admire Emily Strange. That's what a real pre-teen should be doing, not some pink twins.
The Olsens are 17 years of age. I thought they would have grown up from the "Miss Popular" routine. Though they said in OUR LIPS ARE SEALED: "Life's not about being popular, it's about being yourself," does anyone actually believe them? They're actresses, they're supposed to say that! But I think that beneath all that, they're just saying to girls to be stuck-up and popular, like the Olsen twins.
These girls are Barbie Dolls, and it shows in their movies with yucky smooches and poor acting.
This book explains a lot about their lives, but I really don't think there's much truth in it.
okay, 3 or 4 years ago, I was a die-hard MKA fan. But now I've said "Bye-bye" to the movies, books and clothes, and made way for Emily Strange books and accesories.
I BEG YOUNG GIRLS TO STAY AWAY FROM THESE BUBBLEGUM SUGARY TWINS. IF YOU DON'T, YOU'LL BE ON THE RIDE TO NOWHERE! THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY ...! GET A HOLD ON YOURSELF, THE OLSEN TWINS WERE HISTORY EVER SINCE WINNING LONDON. AND THEY WILL BE 4EVA.

DARK WILLOW/RYOKO816
Emily Strange and Tenchi Universe/Tenchi In Tokyo fan. (Not Ayeka, just Ryoko/Tenchi)

Mary-Kate and Ashley: Our Story
Before I first ordered this book, I was skeptical as to if it would actualy be interesting. It sure is interesting! Evreybody loves The Olsen Twins, right? In this biography, many facts are revealed, some ones that you would never even know! For instance, Mary-Kate and Ashley lead somewhat normal lives. They have squables between their siblings, as well as homework trouble, just like any other teen. The book tells secret crushes, favorites, and their big break into showbiz. It is also packed with quotes straight from the girls. I recommend this book to any Olsen Twins fan!!!

Very Interesting
When you look at famous celebrities like Mary-Kate and Ashley, you'd expect them to go to the coolest parties ever and have very different lives because they always seem to be in the industry.But you'd be surprised what you'll REALLY find out when you read this novel.
Even said by themselves, MK & A lead very normal lives. Though it may be very hard to believe, it is true and when you read this interesting book you'll realise that being famous IS alot of fun, but it isn't all its cracked up to be!
Everyone leads normal live, including MK & A and other famous people, when they are off screen.
There are many interesting facts and funny and memorable moments that you can read over and over again. Celebrities are just like us, remember that!

The Olsen sisters sure have grown up!
Mary-kate and ashley are sixteen now and have grown up from their " Full House" days to being teen stars. This book has photos of them from cute, little michelle to where they are now. It tells how they grew up on TV, video, and movies. Today, they are teen millionares. ... Read more

Book Description

At six years old, Hilary Duff was following in her big sister's footsteps and traveling as a dancer. But she knew that acting was her true passion, and before long the precocious preteen had charted a course for Hollywood. Little Hil wowed fans with her performances in Soul Collector and Casper Meets Wendy, but it wasn't until a television show called Lizzie McGuire that Hilary became a household name.

Now this talented teen is destined for success! With a smash hit television show, a new career as a recording artist, and a line of merchandise in the works, Hilary just keeps getting hotter! Packed with trivia, quizzes, and fun facts, Hilary Duff: A Not-So-Typical Teen will give you the inside scoop on all the Duff stuff! ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Awesome book!
Thinking I had already known everything about Hilary Duff that there was to know, I picked up this book just so I could have something to read.
And you know what? This book has the things I know, PLUS the things I didn't know!
This is one of the best biographies of Hilary Duff I have ever read.
It includes fifty fast facts about Hilary, from her favorite lip gloss to what kind of shampoo she uses, a list of all of her TV and movie roles, a list of all of the songs she's ever recorded (as of early 2003), websites where you can find things about Hilary, and my favorite, the "Are You A Duff Buff?" quiz!
This book includes 16 chapters-
1. "I Think I'm A Regular Kid"
2. A Star Is Born!
3. The Soul of an Actress
4. Stepping into Lizzie's Shoes
5. Out of Platforms and into a Uniform
6. Saving the World, and Other Secret Agent Tricks
7. Lizzie Goes Rome-in'
8. Dozen This Seem Fun?
9. A Week in the Life
10. Peer into the Crystal Ball
11. A Lovable Libra
12. Here's Hil's Number (it's not what you're thinking...)
13. Words to Live By
14. Fifty Fast Facts
15. Are You a Duff Buff?
16. Hilary Site-ings

This book is 105 pages long and includes 12 glossy photos of Hilary in all different sizes!
I highly recommend this all Hilary fans of all ages and genders!
Hope that helped.
~Ashley

A Must for Hilary Fans
HILARY DUFF: A NOT-SO-TYPICAL Teen is a must have for all Hilary Duff fans. It features information about Hilary from her birth until now. With info on how she got started in acting, what her first roles were, her work for different charities, her love of animals, how she put together her album METAMORPHOSIS, and all of the stress that goes into making a movie/TV show. Also included, a day in the life of Hilary journal, quotes from the star herself, an interview with Hilary, fifty fast facts about Hilary, a quiz to see how much you know about Hilary, her life, her career, her family, and her friends, links to different Hilary Duff fan websites, and a special numerology chart that you can perform on yourself or your friends to see if you are destined to be Hilary's lifelong bud.

As someone who has read many books about Hilary Duff, I found this one by Nancy Krulik to be one of the best. She includes a lot of fun stuff for Hilary's fans to do, which will keep the interest of even the most reluctant reader, and features special bibliographies about Hilary's career, so her fans will know what other movies/TV shows they can check out to satisfy their Hilary craving. A must-have book for all fans of Duff.

Erika Sorocco

Not-So-Typical Book!!!
This book/biography is amazing. From the young Hilary to the teen sensation! The author's way of writing this book is incredible and I got all the info on Hilary! I loved the facts and quiz at the end of the book and the pictures are remarkable!
In other words, I totally loved this book!

A nice, thourough read
Dying to know everything possible there is to know about Hilary Duff, one of America's most famous teenagers? Well, this book may not tell you EVERYTHING, but it's a great start! "Hilary Duff: A Not So Typical Teen", targeted to ages 9-12, is about 150 pages, and includes an eight-page full-color photo insert. Like another reviewer has mentioned, it was written by Nancy Krulik, who is a GREAT celebrity biographer. Although I'm past the 9-12 age range this book recommends, I bought it one day at Barnes & Noble because I was feeling curious. So I read the book in about 30 minutes, and I was very pleased. You'll find out all about Hilary Duff- from her todler days; to getting started as an actress; to her days on "Lizzie McGuire", and now, her singing career. Plus, the book lists her upcoming movies and plans. At the end, there's a quiz with questions to determine how much you really know about Hilary Duff. You'll also find lots of cool facts and trivia. If you know everything that there is to know about Hilary Duff, you probably wouldn't find this book to be very interesting, but other Hilary Duff fans would agree that it's great! I enjoyed reading this book very much, and I think other Hilary Duff fans would like it too. Also check out "Hilary Duff: Total Metamorphosis," and "Hanging With Hilary Duff", two other great books about this talented teen.

this book rocks the hilary duff world!
oh I ordered this and another h.d. book from amazon on the 22 of december it said it wouldnt arrive 'till after the 24th but it came ON the 24th
its so cool
well it said hil was born in houston but she wuz born in la moved to tx and then back 2 la when she became famous.

on the r u a duff buff quiz i got all 40 of them right!wahoo! ... Read more

Book Description

The official collectors' edition is a must-have for every fan. Here's the behind-the-scenes scoop on today's hottest TV show and its stars: Katie Holmes (Joey), James Van Der Beek (Dawson), Joshua Jackson (Pacey), and Michelle Williams (Jen).This scrapbook is packed with information about the show, including:

• Behind-the scenes news about the stars
• A "Did You Know" section of extra facts about the show
• How Dawson's Creek came to be -- straight from Kevin Williamson, the hit TV show's creator
• What made it into the show -- and what didn't: actual script reproductions from the pilot episode
• "Dawson fasten your seat belt. It's going to be a bumpy life," and other favorite character quotes
• Styles of the stars

The real thing, straight from the show. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The real thing, straight from the show, by its own admission
I made my way to the WB as a result of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," so while I knew that "Dawson's Creek" was their teen soap opera but when a SNL skit made reference to Pacey I thought that was a different name for a girl. But when my students in Popular Culture begged to be able to write about this show for their television papers I started watching it (the gang was graduating from Capeside High in that episode). Last month when the show went into syndication and was available on DVD I was able to go back and watch the show all the way from the beginning and on through the grand finale (For the record, no, I was not surprised by who died or who Joey picked, not that I necessarily approved of either decision). In that context it is interesting to check out "Dawson's Creek: The Official Scrapbook" and relive the beginning once more.

The most interesting thing is that Kevin Williamson and the producers clearly thought that Michelle Williams as Jen, who had been an alien in "Species" and was about to co-star in "Dick" with Kirsten Dunst, was supposed to be the main female on the show. Of course, it ended up being Katie Holmes as Joey. Then there was the matter of Dawson's hair during that first season, which might not have made James Van Der Beek look five years young, but certainly made him look immature (although the book claims the look is supposed to be "poetic"). Then there are the "More than 80 photos!" promised on the cover, almost all of which are the four main heartthrobs in various combinations (but none of Joey and Pacey, oddly enough), and which easily convince me that Michelle Williams smiling and showing her teeth looks a lot better than smiling with just her lips (you have to pay attention to details like this to really appreciate a show).

The main thing is that this scrapbook is fan friendly. You get short bios of both the four characters and the actors playing them, shots of the locations where the show was filmed, shots of some of the favorite scenes, and the best lines from the first season (e.g., "I just think out emerging hormones are destined to alter our relationship and I'm trying to limit the fallout"). There is also a brief section on "Styles of the Stars" where we learn Pacey is "a D student with a Julius Caesar haircut" and a couple of pages of actual scripts from the show (that is "couple" as in two). The chief attraction remains the inside tidbits, as to who was creator Kevin Williamson's high school sweetheart that served as the model for Joey (Fanny Norwood), the name of Josh Jackson's Rhodesian Ridgeback (Shumba), and where they film the exterior scenes for Capeside High (University of North Carolina at Wilmington). So, what you end up with is not great, but certainly worthwhile at this price.

Good for the 'major' fans!
This is good for fans of dawsons creek. Its full of pictures, but most are from the first season. Its not got a story line or anything its, just something to look threw that you would do very quickly and probably never look at again. If you just love the show, your gonna want to get this, but i would recoment getting one of the Dawsons Creek novels instead because they are far more entertaining!

The low down on the lifes of the star's at Dawson's Creek!
This book is a must have of any Dawson's Creek fan! The book doesn't have a story line like any other Dawson's Creek book but describe the lifes of the 4 main characters in the Creek and in real life. By reading this book you find out about the star's past , present and future television and film jobs . The book gives you information about which star bring's his dog to work every day , what starsign they are and what there nick-names were ! You also find out about the characters in the creek which is a great help to those people who haven't seen Dawson's Creek and don't know the back grounds of all the characters. If this hasn't grasped you there is a piece by the producer Kevin Wialliamson with his thoughts and comments. The book also has a copy of some of the original T.V script with Kevin Williamson comments . My favourite part of the book is a page full of some of the most famous quotes ever in Dawson's Creek which reminds you of past events in the Creek. Over all I find this book a inspiring guide to the minds of 4 of the most confused teenagers which makes it a perfect guide to Dawson's Creek!

The book is a must have for fans.
The book is a must have even though the true fans probably already know all of this stuff. The book has the best quotes and tells about the characters and the actors. The only thing people don't probably know is about the changes in the piot script. Over all its a pretty good book. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

THE BEST DAWSON'S CREEK BOOK BY FAR!
This has got to be the best Dawson's Creek book. It is a guide-- it has info about every person, character, etc., but it goes farther. It every episode up until the end of the second seaon. What makes it great is that it has all the episode music, quotes from EVERY episode, interviews with people like Kevin Williamson, places to get info on the internet and TONS of pictures... it has pictures on basically every page. It is great. Go out and get it now! ... Read more

Book Description

See all your favorite Scooby characters in this sticker book, including Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Daphne, Velma, and Fred. There are more than 60 stickers of the Mystery Inc. gang and the ghastly ghouls they unmask. Have a hauntingly good time! ... Read more

Book Description

With insights into a timeless cast of characters-including superheroes such as Superman and Wonder Woman and villains such as Solomon Grundy and The Shade - Justice League: The Animated Series Guide is a super-cool resource for fans of the popular series. ... Read more

Book Description

Featuring more than 60 full-color, reusable stickers - including every Disney rogue from Captain Hook to Cruela De Vil - this book offers readers a huge range of creepy stickers and villainous facts. ... Read more

Book Description

Churning the dirt on massive tires and rattling the air with gigantic engines, monster trucks are the BIGGEST, BADDEST, LOUDEST machines in motor sports! Read the inside story of the top trucks and drivers from Monster Jam events. Discover what it takes to design and build a vehicle as big as an elephant. Learn what it feels like to drive a high-flying, car-crushing monster truck! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Monster Trucks Review
I really liked this book. It told me all I really needed to know about Monster Jam and the Monster Trucks that raced in the rally's. The pictures really had action like the real thing. And you can trust me I've been in six of these events straight. It has eleven interviews of the Monster Trucks. It's like you are behind the wheel and you know exacly what your doing. From the kill switch to the gears you learn everything. The trucks 1,500 horsepower engines. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Overview of Character
Looking through this book made me all too aware of how comics have changed since I was a kid. As a tie-in to the upcoming Halle Barre movie, Dowling Kindersley has released this visual companion. The latest in their comic book and cartoon volumes; most of which have been fun to read and a pictorial treat.

While the research has always been first-rate, and I can't fathom the hours that were spent selecting the pictures; I have to confess that all the different interpretations of Catwoman would be confusing to the first time reader, and I'm not really referring to the character's different outfits.

For me the most fun is looking at the time, and I wish Mr. McCloud would spend a few more pages on it. For Catwoman, I would have loved a bit more discussion of the pre-Crisis (no longer in continuity) Helena Wayne/Huntress character that was Catwoman and Batman's daughter in another reality. And I would have appreciated a few panels from the Marshall/Englehart seventies storylinea, and more from the animated series version

Mr. Brubaker, current writer of the Catwoman comic book, does a great job with his introduction to the text. And again Mr. McCloud shows his editoral talent and research ability. But I find myself missing the brigher colors and storylines of my youth in contrast to today's issues.

After reading several of this DK visual guides, I have to confess I'm still looking forward to a few more volumes in the future. They can be fun.

(...) ... Read more

Book Description

A fun and funny guide to making great videos.

Anyone can make a video (we've all seen other people's home movies, ugh!). But can anyone make great videos? Of course! Say hello to Attack of the Killer Video Book.

Hilarious yet instructive text provides kids with a thorough overview of all the tricks of the movie-making trade. From coming up with great ideas, to organizing a video shoot, to finally piecing it all together, Attack of the Killer Video Book walks readers through every stage of video production.

Camera-less activities like scriptwriting and storyboarding will help bring ideas to life. Simple suggestions on camerawork will turn technophobes into sharp-shooters. There are even hot tips for safe special effects and handy hints for the big premiere. Meanwhile, hip and helpful illustrations will keep everything cool and clear.

All this makes Attack of the Killer Video Book as sensible as it is sidesplitting, and kids who use it are all but guaranteed fame! Okay, they may not have fame, but they'll sure have fun (and learn something too).

Chapters include: - The Story - The Technology - The Special Effects - The Big Show - The Final Touches ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Movie Magic
In Attack of the Killer Video Book, Mark Shulman and Hazlitt Krog, two veteran American filmmaker/writers who specialize in young people's film and video production,provide everything young people need to know to create their own masterpieces on video. Illustrated by artist Martha Newbigging's cartoons, the book stands out for a number of reasons, particularly the authors' ability to walk that fine line between making filmmaking seem "cool" to young readers while at the same time dispensing the kind of practical technical advice they need.

Shulman and Krog cover every imaginable aspect of moviemaking, including scriptwriting, choosing locations and costumes, shooting, and editing footage. What's more, they go beyond the technical details of production, providing excellent instructional material that teaches young readers how to brainstorm potential story ideas and how to promote their work and organize a premiere screening. Readers will benefit by the outstanding organization of the text into step-bystep thematic chunks - including assembling a production team, instructions for directors, handling and operating a camera - while at the same time enjoying the high-energy prose and lively illustrations.

Adults will value the book's underlying can-do theme, which shows how young people can create something of lasting value on their own while learning important lessons about creativity, team-building and seeing a big project through to completion. As a writer and organizer of film discussion groups for kids, this book is highly recommended. ... Read more