No comments about The Thank You Book.

2 comments about Yesterday's Toys: 750 Tin and Celluloid Amusements from Days Gone By.

1. This a wonderful book if you love to look at the history of toys. the photos are wonderful and colorful. I am a graphic design student and my class bought this for our teacher who is always looking for photo of toys resource book. It has it all and its fun to look at.



2. As an introduction to Teruhisa Kitahara's magnificent toy collection, this book is lavish and enchanting. The large-sized, hardback coffee table book edition consists almost entirely of gorgeous, color photographs of toys from the past, which are visually interesting and require little comment. What comment there is, however, is sometimes wrong. That's not a big downside, because toy hobbyists don't read Kitahara so much to learn about their hobby, as to gaze at the wonderful treasures in his collection.

   This book is compiled from three previous Kitahara books covering, respectively, "dolls, clowns and animals"; "planes, trains, boats and cars";" and "robots, spaceships and monsters." Someone interested in one of those categories isn't necessarily interested in all three. I, for one, find myself mostly drawn to the third category of robots and spaceships.

   Other visually lavish and not-too expensive books in that category include "Vintage Toys: Robots and Space Toys" by Bunte, Hallman and Mueller. "Marx Toys: Robots, Space, Comic, Disney and TV Characters" by Maxine Pinksy includes lots of old robots because many of them were imported through Marx or its subsidiaries. "Baby Boomer Toys and Collectibles" by Carol Turpen is also fascinating in this regard. One recent book I very much like is "Space Toys of the '60s," by James Gillam, which concentrates exclusively on three toy lines: Zeroid robots from Ideal, Mattel's Major Matt Mason, and Colorforms' Outer Space Men. Along with many color and black and white photos, this inexpensive oversize paperback provides a fascinating history and personal discussion of these toy lines.

   "Toys of the 'Sixties" by Bill Bruegman is slighty harder to find, but this large paperback by the editor of "Toy Scouts" is filled with fascinating behind-the-scenes stories from the history of toys, and chock-full of black and white drawings and pictures. Finally, "Boy's Toys of the Fifties and Sixties" and its companion volume, "Girl's Toys..." is a fascinating collection of actual pages from the Sears Christmas Wishbooks from 1950-1969 (something everyone wishes they had kept). Those enchanted by the visual feast of Kitahara's book might want to peruse further in some of these other inexpensive volumes.

No comments about Figure Skating Champions Paper Dolls.

3 comments about Dolls and Teddy Bear Department : Memorable Catalog Pages from the Legendary Sears Christmas Wishbooks of the 1950s and 1960s, Volume I (Doll & Teddy Bear Department).

1. This book is AWESOME!!! I've had it for over a week now and haven't put it down. If you are a doll collector, this is definitely better than the other book "Girls Toys of the 50's and 60's" This book is primarilly all dolls, not kitchen sets, costumes, games, etc.! Although it is in black and white, the pictures are very clear and definitely help in identifying original dolls, outfits, and accessories. I'm going to also buy "Girls Toys of the 70's and 80's", but I wish they also had a DOLL ONLY book for that time period. Anyway, if you collect dolls from the 50's and 60's, this book is just GREAT!



2. Having gotten your attention, I think this is a fun book BUT the buyer should be aware that it does not represent the complete pages of dolls in each year of the Sears catalogs. If you are doing research on vintage dolls, this book will not serve you well AT ALL. It lists only a few of the dolls pages from the catalog, and it isn't clear what method the author's used to decide which to include and which to exclude. On the other hand if you just want a book for a bit of nostalgia, it is indeed a fun look at dolls from yesteryear.



3. 
   Just as the previous commnetator stated, this book does not contain all the SEARS Wishbook catalog photo from the 1950's-60's.
   
   However, since I only purchased this VOLUME ONE, it could be that VOLUME TWO had more Sears catalog photos, ---those not shown in this Volume ONE.
   
   I still enjoyed this book though, for it's historical value. As also stated by the previous commentator, this book is not really a DOLL & TEDDY BEAR Value book, but rather, it is more a book that compiles some of the 1000's of Sears catalog photos from their CHRISTMAS Catalog.

No comments about The Story of German Doll Making, 1530-2000.

2 comments about The Die Cast Price Guide: Post War : 1946 to Present.

1. Doug Kelly's new book is a nice addition to a toy collector's library. But with only 125 brands mentioned in the book, it doesn't cover even half of the known brands of diecast and related automotive toys and models. Another book, Collectors Guide to Diecast Toys and Scale Models (by Dana Johnson, $19.95 from Collector Books, ISBN 0-89145-693-7) covers 416 such brands, with another 150 brands discovered since it's 1996 release. (Over 560 brands will be included in the second edition scheduled for 1998.



2. The Die Cast Price Guide will be a greatly appreciated resource for collectors of post-war die cast vehicular toys and models, from Hot Wheels and Matchbox to Tootsietoys, Dinky Toys, Burago, Danbury Mint and Franklin Mint. The author explains how die cast vehicles are produced; what constitutes "near mint"; how to ask the right price and how to interpret today's market.

1 comments about American Rag Dolls: Straight from the Heart.

1. American Rag Dolls: Straight from the Heart (Paperback)
   by Estelle Patino
   If you love to learn about the history of our dolls, Our heritage of the Rag Doll, Then this book is a must for your Doll Library ,
   The wonderful color pictures of dolls from so long ago are just awesome.Estelle Patino Shows and describes antique and modern
   rag dolls, briefly recounts the history of the rag doll, and lists current prices,Wonderful book for referencing,educating,

3 comments about Barbie: What a Doll! (Tiny Folio).

1. This comprehensive book of Barbie's outfits is fun to look at, and I couldn't put it down for hours. If you enjoy fashion, you will never put this book down. This book is well-organized, with sections for evening wear, casual wear, etc. If you love Barbie, I really recommend this book!



2. The book is divided in ocassions, and the fashion that barbie has for each. I has both modern and vintage fashions. But it does not give the name of the fashions or the dolls in the pictures, so if you like it and want to find it , you can't. And in some vintage outfits I saw accesories misplaced or missing. All the book is pictures (well taken, bright and beautiful ones). The introduction is "barbie" talking.
   I would not recomend to buy it, it has no purpose, if you like a fashion you have to buy another book to identify it. It would have been great if the names for the thins where given.



3. I am almost 14 and i love collecting barbie i always look at this book because it one of my favorites

5 comments about Oaxacan Woodcarving: The Magic in the Trees.

1. This book is very informative for those interested in learning more about the artists behind the woodcarvings. However it only represents a few of the carvers and the photos while excellent quality will be a disappointment to those who may own or have seen many of the other wonderful carvings that these artists create. The photos seem to concentrate mainly on human style figures and although it does contain quite a few photos of animal figures most are those more on the conventional side. The more elaborate and colorful figures are not represented, neither are some of the more exotic animals like dragons, giraffes, and armadillos. There is nothing at all on the small `alien' monsters which are now considered the trademark emblems of this area. For those wanting a book to show friends just what these artists can do it will be a bit of a disappointment, however since it's the only book available at present there is little choice.



2. I picked this book up just recently and was rather delighted by what I found. Vicki Ragan's photos are lovely, but it is Shepard Barbash's text that is the real delight here. How many of those who buy this book will be like the lady below who, apparently without reading the text, complains that the book does not feature all her favorite artists and all the little alien figures which she is sure are the most important images coming out of Oaxaca?

   Please do buy this book, enjoy the lovely pictures, but then read the text. Barbash raises, rather subtlely, the question of whether these woodcarvings are folk art or a response to a commercial demand; he questions whether we are right to put our own "surrealist" readings on these wonderful little figures which are hardly conceived out of some sort of pychological dream matter.

   Instead he puts this work into its proper context. These wonderful, brightly colored woodcarvings are the work of individuals with their own stories, hopes and fears -- for whom the incomprehensible wealth and technology of the United States is far more surreal than anything they might produce.

   I have one of the cute little aliens the reader below speaks of. They are nice, but superficial beside the personal stories and personal expression that occasionally finds its way into this fascinating art that exists somewhere between folk and commerce.




3. This a beautiful and colorful book about Oaxacan Woodcarvings. It illustrates their vivid history and humble beginnings by folk-artisans in Mexico.

   Latin American crafts are special because they're created by people who have a passion for life. They express it in their art with vibrant colors and whimsical expressions.

   I sincerely appreciate the work that goes into creating these figures. This book captures all of the above and more.




4. My copy of Oaxacan Woodcarving: The Magic in the Trees arrived just before my husband and I left the U.S. for a 3-month RV tour through several states of Mexico. Much of our 4 weeks in Oaxaca were spent in small villages enjoying the colorful works and the artisans who created them. We saw a wide variety of styles and themes, many of which are represented in this book. What gorgeous colors and what a sense of humor!



5. ...I bought this book in a discount house on a whim. It has turned out to be one of the most worn books in my library. This is NOT an encyclopedia of Oaxacan woodcarvings, or a catalogue of such, which may have been to the disappointment of one of the reviewers. The writer does an OUTSTANDING job at studying this group of people and their craft/artform as an anthropological survey, that is not in the least bit dry. Great stories, and imaginative professional photography of numerous pieces. This is the book, that caused me to travel 2,000 miles and spend thousands of dollars to meet the people that the author writes about....and that is the only caveat I have towards this book; it will introduce you to a culture steeped in poignancy, depth and every bit as 'magical' as its' title suggests. 5 stars. No, 10 stars.

No comments about Fashionable Terri Lee Dolls.