Collecting Simpsons! An Unofficial Guide to Merchandise from The Simpsons
by William D. LaRue

Publisher:  KML Enterprises Publishing
ISBN:  0967542103

Collecting Simpsons! An Unofficial Guide to Merchandise from The Simpsons is a very handy guide for anyone who collects Simpsons toys, dolls, games, and other items. This easy-to-read handbook has a slew of pictures of mint condition merchandise. Plus, the book gives some history of the hit television series and the craze that accompanies collecting Simpsons merchandise. The only drawback to this helpful guide is the steep price--$19.96 from the publisher. For a book that is soft-cover and only 150 pages long, this seems like a lot to pay. But if you're a fan who is hunting the Internet or local garage sales for a bargain, this book will be invaluable.

The best feature of Collecting Simpsons! is the enormous assortment of pictures with detailed captions that you'll find on every page. Most of the collectibles pictured belong to the author, William LaRue. Though the pages are black and white, you can get a very good idea of what a mint condition toy, mug, or game should look like. In addition to the pictures, there are hundreds of collectibles listed with appropriate price ranges for each item. The price guide is organized neatly into sections such as "Action Figures," "Games," or "School and Writing." One fun section called "Cool vs. Cheesy" gives examples of merchandise that has increased in value because they are true to the show, as opposed to other items that don't make the grade because they were rapidly produced without much thought.

For collectors who know little about the show, LaRue provides a few chapters for beginning fans. He writes about the origin of The Simpsons, as well as the abundance of collectibles available in the United Kingdom and Australia, the immense collection of the Bart Lady, and several other interesting topics.

William LaRue is a Simpsons fan and avid collector. His personal collection includes over 3,000 pieces. His interest in collecting Simpsons merchandise gave birth to a Web site in 1996 that has become the top resource on the Internet for information on pricing and availability of items. Because his site sparked so much interest, he decided to share his knowledge with us by releasing this book.

Though the book is soft-cover and rather lightweight, the publisher price is a steep $19.96. Many fans won't mind paying this price when they find how handy it is when they're attending the local flea market and they come across a talking Bart doll. The book is also helpful for judging prices on items for sale on the Internet.

You don't have to be a collector to enjoy reading Collecting Simpsons! An Unofficial Guide to Merchandise from The Simpsons. But you'll certainly find it invaluable.

Nancy Martin, your Guide for Simpsons Fans