Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera are names that just about everyone will remember from their childhoods since these two men have contributed so much to the world of animation that they rank right up their with Walt Disney. If you are looking for just a sampling of some of their creations, consider Tom & Jerry, Yogi Bear, Top Cat, The Flinstones, The Jetsons, Scooby-Doo and the Smurfs ... and this really is just the beginning. With this volume, Mallory takes readers through a journey in which they learn about Hanna and Barbera, their business and all of their great cartoons from both the big and small screen.

Hanna-Barbera Cartoons was a company started in the 1940's after Bill and Joe found that they needed to find a home to further their career as MGM and some of the other animation houses went through major adjustments, letting go most of their staffs. While they continued to produce shorts to be shown in movie theaters, they really set the stage for successful cartoons on television. In fact, they created a new form of animation that would save creative time will still putting out quality work.

Once the book brings readers through the history of the company, highlighting the various shows and characters, focus shifts to some of the biggest hits from the franchise. Each is presented with a quick overview as well as an episode guide that includes story synopses and are accompanied by amazing artwork. Much of the art included in the book is actually animation cel reprodcutions.

This is definitely a must read for big fans, and it is sure to bring back fond memories of Saturday mornings spent with cartoon friends and in sugar comas from your cereal.