It's Saturday Morning!

A beautifully thorough history of children's cartoons featured on Saturday morning television from the 1960's-1990's. With a full history of each show, the characters and their voice actors, this book is not only a trip down memory lane. It was enlightening to learn the backstories of some of these shows, super interesting from start to finish. Also included are blurbs called "After These Messages," which feature many of the popular toys and cereals that were advertised during these beloved shows. Packed with bright lovely photos that warmed my heart, this book is a must have for those who grew up watching these cartoons, or pop culture buffs in general!

*thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group - becker&mayer kids! for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

5 fantastic wonderful stars!!

Ohh My Lord! As a child born in 1985, I just HAD to have a copy of this. It was the cover (particularly the Care Bears picture) that grabbed me full force.

'A Look Back at Four Decades of Animation, Pop Culture, and Tradition'

I wanted to take my time with this book and thoroughly go through each and every page. I absolutely loved that the Foreword was written by Howie Mandel himself. That was another reasons I felt I would just love this. He was the perfect choice for being the one to start this book off. The cartoons are listed chronologically, from the 1960s to 1990s. The information about each cartoon makes this a really interesting read. It doesn't matter if you flip through this book because like me, you are also a child at heart looking to take a trip down memory lane or if you were born as a 2000s baby and are interested to see what cartoons were like 'back in the olden days'. This book will be a great read for you either way. Presented the way it is, it is definitely what is called a Coffee table book. Meaning it is one that you can pick up and put down as often as you want. It's an interesting read and the images are just pure love. This book easily met my expectations and did not disappoint.

This was a fun read! As someone who grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons, I enjoyed learning a little about each included show and also the extras about toys and games from the same period. While not every Saturday morning show could be included, I saw a lot of my old favorites. Thanks for the walk down memory lane!

Thank you to the authors Joe Garner and Michael Ashley, Quarto Publishing Group - becker&mayer kids! and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All comments are my own, unbiased opinion.

Perfect piece of nostalgia for anyone growing up with the age of Saturday morning cartoons. Sorted by decade, the more popular cartoons of that era are on show here, complete with a rather detailed overview of the production work and cultural impact that each one had.

A lot to like in this book. Some of the information was new to me, and I enjoyed reading about that cartoons that came before my time. Reading about the original version of Space Ghost was pretty interesting, as was the entry about Underdog who I'd previously never heard of.

The little factoids about the accompanying commercials was also a nice touch.

Liked this book a lot.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed It's Saturday Morning. I grew up watching the shows of the '80s and '90s so this was a nostalgic look to my childhood. I was tickled to see my favorite shows profiles and learn fun behind the scenes facts. The full-color photos were beautiful and brought the past alive.
I wish my children could experience the Saturday Morning cartoon tradition. Since that's not an option, this book will at least help me share the experience3.

If any of these phrases make you smile when you read them, this is a book you'll want to add to your collection. "WILMA!!!" "Jane, how do you stop this crazy thing?" "You sank my battleship!" "Not plane, nor bird nor even frog...it's just little old me...Underdog!" "Spaaaaaaace Ghost" "Jinkies" "Zoinks" "Conjunction Junction, What's Your Function?" "Let's get Mikey. He won't eat it, he hates everything. He likes it, hey Mikey!" "Wonder Twin Powers Activate" "Now you smurf em, now you don't" "Transformers....More than meets the eye" "Thunder, thunder, thundercats ho!" "I know you are but what am I?" "Cowabunga!" Part history lesson, part trip down memory lane, It's Saturday Morning is a look back at joy that was Saturday morning cartoons for generations of kids. The book examines cartoons and shows from the 1960's-1990's. The book begins with an introduction from comedian and actor Howie Mandel, which was interesting and offered a behind the scenes look at the "magic" of cartoons. Each decade gets it's own section, and each section includes history and details about several of that decades most important or impactful shows. Each show gets 2-4 pages, and there are pictures of the animation, pictures from behind the scenes, sometimes pictures of artwork or merchandise...there was a lot of information here I knew, but there was also a lot of great information I didn't know. The authors addressed some of the critical responses to some of the shows, especially those, like the Flinstones, that started out as evening "Prime Time" shows before they ended up on Saturday mornings in re-runs. Each decade also features a couple pages that address some of the most popular commercials that we would have seen when we watched. Over all, this is a fun, nostalgic and informative look back at an important time in our history, and an element of pop culture that played an important part in the childhoods of many of us. I can't help but regret that today's kids won't have Schoolhouse Rock songs playing in their heads, or be learning the importance of accepting each other, regardless of skin color, size or shape, from Fat Albert. I think we've gained so much from the Internet and vast variety of entertainment options available these days, but reading this book helped me remember that we've lost a little something too. Something that was important, helped my brother and I bond as kids, and helped both of learn, imagine, play and be silly.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Great trip down memory lane, some before my time and quite a few I'd forgotten all about. Cartoons today aren't what they used to be!

This is a wonderful retrospective for anyone whose lives were enriched by Saturday cartoons, cereal and nostalgia. While it centres on its position in American society, and avid British fan will still find it a relatable read.

This book is American so some of the shows I don’t recall seeing over here but I loved the varied mix of Saturday morning cartoons over the years. Some well known others totally new to me.
Next to Walt Disney I loved all of the Hanna Barbera shows and reading about the company was a real eye opener.
The after these messages inserts are a lovely nostalgic twist about adverts that were shown during these shows for products that were all the rage of the years.
All in all it’s a lovely nostalgic look at when Saturday Morning TV was great for animation.

I devoured this book with a huge smile on my face. I was born in 1973 and this book is an amazing glimpse behind the shows that shaped by childhood. I also love the nostalgic glimpses into the products whose commercials also captivated us....shout outs to the Lite Brite and Battleship! I especially love the look back at School House Rock (Interplanet Janet is still my jam even thought "Pluto, Litlle Pluto" is no longer the fartherest planet from our Sun....ooo-ooo!) and the Superfriends (Wonder Twins Powers, Activate!) I can't even tell you how much fun I had reading this book. and I can't wait to pick up a copy for my coffee table.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review this book

I knew most all the cartoons that were shown in this book, even if in Italy there were more Japanese Anime compared to U.S., Still it was a journey in some very good childhood memories and I enjoyed it a lot!

Conoscevo la maggior parte dei cartoni animati in questo libro, anche se in Italia la parte del leone la facevano gli Anime giapponesi. Resta il fatto che questo libro mi ha permesso di fare un salto nel passato e ricordare la mia infanzia "televisiva" e questo mi é piaciuto molto.

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

"Broadcasting into family living rooms from the 1960s to the 1990s, this wildly creative art form wrought a beloved rite of passage. From the hours of 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., parents could sleep in while their children plopped on the couch to consume cartoons galore. From Yogi Bear, The Jetsons, and Jonny Quest to The Smurfs, He-Man, and Animaniacs, this window of time promised pure entertainment and an experience that united generations."

Do you remember Saturday mornings as a kid and eating cereal in front of the TV watching your favorite cartoons? This book will bring you back to that time, which for me was late 80s and early 90s. I absolutely loved this book! The art is incredible and the interviews are great. This is a must have book for all of your inner childhood nostalgia!

#ItsSaturdayMorning
Thank you #NetGalley for this eARC

This is a brief recount of the cartoons that were shown during Saturday mornings. If you were a child and had a TV during the time this book covers, you must absolutely know what watching cartoons during Saturday morning was like. Yes, this could be a very nostalgic trip for some readers, but the book can also be a nice reference resource to add to libraries. The book is divided by decades, which are 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. It is not by all means a thorough recount, but it will get the ball rolling for those who would like to do more research about the subject. I received a free copy via NetGalley.

This book was so much fun to read! I grew up in the 80's so most of the cartoons and shows in the book I grew up on. The collection of shows is outstanding from Care Bears to Alvin and the Chipmunks and Bugs Bunny to Pee Wee Playhouse! Tons of information and interviews about the creators of the shows. Also there were commercial features that showed what was advertised during this time from Life cereal to Teddy Ruxpin. It made me wonder what happened to my Cabbage Patch doll? And were Slinky's really that much fun or was it just the commercial that talked us into buying one? My favorite cartoon, My Little Ponies, was not featured but I thoroughly enjoyed the blast from the past!

Very cool for anyone that grew up on Saturday morning cartoons! The memories of childhood sitting in front of the TV on the only morning devoted to kids. Great facts about the different cartoons and their creators. This book with give you those warm fuzzy feelings in footie pajamas good! It's laced with other bits and pieces from childhood toys and commercials, this book is a real ride down memory lane!

This book had a lot of great information about cartoons. The set-up was done very well and easy to follow. I liked the pictures, too. It was a quick and easy read. This would be a great gift for anyone who is a cartoon lover.

I loved this book! It brought back such happy memories of my childhood growing up in the 80s. Saturday mornings were for watching cartoons and the authors provided me with new insight into the shows that were such a huge part of childhood for me and so many others.

3.50 Netgalley review. Well, before the time you could watch cartoons any time you wanted- there were Saturday morning cartoons. Us “kids “woke up early on our day off school just to be able to watch these wonderful cartoons shown for half a day. This book was written about cartoons from the 60’s to the 90’s. Oh what memories it brought up reading this and also tells behind the scenes happenings and factoids about each cartoon. Little clips of commercials are shown as well. I still have “ I’m just a bill” stuck in my head to this day! Fun read for a little trip down memory lane when life was much simpler.

An enjoyable trip down memory lane in front of the TV of yesteryear, remembering everything we watched as children

Remember when you’d wake up excited that it was Saturday morning because that meant hours of cartoons and that’s really the only time you got to enjoy cartoons? There was no station or stations dedicated to cartoons then. Maybe you’d be lucky enough for a cartoon or two to be on after school, but nothing like today with cartoons showing all the time. I enjoyed learning more details (or being reminded) about favorite cartoons and even shows I didn’t watch. Information such as what channel and years on the air — some were even on a variety of channels was mentioned. Included are the voice actors’ names, words to songs and catchphrases. Pictures and details of commercials such as candy, cereals and toys (Cabbage Patch Kids, Lite Bright and Teddy Ruxpin — to name a few).

A great nostalgic look back at tv programmes of my youth. A happy few hours reminiscing with people of a similar age. Ideal book present for that hard to buy person in your life.

I loved the nostalgia aspect of this. I loved cartoons as a child, a teen and beyond.
This brings back many memories in a colorful and informative way.
Great for the nostalgia lover and cartoon buff.

Memories and Browseable Tidbits

Bugs Bunny got his name because he was first drawn by an illustrator whose nickname was Bugsy; when anyone referred to the unnamed character they called it "Bug's Bunny". If you think that's interesting or amusing, then this is the book for you.

It's organized by decade. Each major cartoon show opens with a details factoid box, (date of airing, number of episodes, and so on), and then there are two to five pages of narrative text giving you the history of the show's development and run and syndication fate. I say this is browseable because the tidbits can vary in appeal. I was actually a living kid when "The Flintstones" first came out, so I don't need a detailed explanation about how it was modeled on the TV show "The Honeymooners". Everyone knew that. But then, again, it never occurred to me that "The Jetsons" was a variation on the TV sitcom "Blondie", and was even voiced by some of the actors from that show. So, depending on how old you are, what you knew, what you now remember, and what you care about, there are all sorts of odds and ends that will entertain and amuse.

The book runs from "the 60's" through "the 90's", which makes it a sort of multi-generational journey. I'm all 60's, with a thorough knowledge of Bugs Bunny, Flintstones, Jetsons, Johnny Quest, and Underdog. The 70's, featuring Scooby-Doo, Josie, Tarzan, and Fat Albert, is a dark glass. By the 80's my kids started coming on-line, and so I'm back up to speed with Smurfs, Alvin, Transformers, Care Bears and He-Man. Then we go vague again and Darkwing Duck, Animaniacs, Pinky and the Brain, and Bobby's World are all strangers. The grandkids are now all Paw Patrol, the second life of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and P.J. Masks, but their shows are beyond the reach of this book. (The author argues that the great Saturday morning blocks ended at the end of the 90's when the networks moved away from that model, but cable and Nickelodeon would probably beg to differ on that score.)

The narrative style suits the material. It's chatty without being corny and informative without being academic. There are lots of stills from the shows and even more behind the scenes photos of the actors and illustrators. A nice touch is that each decade has a few ads for contemporary toys, (Slinky, Battleship, Transformers), that create some childhood context and prompt a few fond memories.

So, either as a trip down memory lane, or as a surprising bit of cultural history, this was an entertaining, and surprisingly informative find. And I liked the illustrations.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

This is a fine book about some of the Saturday morning cartoons (cartoons that did not necessarily air on Saturday mornings in some cities are included here as well) starting in the 1960s and continuing until the year 2000. As someone who has read a lot of books about television, I really didn't learn much new, but still enjoyed the book nonetheless. The pictures really make this book as does the articles contained within concerning the commercials that aired during these Saturday morning cartoons. I noticed a few mistakes here and there but definitely nothing that would ruin the book. I would recommend this to anyone who remembers watching 5 hours of cartoons every Saturday morning when they were a kid.

A fun trip down Nostalgia Lane. As a child of the 70s, I watched almost every one of these cartoons, first run and in syndication. While this is by no means a complete list, it covers a big portion of my Saturday morning line-up. Each cartoon covered includes basic information, such as number of seasons and episodes, years aired, networks aired on, but also gives fun, interesting behind the scenes information. Particularly interesting to me was the excerpt about Battle of the Planets, one of my favorites. Because of Broadcast Standards and Practices at the time, much of the original Japanese storyline got cut to pieces and cobbled back together. Ever wonder why Super Friends was so lame? Because Broadcast Standards and Practices was extremely strict when it came to violence- that's why the bad guys got a stern talking-to instead of a butt kicking! Sprinkled throughout the book are spotlights on the toys and breakfast cereals featured in the commercials shown during the programs; we all know the real reason these cartoons existed was to sell stuff, and these little sidebars sparked lots of nostalgia too. A great coffee table book, perfect for picking up, thumbing through, and reliving your childhood.

Thank netgally, the author for an Advanced Copy of this book. I really enjoyed this book. It's well worth reading

This book does a fantastic job of following cartoons from the 1960's - 1990's and sharing interesting facts about the shows. There is a vast amount of information, pictures, and fast facts about each cartoon. This was a walk down memory lane and middle/high school students would have a fun time reading this to see what cartoons were like years ago. This book also provides a great opportunity to compare/contrast the changes within cartoons over time. Although I would not use this book with my elementary students, I would keep it in a classroom library to read or recommend it for older students.

It's Saturday Morning! by Joe Garner & Michael Ashley was a walk down memory lane for me. Born at the tail-end of the 70s, most of these shows were staples in my life. Watching Scooby-Doo reruns in the afternoons spent at my grandmother's, and Smurfs on Saturday. Smurfs were my favourite, and still are! I was positively ecstatic when the live-action movies came out. He-Man, too! I remember being very obsessed with that cartoon. When the live-action movie came out, my parents took my neighbor and I to see it opening night.

This book looks at the golden age of animation between the 1960s- 1990s. During much of this time, viewing blocks were common on Saturday morning, lasting from 6 or 7am til noon. Smaller blocks populated weekday afternoons. Each decade has its own chapter, focusing on some of the most popular and influential cartoons of the time. Interspersed throughout are After These Messages… segments that take a look at advertised products during these decades, from Slinky to Mentos. To cover all of the cartoons during these decades would have been both a daunting write and read. I do wish cartoons like Tom & Jerry, Inspector Gadget, Mighty Mouse, Silverhawks, and Snagglepuss had been included.

It's Saturday Morning! is packed with all kinds of info and trivia, such as:

*Bugs Bunny got his name from Joseph Benson 'Bugsy’ Hardaway, a storyboard artist, when a fellow employee notated an early sketch as Bugs's Bunny.

*In the original run, Pink Panther never spoke.

*There's a city in California called Tarzana.

*Smurfberry Crunch contained an edible blue dye that turned people's poo blue. Needless to say, it was a short-lived affair.

*Many '80s cartoons- Transformers, He-Man, GI Joe- were toys before cartoons.

*There were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle condoms. (You're welcome…)

If you're an animation buff, or grew up during these decades and want a bit of nostalgia, this is the perfect book!

***Many thanks to the Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A good book for those wishing to relive their childhood Saturday mornings sat in front of the tv. Mainly aimed at the US adults, but I do recall seeing many of these in England during my childhood. It covers from the 60s through to the 90s.

Its great to read, lots of facts on the programmes and includes those hits such as Scooby-doo, bugs bunny and the Smurfs along with lots of animations and retro adverts of kids toys.

I received this book from netgalley in return for a honest review.

This was a fun, blast to the past!

I thoroughly enjoyed the 1960s and reminiscing about my growing up years and then fast forwarding to the 1980s and visiting the programs my kids loved. The book was set up easily to navigate the different decades and the pictures were a great plus.
I received an advance reader copy via Netgalley

Such a cute little nostalgic book, a great coffee table one to flick through or a gift for someone that really loves animation / cartoons.

I love this book. A wonderful book full of nostalgia for multiple generations. This is something that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

If you just look at the show list, it seems like a weird selection. Not always the most well known shows of an era. Once you get a little deeper, you realize there was a lot of thought in the choice. Each show was very meaningful, either to the era or to the genre. THese are shows that resonated or introduced new ideas or had lasting impact on culture. A bit much to slam through in a sitting but interesting to pick up here and there.

This is a good overview of Saturday Morning Cartoons. Many of the most popular cartoons are included and they give their reasons for including them. Many of your favorites however will be missing. Each cartoon has a few pages of text and lots of illustrations. I really enjoyed reading about the actors behind the voices. I also enjoyed the vintage commercial breaks. Anyone who enjoyed Saturday Morning Television Cartoons will enjoy this book buy you maybe wishing for more.