Best Antique & Collectible Toys
LEGO® Minifigure Year by Year: A Visual History shows the evolution of this classic toy for the first time ever, with exquisite photography and fascinating facts about each and every minifigure included. "[This] book is a nostalgic jump back in time to those childhood figures that we all had.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If the book wasn't enough for you, you also get 3 iconic mini-figures with the book to add to your Lego Collection!"
"The book is filled with pictures and information of Lego figures of all kinds and years past."
"hello, this book was a gift for an avid (AVID) lego fan and builder since he graduated from the lego duplo series in the 70's."
"We have checked this book out so many times from the library."
"I bought this Lego book for my son who is a lover of Lego and of mini figures. I've purchased many of the Lego books for him over the years."
"I bought this as a Christmas gift for my nephew."
"Though my son will still love the book, shoppers should be aware of the fact that they may received a version slightly different from the one pictured."
"Not only that, it comes with 3 mini figures as well."
Wired.com says, "If you're a LEGO fanatic (or know one), The LEGO Ideas Book is worth taking a look at." ©2016 The LEGO Group. He is the author of DK's New York Times bestselling The LEGO Book, The LEGO Ideas Book, LEGO Batman Visual Dictionary and LEGO Play Book.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I remember the Lego Idea Book 6000 the best, that's the one that follows Bill and Mary as they build a house, explore a city, travel to space, and then back in time to a medieval castle. The book is broken up into sections, essentially these are: vehicles, buildings, spaceships & robots, castles, pirates & adventure, and real world creations. This last section is very interesting, showing you things such as picture frames and pencil holders made out of LEGO. These include some interview style questions where you learn about the builder who wrote a particular section of the book. The lack of instructions also mean that it is probably more suited to an experienced LEGO builder - either an older child or a parent who enjoys building with younger children."
"The designs were all really cool, but we're far too complex for young kids."
"The perfect gift for kids who already have enough Legos."
"This book is much bigger than I expected!"
"I got this for my autistic cousin who enjoys legos."
"Really cool interesting ideas - my grandson loves to invent and try new ideas - great item."
"The kids liked this book filled with creative ideas for more lego masterpieces!"
"Disappointed in this book."
Building on the success of wildly popular The LEGO Ideas Book , LEGO Play Book features more than 200 different builds that inspire readers to bring their bricks to life while encouraging them to use their imagination and play in new ways, creating amazing LEGO models of their very own. There are "ten-minute builds" for quick play sessions, a "cool brick" feature with ideas for using key LEGO bricks, and a "handful of bricks" section exploring what can be done with a limited collection of LEGO bricks. "The LEGO Play Book makes it easier to think of ideas to build.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Like his previous lego book, this edition of the Lego ideas book is full of pictures of nice lego creations by some of the world's best lego builders."
"My kids, ages 10 (girl) & 7 (boy), love this book."
"So between their playroom @ home & the playroom we have set up here @ our house, I guess you could say that we must have AT LEAST one, maybe two million LEGOs??"
"So happy to get some great ideas for the Lego pieces I ordered for school."
"great bok to inspire Lego play."
"What a great book for the Lego enthusiast."
"Arrived on time and exactly as described."
"Gives ideas but doesn't give instructions to ideas ... My boys need step by step to help their building skills advance so this book was a waste of money and goes unused!"
Best Antique & Collectible Marbles
Included among the handmade marbles are old marbles of glass, earthenware, minerals, and steel; machine-made marbles are identified by their manufacturers; and contemporary handmade glass marbles by artisans recapturing the old styles and creating exciting new styles all their own. Bob Block has been collecting, appraising, auctioning, and dealing in marbles for over 30 years.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Great book on marbles, their origins and manufacturers."
"Very informative with great pictures."
"Didn't quite fill my needs."
"This was a gift for a friend."
"This is a comprehensive, well designed volume for anyone interested in learning about marble identification."
Best Antique & Collectible Toy Animals
The sections on non-model collectibles like catalogs, magazines, and promo items have been updated, along with the hobby information on mold marks, and differences in the plastics, colors, and characteristics to help you more easily determine values. She published The Breyer Animal Identification Guide and The Breyer Model Hunter's Price Guide before publishing the first edition of Breyer Animal Collector's Guide in 1998.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The book is in great condition for being used other than a strong musty smell."
"I recently had to price out my Breyer collection for insurance purposes and found this book to be an EXCELLENT resource."
"nice book on breyers."
"If you are a collector or have a collection to sell, it is a must have."
"Book was what I expected and it helps identify various items."
Best Antique & Collectible Teddy Bears
Special "Judith Picks" sections give fascinating background and valuation details for particularly interesting or unusual objects. Comprehensive sections cover ceramics, furniture, glass, silver and metalwares, jewellery and objets de vertu , clocks and watches, books, Oriental antiques, textiles, toys, decorative arts and Modern classics. She is a regular lecturer and contributor to numerous newspapers and magazines, including the Financial Times , the Daily Telegraph , BBC Homes & Antiques and House & Garden .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Only problem is that when I received it, the books protector and cover had been stabbed by a pen repeatedly."
"When it comes to antique handbooks and price guides, Judith Miller's "Antique Handbook & Price Guide" are one of the best out there. So, for those wondering what is being featured in the 2018-2019 version, here is what is included: PORCELAIN (Pages 8-47). POTTERY (Pages 48-73). ORIENTAL (Pages 74-139). FURNITURE (Pages 140-231). BOXES & TREEN (Pages 232-250). CLOCKS, WATCHES & SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS (Pages 251-285). MUSIC BOXES (Pages 286-287). SILVER & METALWARE (Pages 288-312). GLASS (Pages 313-320). LIGHTING (Pages 321-323). JEWELRY (Pages 324-338). OBJETS DE VERTU (Pages 339-365). ARCHITECTURAL (Pages 366-373). TEXTILES (Pages 374-392). BOOKS & MAPS (Pages 393-400). TOYS & MODELS (Pages 401-416). TRIBAL ART (Pages 423-435). ARMS & ARMOR (Pages 436-445). ANTIQUES (Pages 446-447). MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS (Pages 448-449). DECORATIVE ARTS (Pages 450-563). MODERN DESIGN (Pages 564-584). POSTERS (Pages 585-587). So, there are a good number of things features, especially for Oriental (Ceramics/Works of Art), Furniture and Decorative Arts (Ceramics, Furniture, Glass, Clocks, Lighting, Metalware, Sculpture)."
"It is noted also that the prices in the book are what you can expect to pay if purchasing one of these items either in an auction or collectibles shop. Also interesting is a little overall analysis at the beginning of each section taking on the overall current value and popularity of the category."
"Miller's Price Guides are meant to be cumulative in nature, meaning they don't cover exactly the same categories every year. With the enduring popularity of TV programs like "The Antiques Roadshow" and "Storage Wars", I'm sure many people are also purchasing this handbook looking for that hidden treasure. There are approximately six to eight pieces detailed on each page, with each item featuring a full color photo, a short description, dimensions, price range in US Dollars, along with a three character source code that identifies the auction house or collector from where the photograph originated. Throughout the book there are numerous "ESSENTIAL REFERENCE" and "CLOSER LOOK" insets featuring historical and other details about the various categories and subcategories."
Best Antique & Collectible Figurines
Collectors and fans will find all the information they need to identify and determine the value of each piece in their collection using this book, which is officially licensed by ARS AG, Baar/Switzerland, licensor of M.I. Enhanced and expanded section of exclusive historic drawings by Maria Innocentia Hummel paired with the figurines they inspired. Completely updated listings and values for all your old favorites PLUS the latest editions in the "2000 Series." Both the New York native's mother and grandmother collect Hummel figurines, inspiring Heidi as a young girl to follow in their footsteps.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I've had the other Hummel book for many years."
"Excellent resource for me: helped me understand all trademarks; listed all sizes and styles of same characters/children (i.e. "Going to Market" comes in several different heights) and appraise recently inherited collection."
"Great descriptions and images of the Hummels...... Great reference guide at a good price!"
"It's a book - with very nice pictures and price ranges."
"Hummel guides and current references are in short supply in print."
"The guide was as described and arrived very promptly."
"I thought that it would be all inclusive."
"Not impressed."
Best Diecast Antiques & Collectibles
This book provides a quality reference on Tonka Truck Toys produced from 1947 through 1963. The toughest toy trucks of all are also becoming increasingly tougher to find for collectors.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I used it to help price my old Tonka trucks for resale on EBAY."
"It's abundant with factory and personnel history, including photos and profiles of the folks whose backs the Tonka brand was built on. There are adequate photos of Tonka products to satisfy a 'shared read' with a youngster, and yet give the collector a proper specimin to compare his own pieces to."
"Enjoyed reading about the early years at the Tonka factory and wished the factory was still there in Mound so we could tour through it to see the toys being made."
"A terrific reference book which has helped me immensely in my collecting of Tonka Toys."
"I bought it for my husband, and he loved it!"
"I love it."
Best Popular Culture Antiques & Collectibles
The Typewriter Revolution documents the movement and provides practical advice on how to choose a typewriter, how to care for it, and what to do with it—from National Novel Writing Month to letter-writing socials, from type-ins to typewritten blogs, from custom-painted typewriters to typewriter tattoos. "Polt's account will attract those curious about the changes in technology and social patterns, since this book is really a culture critique masquerading as a history." "Polt's book is lovely and large-format with pictures interspersed among the text, which is itself delightfully hybrid: part history, part philosophy, and part user's manual, complete with labeled images of typewriters and how to use and repair them."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"bought this as a gift for our son who is a writer and we all enjoyed looking thru it."
"Richard out did himself in this masterpiece of experiential knowledge."
"Such is Polt's beautiful writing style, his thorough understanding of his subject matter and his unique grasp on typewriter use around the world in 2015, his book is at once engrossing, enlightening, entertaining and, most vitally, easy reading."
"The best book you can buy for typewriter fans!"
"Great resource full of useful information and tips."
Best Industrial & Product Design
Nir Eyal answers these questions (and many more) by explaining the Hook Model—a four-step process embedded into the products of many successful companies to subtly encourage customer behavior. Hooked is written for product managers, designers, marketers, start-up founders, and anyone who seeks to understand how products influence our behavior. "With concrete advice and tales from the product-development trenches, this is a thoughtful discussion of how to create something that users never knew they couldn’t live without." “The most high bandwidth, high octane, and valuable presentation I have ever seen on this subject.”. —Rory Sutherland, Vice-Chairman, Ogilvy & Mather. "Nir's work is an essential crib sheet for any startup looking to understand user psychology.”. —Dave McClure, Founder 500 Startups.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book lays down a model building engagement by having users constantly return to your app. The "variable" part is important - rewards should not always be predictable, encouraging users to repeat the cycle. This could be content (e.g. a book in your Kindle), user entered data (e.g. profile information or linked accounts), reputation (e.g. something to gain a 5 star seller review), or a learned skill (e.g. I wanted something that would get to the crux of the problem and set out a practical framework of how to apply it with examples, without being overly verbose on history and research."
"I don't currently do any product design but the concepts apply at some level to any kind of marketing and could be used (at least in part) for promoting a service business, a tangible product or even just ideas."
"While I enjoyed the book, I would also add that business owners and product managers (could be many other stakeholders) should also spend significant time focusing on their business model and determining who the paying customers are! A focus on a business model does not mean that you need paying customers on day one (the timing will depend on your business model), but you need to have a model that determines your revenue streams and how they will be achieved."
"I'm a product manager at a large tech company and this book breaks down the habit forming process in an excellent and easy to digest manner."
"Good book using real life examples and case studies to back up the lessons learned."
Best Stuffed Animal Crafts
With just two weeks to go before baby Edward's due date, yarn enthusiast Kerry Lord picked up a crochet hook for the first time and a new obsession began. Kerry Lord is the designer and founder of the TOFT Alpaca Shop, a modern British knitwear company offering exclusive knitting and crochet patterns, alpaca yarns and workshops.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"However, there are several negatives that kept this from being one of my favorite books. The author happens to be fortunate enough to have grown up on an Alpaca farm and be an owner of a luxury yarn co. All the animals derive their wooly huggable appearance from the texture of alpaca yarn, which is not available to everyone and is not especially practical for children's toys. I thought I might use the patterns to create my own versions, but it is simply too much frustration and there are many other books and patterns available that are much easier to use."
"Great directions that are clear and concise."
"The patterns online are great but inconsistent in size."
"Fantastic book and patterns."
"My girlfriend loves this book and has made several of the designs that are included in the book."
"ABSOLUTELY LOVE and will be ordering Kerry Lord's other book so I can crochet some wonderful looking birds for my grandbabies!"
"I have found a couple pattern errors and agree with other posts that there could be more pictures for direction and details."
"I wasn't crazy about having to flip back and forth for the directions, but the book would be a million pages long if they hadn't written this way."
Best Children's Arts, Music & Photography Books
Giraffes Can't Dance is a touching tale of Gerald the giraffe, who wants nothing more than to dance. Giles Andreae is the award-winning author of numerous children's books, including K IS FOR KISSING A COOL KANGAROO and THE CHIMPANZEES OF HAPPYTOWN.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"And I want him to be able to see that it's possible too, because I know sometimes it can be hard, especially when you're in therapy all the time and therapy is all about what's not going well and what's not going like normal, so I truly think this book has great value especially for kiddos who may struggle to do things the way other people "normally" do."
"I first read this book in a toddler book club when I was a nanny, I now read this book to my own children."
"Got this for my niece and I feel like I have way too much in common with Gerald the Giraffe."
"Great book to teach little ones to essentially march/dance to the rhythm of their own drum."
"Their love of books is amazing versus hand held techno device!!!!"
"Paired this with a stuffed, soft giraffe animal and made a great gift."
"Gave as a gift with a stuffed plush giraffe and it was a hit with the toddler and his parents."
"My 2 year old cannot get enough of this book!"