24 books like The Moose That Roared

By Keith Scott,

Here are 24 books that The Moose That Roared fans have personally recommended if you like The Moose That Roared. Shepherd is a community of 12,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons

David Perlmutter Author Of The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows

From my list on understanding the history of animation.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a freelance writer from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, specializing in media history and speculative fiction. I have been enchanted by animation since childhood and followed many series avidly through adulthood. My viewing inspired my MA thesis on the history of animation, out of which grew two books on the history and theory of animation on television, America 'Toons In: A History of Television Animation (available from McFarland and Co.) and The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows (available from Rowman and Littlefield). Hopefully, others will follow.

David's book list on understanding the history of animation

David Perlmutter Why did David love this book?

This is the book- the one that helped me to understand why animation is and always will be important.

Maltin is thorough and impartial, explaining the strengths and weaknesses of classic animated films with clarity and skill. He has been the standard I have always sought to emulate in my own animation writing.

By Leonard Maltin,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Of Mice and Magic as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Film historian Leonard Maltin recreates a whole era of Hollywood cartoons, from Betty Boop to Spielberg's "An American Tail". It also brings the reader up to date on the modern work of Walt Disney and the Warner Bros studio, plus new developments in animation. The book includes a filmography of cartoons and sources for video rental.


Book cover of The Twilight Zone Companion

Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik Author Of Watching TV: American Television Season by Season

From my list on what TV is and how best to enjoy it.

Why are we passionate about this?

For almost fifty years, we have been chronicling American television, tracking its history, and following its transformation from the era of three networks to the cornucopia of choices now available through streaming. Along the way, we have appreciated and learned much from other TV books that look at the industry from multiple angles. When we started, there were precious few on this topic. Now, there is a surplus. These are the ones we treasure for their well-told stories.

Harry and Walter's book list on what TV is and how best to enjoy it

Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik Why did Harry and Walter love this book?

Rod Serling’s fantasy anthology (where he was narrator and chief writer) was a favorite of ours back then and still is. Despite a skimpy production budget, the show’s quality scripts, acting, and imaginative themes usually transcended the sparse settings.

Having seen most episodes several times, we still turn to Zicree’s handy book to refresh our memories of the show. This was one of the first of the “companion” books to document a memorable TV series, presenting each episode with cast and crew information, airdate, sample photo, the text of Serling’s intro and outro narration, plot summary and revealing analysis, and background details. The expanded 3rd edition (from 2018) also covers the various later revivals of the series.

By Marc Scott Zicree,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked The Twilight Zone Companion as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The Twilight Zone Companion is the complete show-by-show guide to one of television's greatest series. Zicree's well-written account is fascinating reading for even the casual fan. Coverage of each episode includes a plot synopsis, Rod Serling's opening narration, behind-the-scenes stories from the original artists who created the series, and a complete list of cast and credits.


Book cover of Creating Animated Cartoons with Character: A Guide to Developing and Producing Your Own Series for TV, the Web, and Short Film

David Perlmutter Author Of The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows

From my list on understanding the history of animation.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a freelance writer from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, specializing in media history and speculative fiction. I have been enchanted by animation since childhood and followed many series avidly through adulthood. My viewing inspired my MA thesis on the history of animation, out of which grew two books on the history and theory of animation on television, America 'Toons In: A History of Television Animation (available from McFarland and Co.) and The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows (available from Rowman and Littlefield). Hopefully, others will follow.

David's book list on understanding the history of animation

David Perlmutter Why did David love this book?

Murray, the creator of the wonderful shows Rocko's Modern Life and Camp Laslo, details in full the story of his own career in animation while at the same time exploring the mechanics of producing animation for television.

He includes interviews with his colleagues and contemporaries in the field which are revelatory about how many great programs of the 1990s and 2000s were produced, and fills a major research gap in the process.

By Joe Murray,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Creating Animated Cartoons with Character as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This is a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to creating characters and the world they live in and what it takes to get ideas on the screen. The tone is approachable and encouraging, from an Emmy Award-winning artist. It features behind-the-scenes and in-progress storyboards, photos and art from several popular animated series, such as "Rocko's Modern Life" and "Spongebob Squarepants". This book targets the scores of aspiring cartoon animators who are seeking a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to creating characters and the world they live in. "Creating Animated Cartoons with Character" was born out of Emmy Award-winning illustrator and animator Joe Murray's experiences…


Book cover of My Life in 'Toons: From Flatbush to Bedrock in Under a Century

David Perlmutter Author Of The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows

From my list on understanding the history of animation.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a freelance writer from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, specializing in media history and speculative fiction. I have been enchanted by animation since childhood and followed many series avidly through adulthood. My viewing inspired my MA thesis on the history of animation, out of which grew two books on the history and theory of animation on television, America 'Toons In: A History of Television Animation (available from McFarland and Co.) and The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows (available from Rowman and Littlefield). Hopefully, others will follow.

David's book list on understanding the history of animation

David Perlmutter Why did David love this book?

The autobiography of the co-founder of the legendary Hanna-Barbera studio is essential reading for anyone wanting to understand the history of animation in the 20th century.

Barbera, who was as gifted as a raconteur as he was an animator, writes without flinching about many aspects of his career, and the difficulties he and business partner William Hanna faced in building and sustaining their careers.

Not boring at all but highly entertaining.

By Joseph Barbera,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked My Life in 'Toons as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The author recounts his life and career, explains what inspired him to draw animated cartoons, and describes his long partnership with Bill Hanna


Book cover of Animation: A World History: Volume I: Foundations - The Golden Age

David Perlmutter Author Of The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows

From my list on understanding the history of animation.

Why am I passionate about this?

I am a freelance writer from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, specializing in media history and speculative fiction. I have been enchanted by animation since childhood and followed many series avidly through adulthood. My viewing inspired my MA thesis on the history of animation, out of which grew two books on the history and theory of animation on television, America 'Toons In: A History of Television Animation (available from McFarland and Co.) and The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows (available from Rowman and Littlefield). Hopefully, others will follow.

David's book list on understanding the history of animation

David Perlmutter Why did David love this book?

Bendazzi is one of the world's leading authorities on all aspects of animation.

This multi-volume set is his magnum opus, detailing the art of animation as it has evolved over the course of decades on multiple continents.

Thoroughly researched and documented, it is essential for any serious animation scholar's shelf.

By Giannalberto Bendazzi,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Animation as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A continuation of 1994's groundbreaking Cartoons, Giannalberto Bendazzi's Animation: A World History is the largest, deepest, most comprehensive text of its kind, based on the idea that animation is an art form that deserves its own place in scholarship. Bendazzi delves beyond just Disney, offering readers glimpses into the animation of Russia, Africa, Latin America, and other often-neglected areas and introducing over fifty previously undiscovered artists. Full of first-hand, never before investigated, and elsewhere unavailable information, Animation: A World History encompasses the history of animation production on every continent over the span of three centuries.

Volume I traces the roots…


Book cover of When Women Invented Television: The Untold Story of the Female Powerhouses Who Pioneered the Way We Watch Today

Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik Author Of Watching TV: American Television Season by Season

From my list on what TV is and how best to enjoy it.

Why are we passionate about this?

For almost fifty years, we have been chronicling American television, tracking its history, and following its transformation from the era of three networks to the cornucopia of choices now available through streaming. Along the way, we have appreciated and learned much from other TV books that look at the industry from multiple angles. When we started, there were precious few on this topic. Now, there is a surplus. These are the ones we treasure for their well-told stories.

Harry and Walter's book list on what TV is and how best to enjoy it

Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik Why did Harry and Walter love this book?

Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (writer for such publications as Entertainment Weekly and New York magazine) has smartly chronicled the medium in single-show books (most famously Seinfeldia). Here, she does the same for a reach back to TV's defining days to focus on four pioneering industry women, on and off camera: Gertrude Berg, Hazel Scott, Irna Phillips, and Betty White.

We love Armstrong’s crisp narrative style, eye for behind-the-scenes moments, and respect for each character's strength and tenacity. While her "Invented Television" title is a deliberately bold thematic declaration, we think the subtitle “The Untold Story of Female Powerhouses” best captures the book's actual scope and success.

By Jennifer Keishin Armstrong,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked When Women Invented Television as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

New and Noteworthy -New York Times Book Review
Must-Read Book of March -Entertainment Weekly
Best Books of March -HelloGiggles

"Leaps at the throat of television history and takes down the patriarchy with its fervent, inspired prose. When Women Invented Television offers proof that what we watch is a reflection of who we are as a people." -Nathalia Holt, New York Times bestselling author of Rise of the Rocket Girls

New York Times bestselling author of Seinfeldia Jennifer Keishin Armstrong tells the little-known story of four trailblazing women in the early days of television who laid the foundation of the industry…


Book cover of Tube of Plenty: The Evolution of American Television

Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik Author Of Watching TV: American Television Season by Season

From my list on what TV is and how best to enjoy it.

Why are we passionate about this?

For almost fifty years, we have been chronicling American television, tracking its history, and following its transformation from the era of three networks to the cornucopia of choices now available through streaming. Along the way, we have appreciated and learned much from other TV books that look at the industry from multiple angles. When we started, there were precious few on this topic. Now, there is a surplus. These are the ones we treasure for their well-told stories.

Harry and Walter's book list on what TV is and how best to enjoy it

Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik Why did Harry and Walter love this book?

When we set out to start writing our TV history book, we didn’t know what we didn’t know about the topic. Fortunately, we found the first edition of this book. It was invaluable to us to describe and explain where radio and television came from and how they came to be as we knew them.

This one-volume book distills the author’s masterful earlier three-volume set on this topic. Barnouw blazed the trail for us by treating broadcasting as worthy of serious historical research and analysis while never failing to make the oft-complex tales engrossing and entertaining reading. The updated second revised edition (from 1990) brings the story up to the era of cable.

By Erik Barnouw,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Tube of Plenty as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Tube of Plenty is an abridgement of Erik Barnouw's classic 3-volume History of Broadcasting in the United States. The paperback edition was first published in 1976 and a second edition in 1982.

Much has happened in television in the 1980s; the decline of the three major networks, the expansion of cable and satellite television, film channels like Home Box Office, the success of ESPN (sports), and MTV (pop music), and the increased way in which the White House in Washington has managed and controlled national news and its contents. Barnouw has added an extensive chapter dealing with the changes of…


Book cover of Nuts About Squirrels: The Rodents That Conquered Popular Culture

Donna Howard Author Of Bright-Eyes, Bushy-Tail, And The Nutty Narrows Bridge

From my list on nutty squirrel tail tales.

Why am I passionate about this?

As a child, I fell in love with picture books and the magical, whimsical worlds they opened! I recall snuggling up and listening to these tales being read to me. Later, after a bit of a struggle, I learned to read myself. From there, there was no stopping me. My library card was my most treasured, most loved possession! I quickly moved on to chapter books, then to novels, but never outgrew my love and passion for picture books! As a former teacher and now great-grandparent, I treasure the opportunity to usher children down the rabbit hole of reading!

Donna's book list on nutty squirrel tail tales

Donna Howard Why did Donna love this book?

This Squirrel book covers all the history and serves it with a big dose of nostalgia!

Do you recall being perched in front of the telly, bowl of Fruit Loops in hand, watching the latest episode of Rocky and Bullwinkle? I sure do! All your favorite, beloved squirrels are here. It's like the Who's, Who of the Squirrel World!

By Don H. Corrigan,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Nuts About Squirrels as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Nuts About Squirrels is the first book to provide a comprehensive look at how the bushy-tailed creatures have found their way into the mass media, as well as in mythology and folklore of the past. Squirrels are ubiquitous media marvels and Corrigan covers their treatment in books, newspapers, television, movies, public relations, advertising, video games and more.

Nuts About Squirrels is a fun read, whether you love or loathe these furry characters that inhabit our backyards, city parks, forests, purple mountains and fruited plains. They are all here: Nutkin and Timmy Tiptoes from the classic books of Beatrix Potter; Bullwinkle…


Book cover of One Day at Teton Marsh

Kristin Ohlson Author Of Sweet in Tooth and Claw: Stories of Generosity and Cooperation in the Natural World

From my list on interconnection in nature.

Why am I passionate about this?

I grew up in a small agricultural town in California’s Sacramento Valley, and my parents didn’t even consider worrying if I was bored or lonely when I wasn’t at school. Consequently, I spent hours in a nearby vacant lot riddled with anthills watching the ants hustle back and forth and, occasionally, inserting myself in their lives with handfuls of sugar or sticks to block their paths. Pretty sure this is where my interest in science and nature began—and maybe even my interest in cooperation.

Kristin's book list on interconnection in nature

Kristin Ohlson Why did Kristin love this book?

Published in 1957, this book is hard to find—but it’s a gem, especially for anyone who likes tromping around wetlands as much as I do.

Carrighar shows how disruption cascades through a pond ecosystem when a storm damages a beaver dam and how all the creatures living there struggle to adapt. Her careful observations of nature and scientific research allow her to show these creatures as real characters—not Disney-like humans with fur or scales, but living beings with will, curiosity, and cleverness. 

By Sally Carrighar,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked One Day at Teton Marsh as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The setting for this writing is an actual marsh in the valley of Teton Valley and every creature that is mentioned, every plant, can be seen by anyone visiting Jackson Hole. In the background are lively movements of more than fifty minor characters. Some are an otter, trout, hare, merganser, moose, leech, and snail and beaver. There are 9 fullpage pictures that are sketched.


Book cover of Of Mice and Magic: A History of American Animated Cartoons
Book cover of The Twilight Zone Companion
Book cover of Creating Animated Cartoons with Character: A Guide to Developing and Producing Your Own Series for TV, the Web, and Short Film

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