I should admit from the outset to being something of a Toby Twirl fan. As a child in the fifties, he caught my imagination in a way Rupert simply failed to. The pictures just seemed to have a vibrancy and "life" that his better known, and ultimately much more famous rival lacked.

Martin Hockley’s slim volume will certainly awaken memories in many and perhaps introduce Toby Twirl to a wider audience. The short biographies of Toby's author and illustrator are particularly welcome, as little or no information had previously been available. However, the book's primary value is as a collector’s guide.

The "Toby Twirl Adventures" and "Toby Twirl Tales" series will be familiar to many collectors and children’s book dealers but some of the other titles, particularly those in the "rarities" section, were new to me.

A full description and high quality photograph of every title, together with issue points, make for easy identification. A price guide is included, which while useful, perhaps understates the comparative rarity of some of the titles.

This indispensable guide can be purchased directly from the author at tobytwirl.co.uk.

Mike Goodenough. 09.05.03