Amazon.com (ISBN 0439103975, Paperback)

Zen masters never said, "You must learn as much as you can about your Pokémon," but Professor Oak certainly did. The grand teacher of Pokémon introduces this handy book about the Japanese craze that took over America in the form of a video game, trading cards, and a popular TV show. The handbook--written as if the young reader were a Pokémon trainer like Ash, Misty, and Brock--teaches kids which cards are the best to win a game and illuminates the stories behind the TV show. Geared to young readers, this engaging, colorful book is not for the Pokémon expert who has copious spreadsheets of statistics. You'll find fun facts about each Pokémon (Charmander is two feet tall and its element is fire, in case you didn't know), a clear guide to the evolution of certain characters, and a helpful pronunciation guide (great for parents). The book could have used a pictorial index of all 150 characters, but that won't stop fans from wearing out this handbook during their adventures as a Pokémon trainer. --Doug Thomas