Finally, a biography series about people who really matter to kids rtoon animators. The titles in the Contemporary Cartoon Creators series not only look at the childhoods, influences, and careers of the creators but also highlight their struggles and determination to turn original ideas into award-winning cartoons. Stephen Hillenburg and SpongeBob SquarePants emphasizes how Hillenburg's early career in marine biology shaped his signature character and the child-friendly innocence of SpongeBob. Complemented by color photos of the cartoonists and their groundbreaking characters, the books draw attention to the social commentary often seen in these shows and how their creators have responded to criticism and controversy. They're scholarly enough for serious biography studies yet plenty of fun for leisurely readers.