Searching for Kingly Critter : A Deliciously Different Tale of Obsession and Nostalgia

by Barry Divola

Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wistful collection of memories which seemed to be verging on the obscure, but to many may be more mainstream.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Birthday Book #65 from my friend Diana. This was a quick read, a fun and light nonfiction tale about people who collect the toys that used to come in boxes of cereal. Divola's search was for a specific toy, the Kingly Critter, leader of the Crater Critters series. Oh, he had several, but none in perfect condition with the 4-spiked crown. He expanded a magazine story into the book by searching for collectors, original designers, toy dealers, and factory workers and the factories themselves. Although the few "collections" I have in no way approach Divola's obsession, I still found myself chuckling throughout and recognizing similar patterns to my collections of Trixie books, floaty pens, Robert Frost books, Breyer horses, etc. Especially this paragraph from early in the book: "Sometimes he buys toys he already owns. 'I can use them for trades', he tells himself. Or, 'They're just too cheap to pass up." Or, 'I have that toy, but not in that colour, so maybe I should start collecting that set in every colour they ever produced.' Or simply, "Toys. Must have toys." LOL!