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What Is the Story Of?
What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo?
Your favorite characters are now part of the Who HQ library!
Nothing mysterious about it! Learn all about how Scooby and his friends took over Saturday mornings--and then the world--in this debut title in the What Is the Story Of? series.
Most kids are familiar with the always-hungry, scaredy-cat Great Dane called Scooby-Doo and his true-blue friends of Mystery Inc. But how did Scooby and the gang make it onto the silver screen? Author M. D. Payne lays out the whole groovy tale in this book that's sure to have readers shouting, "Zoinks!"
Nothing mysterious about it! Learn all about how Scooby and his friends took over Saturday mornings--and then the world--in this debut title in the What Is the Story Of? series.
Most kids are familiar with the always-hungry, scaredy-cat Great Dane called Scooby-Doo and his true-blue friends of Mystery Inc. But how did Scooby and the gang make it onto the silver screen? Author M. D. Payne lays out the whole groovy tale in this book that's sure to have readers shouting, "Zoinks!"
112 pages, Library Binding
First published April 16, 2019
49 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
M.D. Payne
15 books9 followersM. D. Payne was born in 1978 in New Hampshire to an Air Force Family and grew up in 11 different homes in Maine, California, Idaho, Florida, Virginia, Ohio, and Germany. As a child, he was a ravenous reader. While in elementary school, his favorite past-time was creating cut-and-paste scrapbooks of presidential facts that remain in his mother's possession today. M. D. has been a fan of Halloween and horror into adulthood, so he jumped at the chance to write marketing and creative copy for the famed GOOSEBUMPS series in 2007, and was soon pulled into the world of kidlit. He wrote his first books, the gross-out horror series MONSTER JUICE, from 2012–2014, and then became involved in the NY Times bestselling WHO WAS series, tackling spooky titles like "Who Is R. L. Stine?" and "What is the Story of Scooby-Doo?"
Before M. D. was a writer, he was a Jazz DJ, wrote scripts for Jazz at Lincoln Center Radio, and was associate producer on Essentially Ellington recordings and public radio programs such as "Honky Tonks, Hymns, and the Blues" and "W.C. Handy’s Blues." He took that decade of experience and poured it into the WHO WAS book on Jazz legend Duke Ellington. "Who Was Duke Ellington?" will be available December 1, 2020.
A fan of kids, reading, and especially kids who read, M. D. gives presentations on reading and writing to children and parents alike at numerous schools around the country, and around the world via Skype. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.
Before M. D. was a writer, he was a Jazz DJ, wrote scripts for Jazz at Lincoln Center Radio, and was associate producer on Essentially Ellington recordings and public radio programs such as "Honky Tonks, Hymns, and the Blues" and "W.C. Handy’s Blues." He took that decade of experience and poured it into the WHO WAS book on Jazz legend Duke Ellington. "Who Was Duke Ellington?" will be available December 1, 2020.
A fan of kids, reading, and especially kids who read, M. D. gives presentations on reading and writing to children and parents alike at numerous schools around the country, and around the world via Skype. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
December 17, 2019
Though I’m not a kid anymore, I sometimes feel nostalgic for my childhood’s favourite shows. Lately, I came across a book with a familiar Great Dane on the cover, which made me buy it asap. The book was What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo?, written by M. D. Payne and illustrated by Andrew Tomson. Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! was one of my favourite cartoons, so I needed more information about Scooby, his friends and their spooky adventures.
In this book you are going to read about the story behind the creation of the Scooby-Doo cartoon, Scooby’s character and backstory, the Mystery Inc gang (Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy), Scooby-mania, his legacy and many more interesting facts you may not know about.
“This dog, who didn’t even realize how brave he was, stumbled into hundreds of mysteries, and into the hearts of viewers around the world. (...) He has conquered television, comics, movies, books, and more—in more than 160 countries.” What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo? Page 3
Scooby’s story starts from Silverman's initial idea and the first episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! to each spin-off that either added new characters or updated the story to appeal to newer audiences. I’ve learned a little more about Scooby as a character, his family, his friendship with Shaggy, Scooby’s popularity beyond TV and so on. I enjoyed reading about the story behind the cartoon, who designed our beloved Great Dane, who voiced him, but also how Scooby’s creators always improved the show, keeping its viewers happy.
What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo? is easy to read, it has beautiful illustrations of Scooby and his gang and it contains sidenotes about the entertainment industry and the people behind the cartoon, a timeline and a biography.
Why is Scooby-Doo such a beloved cartoon? It teaches kids to overcome their fears, the importance of friendship and staying true to one’s self because you don’t have to be a superhero to save the day.
In this book you are going to read about the story behind the creation of the Scooby-Doo cartoon, Scooby’s character and backstory, the Mystery Inc gang (Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy), Scooby-mania, his legacy and many more interesting facts you may not know about.
“This dog, who didn’t even realize how brave he was, stumbled into hundreds of mysteries, and into the hearts of viewers around the world. (...) He has conquered television, comics, movies, books, and more—in more than 160 countries.” What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo? Page 3
Scooby’s story starts from Silverman's initial idea and the first episode of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! to each spin-off that either added new characters or updated the story to appeal to newer audiences. I’ve learned a little more about Scooby as a character, his family, his friendship with Shaggy, Scooby’s popularity beyond TV and so on. I enjoyed reading about the story behind the cartoon, who designed our beloved Great Dane, who voiced him, but also how Scooby’s creators always improved the show, keeping its viewers happy.
What Is the Story of Scooby-Doo? is easy to read, it has beautiful illustrations of Scooby and his gang and it contains sidenotes about the entertainment industry and the people behind the cartoon, a timeline and a biography.
Why is Scooby-Doo such a beloved cartoon? It teaches kids to overcome their fears, the importance of friendship and staying true to one’s self because you don’t have to be a superhero to save the day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2022
I'm Very Much an Old-School Scooby-Doo Fan, So this Book Suited me to a T, Though the Less Said about Scrappy-Doo the Better.
August 27, 2019
Scooby Doo is my life (I mean the original theme song is def my ringtone) but I know I don’t know everything about the history of Scooby so this was a fun read. The beginning almost lost me because it skirted around history and felt a lot like a Yu-Gi-Oh episode with too many references to the power of friendship but I definitely learned a few things and although I’ve seen 85% off all Scooby shows I skipped over some of the modern ones so I may have to go back and revisit.
Read
April 10, 2020does this even count?
oh well. bittersweet nostalgia ❤️
oh well. bittersweet nostalgia ❤️
Read
January 25, 2022Did I read a kids book just for nostalgia? Yes. Yes I did.
January 16, 2024
In all honesty, I’m not sure why I decided to read this. But I’m so glad I did! I learned so much about Scooby that I didn’t know before. The timeline of the events and shows was perfect and I really enjoyed the way everything was presented. I remembered some gems I’d forgotten about! As a self-proclaimed Scooby Doo aficionado, this book was helpful and so fun to read. Scooby shaped my life in a way I’ll never be able to understand, and I loved learning more about him.
July 18, 2019
an interesting children's book about on of our favorite cartoons and how it came to be and last over the decades.
August 3, 2020
I love that some things can be shared through generations.
December 31, 2022
Well researched, though could have even more information. Good children’s book
December 19, 2023
I love finding out about the growth of Scooby! Where it started to where it is today!!! Love this one!
February 17, 2024
This is a great little book that came into my life at a very appropriate time. I was looking for info on the voice of Daphne because there was going to be a voice actor at a local convention that had Daphne on her resume.
I remember watching the original Scooby-Doo TV series when I was a kid. That was the 1970s, probably not the first run of the series, but I was never sure.
I really didn't keep up with it though, had no idea that there had been so many different Scooby series over the years.
Five years ago, I moved to Florida and got a job at Universal Studios where I was delighted to learn that the Scooby gang are regular characters in the theme park! At the same time, I got Netfix and found the various newer Scooby series that are out there. I've enjoyed watching, especially, the Mystery, Inc. series very much.
So, Scooby and the gang came back into my life in a BIG way and I love it. But I was still a bit confused about how many series there had been and when they came out, etc. This book takes you though the whole complicated history!
The first Scooby episode premiered on September 13, 1969. And it was on Saturday morning. So I was watching reruns in the 70s after school. Yay! That mystery is solved. I remember loving the show because it was a cartoon, but it had an actual plot line - one that you had to think about. Unlike, say, the Road Runner, where each episode was basically the same.
Also, looking back, Velma was a rare smart girl on TV at that time. I liked her for being smart - but didn't realize how unusual it really was until I was older.
There's lots of good information in here - including the appearance of several of Scooby's relatives. One of which was called Scooby-Dum?! I might actually be glad I missed that one. I do remember Scrappy-Doo and recall that I found him highly annoying.
There was, however, a series that only featured Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby. I'm interested in learning more about that one. I have always loved Daphne. I love that she wears purple and I used to love how she would stand and move so unlike other cartoon characters. That was a big influence on me when I was younger. If I wanted to be "ladylike," I would try to stand like Daphne! :)
The only complaint I have is that while some of the voice actors are discussed, the voice of Daphne is not discussed. I think I might have read somewhere that the original voice actor for Daphne has passed away, but so has Casey Kasem, and yet he is mentioned. So, I'm not sure why that was omitted.
But, it's still a great, quick read and I highly recommend to all Scooby fans out there. And based on the long lines I see in Universal Studios when these characters come out...there are a lot of you fans out there. Adults and kids alike love these characters and it warms my heart to see little kids excited to take pics with characters that I loved when I was their age.
Long live Scooby! And Daphne! And Fred, Shaggy and Velma. ;)
I remember watching the original Scooby-Doo TV series when I was a kid. That was the 1970s, probably not the first run of the series, but I was never sure.
I really didn't keep up with it though, had no idea that there had been so many different Scooby series over the years.
Five years ago, I moved to Florida and got a job at Universal Studios where I was delighted to learn that the Scooby gang are regular characters in the theme park! At the same time, I got Netfix and found the various newer Scooby series that are out there. I've enjoyed watching, especially, the Mystery, Inc. series very much.
So, Scooby and the gang came back into my life in a BIG way and I love it. But I was still a bit confused about how many series there had been and when they came out, etc. This book takes you though the whole complicated history!
The first Scooby episode premiered on September 13, 1969. And it was on Saturday morning. So I was watching reruns in the 70s after school. Yay! That mystery is solved. I remember loving the show because it was a cartoon, but it had an actual plot line - one that you had to think about. Unlike, say, the Road Runner, where each episode was basically the same.
Also, looking back, Velma was a rare smart girl on TV at that time. I liked her for being smart - but didn't realize how unusual it really was until I was older.
There's lots of good information in here - including the appearance of several of Scooby's relatives. One of which was called Scooby-Dum?! I might actually be glad I missed that one. I do remember Scrappy-Doo and recall that I found him highly annoying.
There was, however, a series that only featured Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby. I'm interested in learning more about that one. I have always loved Daphne. I love that she wears purple and I used to love how she would stand and move so unlike other cartoon characters. That was a big influence on me when I was younger. If I wanted to be "ladylike," I would try to stand like Daphne! :)
The only complaint I have is that while some of the voice actors are discussed, the voice of Daphne is not discussed. I think I might have read somewhere that the original voice actor for Daphne has passed away, but so has Casey Kasem, and yet he is mentioned. So, I'm not sure why that was omitted.
But, it's still a great, quick read and I highly recommend to all Scooby fans out there. And based on the long lines I see in Universal Studios when these characters come out...there are a lot of you fans out there. Adults and kids alike love these characters and it warms my heart to see little kids excited to take pics with characters that I loved when I was their age.
Long live Scooby! And Daphne! And Fred, Shaggy and Velma. ;)
June 8, 2019
My students, who love the “Who Was?” Series, are super excited about this new “sister series” coming out by The Who Was crew entitled “What is the Story of...” This series seems to focus on significant contributors to pop culture instead of historical figures. It begins with this one about Scooby Doo which I think both adults and kids will really enjoy! The new series is done with the same excellent quality as its predecessor and will surely be a hit with kids.
May 1, 2019
This was an interesting little read. I learned a lot about how Scooby Doo began, and I had no idea that Casey Kasem was the voice of Shaggy for many years. I also didn't know that there were so many spin-offs of Scooby Doo. It was nostalgic reading this book, as it brought back memories of enjoying the show as a kid.
September 9, 2019
This book provides a fun-and-fact-filled introduction to Scooby Doo and his mystery-solving friends. The author provides great background information on the 1960's Saturday morning cartoon scene and how Scooby Doo came to be. A guided tour of Scooby's TV shows, movies, and other appearances follows, illustrated by line drawings and informative sidebar articles about laugh tracks, Daytime Emmy Awards, and much more!
Scooby is turning 50 years old later this week, so this is a great time to read up on everyone's favorite canine sleuth! Highly recommended for Scooby fans old and new, and for anyone who wants to learn more about the global Scooby phenomenon and the creative, talented people behind it.
Scooby is turning 50 years old later this week, so this is a great time to read up on everyone's favorite canine sleuth! Highly recommended for Scooby fans old and new, and for anyone who wants to learn more about the global Scooby phenomenon and the creative, talented people behind it.
September 18, 2022
It is a nice book. That's why I gave it five stars. Very detailed. Scooby Dooby Doo is one of my favorite series. I watch it almost all the time and now I finish that whole series. I actually thought there was no main character in this series. But after reading I found that it's Scooby-Doo the dog. You can still watch it right now. It is a Saturday morning cartoon that has deputated in 1969. And the Scooby-Doo is a very lovable dog who solves Mysteries with his best friends they are Velma Shaggy Fred and Daphne. For more details please check out the book.
September 2, 2023
I did enjoy this book. I am a huge Scooby-Doo fan but didn't grow up on it. I just got really big into it this summer. There was some great information that I already knew, and some that I didn't that extended my knowledge. Although good, it's more centered around Scooby than the rest of Mystery Inc. Of course I like Scooby, he is hilarious, but my favorite character is Velma Dinkley. I was just hoping there'd be more info about her, Daphne, and Fred. There was a good amount of info for Shaggy though. Besides the lack of info for the rest of Mystery Inc., it was a good book.
June 10, 2019
Super interesting read for elementary and early middle schoolers. It even goes into some history of animation techniques and television. Plus I never knew that the character design for Scooby was first drawn by a Japanese American artist who was inspired to become an illustrator by other artists while living in an internment camp.
September 4, 2019
I love this series of books! They give my elementary students facts in a funny and easy to read format about famous places, events, and people. To discover that there is one in the series about Scooby-Doo just raised my opinion of the series even higher. Yes, Scooby-Doo needs a biography about him just like other famous cultural icons.
March 7, 2024
Such a cute and fun book! With it being a children’s book, it took me no time at all to finish. It’s full of pictures and facts of Scooby Doo. Scooby Doo is my all time favorite. And he’s my 3 year olds son as well. (He just got a Scooby doo bedding set for his birthday :) ) I loved finding out more about the people who illustrated and created this amazing set of characters.
August 3, 2020
When I was a kid this would have been a great book to have, but it’s not very in depth and is basically just a wiki page. Still a good book to get kids to read, so I shouldn’t be to hard on it considering I’m 40.
August 21, 2020
I didn't like it as much as I thought I would. What little information/trivia about the show I already knew. It's mostly about the impact of Scooby-Doo on pop culture and the made-up backgrounds of the characters.
December 19, 2020
I’ve loved Scooby Doo since I was a child! It was so interesting getting to read about the process behind it. I’m not a fan of some of the newer animation (Be Cool, Scooby Doo!) but I do love how they keep finding ways to bring Scooby to new generations.
August 13, 2023
All the information I needed about Scooby-Doo. I love these books, and this was no exception.
The Scoobie apocalypse graphic novels are pretty sick. Highly recommend those novels as well as this book.
The Scoobie apocalypse graphic novels are pretty sick. Highly recommend those novels as well as this book.
May 3, 2019
Great children’s book about Scooby-Doo and his history throughout television and movies!
July 25, 2019
This short book gives a brief, excellent look on the history of Scooby-Doo!
October 25, 2019
I learned some pretty interesting facts about one of my favorite cartoons.
October 29, 2019
I didn't realize Scooby was 50 years old! Interesting story of the cartoon's history.
December 26, 2019
I still watch the reruns❤
January 1, 2020
A simple telling of the history of the creation and current circumstances regarding the beloved Great Dane known as Scooby-Doo. This book is worth the read!
January 27, 2020
Read to my kids for school. Wonderful background on how Scooby Doo and the gang came to be.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews