SpongeBob SquarePants: The Unauthorized Fun-ography (2024)

Book 48 of 2023 - ✅! Thank you to NetGalley, Paul Volponi, Rowman & Littlefield + Rowman & Littlefield Publishers for the ARC of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Unauthorized Fun-ography, in exchange for my honest review.

Millennial, here! If you’re an American millennial who had cable growing up, and were into Nickelodeon, chances are you remember when SpongeBob SquarePants premiered in 1999. There’s also a chance that you did (and still do) quote the show; I am one of those people.

As I’ve mentioned in other reviews, I love books about the entertainment industry - it’s literally my area of expertise since I work in the business. It’s clear Volponi is a true fan of the show, and his excitement about writing a book on it permeates through the pages. Volponi’s background is in journalism, which I felt throughout the book.
He references creator’s Stephen Hillenburg’s show bible for the show (which, if you’ve ever worked in TV, you know it’s where every detail about the world and characters is kept,) he was able to secure some quotes from Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob, and Volponi also throws in some trivia questions throughout the book for readers to test their knowledge of the show. It covers the inception of the show, and does a deep-dive into the characters and multiple storylines.

This was a short, fun read that I would give a 3/5 ⭐️ + I’d recommend this to any SpongeBob SquarePants fan! 🧽 🍍 🏝️

#SpongeBobSquarePants #NetGalley

Prior to its October 11, 2023, publication, Rowman and Littlefield provided an early galley for review.

This show came along at the right time for me. My son was old enough to watch cartoons with on a regular basis, so this one was a favorite that we shared together. With so many layers, it appealed to both kids and adults alike. Those first few seasons especially, before it became a mainstream juggernaut, are pure comic gold.

As the book's full title suggests, Volponi is taking a fun approach as he looks back at the past twenty-five years of the show and its cast of colorful, iconic characters. The entire gang is here, and we get the stories behind their creations and the details about their evolutions as the series progressed.

As someone who watched from the very start (and owns four DVDs covering the first two seasons or so), the episodes that are recapped were refreshing reminders. I also appreciated all the trivial details that were sprinkled throughout the book. It truly works well as a celebration for a show that celebrates its twenty-fifth anniversary next year.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publishers Rowman & Littlefield Publishers for an advanced copy to the guide and history to the a single member of the phylum Porifera who lives in a Ananas comosus under the sea and has been involved in many fun nautical adventures, while holding down a respectable position at the Krusty Krab.

When my nephews visit I like try and be the cool uncle for them. Being a nerd of long standing, I have many things to look at, lots of books, graphic novels, comics, records and tons of movies in al formats. They look at their uncle in the eyes that I am a Boomer, Star Wars is eww, reading is ehh, TikTok rules, my movies are old and the light is good her for their Youtube. However they both love SpongeBob SquarePants, and so by proxy do I know. I was never really into the show, but now after reading this history, I think I might be going back to cool uncle status. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Unauthorized Fun-ography by Paul Volponi is a history of the show's development, an episode guide, and a peek behind the scenes of a show that people love, and that baseball players use the theme of the show to psyche themselves up when they are at bat.

The book begins with a look at the creator of the show Stephen Hillenburg, who passed away in 2018. Hillenburg was a an artist from an early age, something he was encouraged by his parents to do. Hillenburg was also interested in creatures under the sea and graduated from college with a degree in marine science. While working for an aquarium, Hillenburg invented a small comic about animal life in tidal pools, which he used to teach children about marine life, and featured many characters that showed up on television later. Hillenburg never lost his love for art and made some small animated shorts, that got him a job in Nickelodeon, working on some of the more popular shows. Soon Hillenburg was pitching an idea, about a small sponge that lived under the sea. And after some tweaks the show was green-lighted. And animated history was made as SpongeBob SquarePants aired on Saturdays, starting in 1999.

The book features also an episode guide to notable shows, interviews with Tom Kinney the voice of SpongeBob and trivia, bloopers and more. What is amazing is the longevity of the show, that like South Park, and sometimes the Simpsons shows no sigh of slowing down. Even Patrick Starfish has his own show now, one that my nephews also in enjoy, and one that I have an almost full DVR of. The book is well written with plenty of information about the show, the creators and the origin of the theme song, one that I have heard played numerous times at concerts, which again shows the popularity of the show with people. This might be aimed at older readers, but I think this is a pretty safe all ages read, there is some discussion of nudity, but SpongeBob is a sponge, and even Bart got naked on his show oh so many years ago.

Recommended for fans for again pretty much all ages, young fans will like the episode guide, older fans the stories behind the scenes. A nice gift to find, wrapped in pineapple gift wrap under the tree at the holidays.