For many kids who grew up in the nineties, nothing says "nostalgia" likes oozing green slime.

Sounds like an odd memory, right? Not if you grew up with the Nicktoons.

Nicktoons have long been the staple for Nickelodeon's television line-up. Since 1991, animators have worked to provide original cartoons like nothing else out there, resulting in such classics as Rugrats and Doug, as well as newer hits like Avatar: the Last Airbender and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius. Although these cartoons have sometimes pushed the envelope a little more than some parents would like (et tu, Ren and Stimpy?), they have undoubtedly been major players in the world of entertainment.

For the first time, Nickelodeon has released a book which recounts the history behind the Nicktoons. This large coffee-table book contains sketches, anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes looks at what made these classic shows the breakaway hits that they are.

Not Just Cartoons: Nicktoons! provides the most in-depth look to date at more than 30 of the entertainment brand's best shows into one volume, beginning with Ren and Stimpy in 1991 and ranging all the way to their newest show, The Mighty B, which is slated to premiere in 2008. Each section contains original sketches, behind-the-scenes looks, and a dialogue with the show's creators about how it was developed and pitched to Nickelodeon.

Oh, and did I mention? The book comes wrapped in a plastic dust cover... filled with trademark Nickelodeon slime. Fantastic.

Not Just Cartoons will delight all Nickelodeon fans, no matter what generation of Nicktoons they have grown up with. College students will be delighted to see sketches of Ren and Stimpy's Powdered Toast Man and original artwork for Rocko and the O-Town gang, while younger fans will be excited by the extensive coverage of newer shows such as Danny Phantom and The Fairly Oddparents.

Even parents, who may not have watched the shows but have most certainly purchased the toys, movies, and t-shirts these shows have spawned for their kids, may be interested in some of the details behind the shows that have become so key to their children's lives. For instance, the character of SpongeBob SquarePants originated from an educational comic that the show's creator, Steve Hillenburg, wrote in 1989 called "The Intertidal Zone." This cute and comic-book-esque look at underwater life is introduced by none other than a cute, smiley little critter called "Bob the Sponge."

The artwork of the book is beautiful. Full-color storyboards, rough pencil sketches, and still-frame illustrations fill the pages of this book, showing the evolution of the Nicktoons from the first pitch to the final product. The text of the book is simple by comparison, but still covers a wide breadth of information and hits the key points for each show.

Not Just Cartoons would be a great holiday gift for Nicktoons fans and animation aficionados alike. The wide variety of cartoons covered makes it attractive to fans of all ages, and the slimy cover leads to some great double-takes upon first glance (and holds a handprint remarkably well, too). Check out this comprehensive compendium of cartooning and take a nostalgic look back at the cartoons that shaped an entire generation.