This book is purchased for its content and not if one is looking for a "book-object". The cover is soft, medium format book (a little larger than a "I like to read," the illustrations are in black and white but the drawing and stories are nice. A little "cheap" to offer but good, the price should have put a flea in the ear! Perfect, by cons, if you want something other than the Game Boy to occupy your literary type of boys during the holidays!