Submitted by C Matlack

The Flintstones got branded on a lot of awesome foods — cereal, soda, even vitamins — but their popsicles, sherbet Push-Ups, were the best. Great for a hot summer day, but boy did those things melt fast!

Submitted by Christina S

Doodle Bears: stuffed animals you could draw on. I have a theory that the trend of drawing on your friends after they’ve passed out stems from growing up with Doodle Bears. Of course, the phallic scribbles on your friend Jeff’s forehead will take more than a quick rinse in the washer to clean it off…

Submitted by cutekitten

Brian Jacques’s epic fantasy series Redwall was a cross between Watership Down and Lord of the Rings. I remember getting into a big fight in fourth grade over which of the books was best (it’s Martin the Warrior, obviously). Anyway, Jacques is still writing Redwall books and is now working his 21st addition to the series.

Update: Featured Comment

redreh sez:

GOD, these are the books that really, really got me into reading. I was lucky enough to get to meet Brain Jacques when he came to read in my town–he signed my 10th anniversary copy with hearts over his ‘i’s; I think I’m still just a little bit in love with him.

As for the best book in the series, I know that Martin the Warrior, Mossflower, Mariel, and Pearls of Lutra are some of the best, but Redwall, with Matthias, and all his adventures in that first book (not to mention Basil Stag) still have a special place in my heart. (It’s like A New Hope to Empire Strikes Back–it may not be the best movie, but I love it so!)

Anyway–EXCELLENT choice for nostalgia. It’s not just childhood for me–its true love.

Submitted by Colleen S

Magic Slate was a peel-back dry erase board, kind of like a poor man’s, goody-bag friendly Etch-A-Sketch. I was never able to draw anything especially impressive on a Magic Slate pad, but then again, I was thankful that it was so easy to erase — I’m sure my third grade teacher would’ve been upset about the portraits I was doodling of her.

Submitted by Tom S

Better known as the “Man of 10,000 Sound Effects,” Michael Winslow was the best part of the Police Academy films (all four hundred of them). His talents had nothing to do with post-production sound editing, but real-life vocal wizardry. Behold!