View source for The Official Pokémon Handbook

:''Due to technical limitations, '''The Official Pokémon Handbook #2''' and '''The Official Pokémon Handbook #3''' direct here. For pages about those books, see [[The Official Pokémon Handbook 2]] and [[The Official Pokémon Handbook 3]].''
{{BookInfobox
|title=The Official Pokémon Handbook
|image=The Official Pokémon Handbook second edition cover.png
|image_size=250px
|ISBN=0439103975
|pages=144 (original)<br>160 (deluxe)
|publisher=[[File:Scholastic logo.png|164px]]
|author=[[Maria S. Barbo]]
|published=July 1999
|previous=None
|next=[[The Official Pokémon Handbook 2|The Official Pokémon Handbook #2]]
}}

'''The Official Pokémon Handbook''' by [[Maria S. Barbo]] is a handbook that was published by [[Scholastic]] in July 1999, advertised as "your complete companion to all 150 Pokémon characters!" to serve as a rudimentary, paper version of a [[Pokédex]]. Despite this, and like many printed Pokémon books, it has multiple errors and misprints. Its first two versions contain entries for each of the original 150 [[Generation I]] Pokémon. The Deluxe Collector's Edition, published on November 1, 1999, features extra content and individual entries for {{p|Mew}} and {{p|Togepi}}.

==Publications==
{{publications/h|Kanto}}
{{publications|cover=The Official Pokémon Handbook second edition cover.png|edition=First|country=United States|company=Scholastic|date=July 1999|ISBN=0439103975}}
{{publications|cover=The Official Pokémon Handbook Deluxe edition cover.png|edition=Deluxe|country=United States|company=Scholastic|date=November 1999|ISBN=0439154049}}
{{publications|cover=First Edition Official Handbook.png|edition=Prototype|country=United States|company=Scholastic|date=Unknown|ISBN=Unknown}}
|}

==Entries==
The entries for the Pokémon are structured in an easy-to-read page setup. Each Pokémon has either an entire page to itself or shares a page with another member of its evolutionary family.

Each entry is topped with a large box containing the Pokémon's name and [[National Pokédex]] number. The color of the box reflects the featured Pokémon's [[type]].

Stock artwork of each Pokémon is the main focus of its entry page. Underneath the picture is a short description about the Pokémon that is similar to a Pokédex entry. Occasionally, a page will also contain a "Pokédex Pick," which is additional information about the Pokémon, often an anecdote about the Pokémon's appearance in the {{pkmn|anime}}.

The sidebar of each entry contains the following stats:
* Pronunciation
* [[Type|Element]]
* [[Pokémon category|Type]]
* Height (in inches)
* Weight (in pounds)
* Techniques ([[move]]s the Pokémon will already know)
* Other Techniques (moves the Pokémon will learn as it levels up)
* Good Against (lists what type advantages it has over other Pokémon)
* Bad Against (type disadvantages against other Pokémon)
* Evolution (Normal, Stone, Trade, or None)
* Evolves at Level: __
Levels are not given for when Pokémon will learn techniques, although they are listed in the order in which they are learned. Moves that can be learned from [[TM]]s are not listed.

At the very bottom of the entry there are evolution chains to show the Pokémon's [[evolutionary family]]. Pokémon that do not evolve or have not yet been revealed to evolve do not show an evolution chain.

==Other content==
The book has an introductory chapter titled "A Word From [[Professor Oak]]". The chapter describes the premise of the handbook and the Pokémon world in general (this information is largely influenced by anime [[canon]]). It also contains a preface called ''The Pokémon Journey'', an illustrated map of the [[Kanto]] region, and another preface, ''Battle Basics'', as well as a ''How to use this book'' diagram. 

At the end of the book, there is a list of ''Top 10 Ways to Care for your Pokémon'', ''Secrets of the Gym Leaders'', ''Meet the Elite Four'', some FAQs, information about {{p|Togepi}}, a sneak peek of Generation II Pokémon, and a checklist for catching all the Generation I Pokémon and Togepi. The Deluxe Collector's Edition also has information on characters from the {{pkmn|anime}}.

===Blurb===
====First edition====
''It's the video game, TV cartoon, and collectible toys that have the whole world going Pokémon crazy. If you're caught up in the whole Pokémon phenomenon, you gotta, gotta, gotta get the inside guide to each and every one of these megapopular pocket pals.''

* ''THEY'RE ALL HERE!—From {{p|Pikachu}} to {{p|Pidgeotto}}, {{p|Squirtle}} to {{p|Snorlax}}, {{p|Charmander}} to {{p|Caterpie}}.''
* ''COMPLETE WITH EVERY STAT—Who they'll blow away in battle, their techniques, evolutionary style, and ''more''.''
* ''SECRET FACTS—Did you know that the swirl on {{p|Poliwag}}'s stomach changes direction when it [[Evolution|evolves]] into {{p|Poliwhirl}}? Lots more inside info!''
* ''TRAINING TIPS—let a weaker Pokémon start a battle and then switch to another before it gets hurt. This is a quick way to build up a Pokémon's [[experience]] [[level]].''

''It's everything you need to become the coolest Pokémon trainer, ''or'' the world's greatest [[Pokémon Master|Pokémon master]]!''

====Deluxe Collector's Edition====
''If you want to be a Pokémon trainer, you gotta get the DELUXE Collector's guide to all'' <big>{{color|{{blue color dark}}|151}}</big> ''megapopular pocket pals, plus {{color2|000|Togepi (Pokémon)|Togepi}}. Check out what's inside!''

* {{color|{{blue color dark}}|NEW POKÉMON!}} ''The baby Togepi and the super-rare, super-powerful {{color2|000|Mew (Pokémon)|Mew}}.''
* {{color|{{blue color dark}}|BONUS POKÉMON POSTER!}} ''Starring all 151 Pokémon, plus Togepi.''
* ''How to join the'' {{color|{{blue color dark}}|POKÉMON LEAGUE}}.
* ''The scoop on all eight'' {{color|{{blue color dark}}|GYM LEADERS}}.
* ''All you ever wanted to know about'' {{color|{{blue color dark}}|POKÉMON TRAINERS}} ''{{color2|000|Ash Ketchum|Ash}}, {{color2|000|Misty (anime)|Misty}}, {{color2|000|Brock (anime)|Brock}}, {{color2|000|Team Rocket trio|Team Rocket}}, and more!''

{{color|{{blue color dark}}|EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BECOME THE WORLD'S GREATEST POKÉMON MASTER!}}

==Trivia==
===Errors===
* {{p|Venusaur}}'s entry lists its "element" as {{2t|Grass|Poison}}, but also lists its element as "Seed", which should refer to {{pkmn|category}}, not its type.
* In {{p|Beedrill}}'s entry, {{t|Psychic}} is misspelled "Pychic".
* {{p|Pikachu}}'s entry states that the whole species naturally dislikes being held inside [[Poké Ball]]s, but this should refer only to [[Ash's Pikachu]].
* {{p|Raichu}}'s entry lists its "evolution" as normal despite requiring a [[Thunder Stone]]. In the book, "normal" evolutions occur from leveling up.
* {{p|Meowth}}'s entry says it is the only species that can {{pkmn2|Talking|talk to humans}}, but only one known {{MTR}} can do so and only because he taught himself. Furthermore, many other Pokémon are capable of speech, telepathically or otherwise.
* {{p|Lickitung}}'s entry mistakes the effects of {{m|Wrap}} with {{m|Supersonic}} and vice versa.
* {{p|Koffing}}'s page notes that [[James]] said Koffing "smells like old sneakers soaked in stinkbug juice mixed with some rotten eggs and dead fish with just a touch of skunk fumes!", but he was referring to {{p|Gloom}} in the episode ''[[EP026|Pokémon Scent-sation!]]''.
* In the first edition and early printings of the second, {{p|Hitmonlee}} and {{p|Hitmonchan}}'s entries state that they do not evolve, yet both contain an evolution chain graphic suggesting that the former evolves into the latter. Later printings and the Deluxe Collector's Edition fix this.
* On {{p|Hitmonchan}}'s page, its right arm is the same color as its "clothes."
* {{p|Mew}}'s page says "Techniques: NONE" even though it Learns {{m|Pound}} at level 1, nor is Pound listed in Mew's other techniques.
* The Gym Leader section mistakes [[Misty]] as [[Celadon City]]'s Gym leader and [[Erika]] as [[Cerulean City]]'s.
* In the Deluxe Collector's Edition, Ash's profile lists both {{AP|Pidgeot}} and {{AP|Lapras}} as being in his party despite the fact that by the time Ash caught Lapras, Pidgeot had already left the team and should therefore have been on the list of the other Pokémon he used to own.
* In the Deluxe Collector's Edition, Sabrina's profile states that "a very goofy {{p|Gengar}} taught her to smile" instead of {{TP|Sabrina|Haunter}}.
* The moves {{m|Flamethrower}} and {{m|Thunderbolt}} do not appear in the first edition.
* In the Deluxe Collector's Edition, the index lists Togepi on page 133, but it is actually on page 155.  
* The back cover asks "''Did you know that the swirls on {{p|Poliwhirl}}'s stomach changes direction when it [[Evolution|evolves]] into {{p|Poliwag}}?''" It is actually the opposite.
* On the back of the Deluxe Collector's Edition, it says ''All you ever wanted to know about Pokémon Trainers {{Ash}}, {{an|Misty}}, {{an|Brock}}, {{TRT}}, and more!'' However, Team Rocket is a [[villainous team]], not a Pokémon Trainer. However, this may be referring collectively to [[Jessie]] and [[James]].

==In other languages==
{{Langtable|color={{Red color}}|bordercolor={{green color}}
|cs={{tt|Oficiální Pokémon příručka|The Official Pokémon Handbook}}
|hr={{tt|Službeni Pokémon Priručnik|The Official Pokémon Handbook}}
|fr_ca={{tt|Le Guide officiel de Pokémon|The official guide to Pokémon}}
|de={{tt|Das offizielle Pokémon Handbuch|The Official Pokémon Handbook}}
|it={{tt|Il grande libro ufficiale dei Pokémon|The big official Pokémon book}} 
|pl={{tt|Wielka księga Pokémon. Złap je wszystkie!|The Big Book of Pokémon. Catch them all!}}
|pt_br={{tt|Manual Oficial do Pokémon|The Official Pokémon Manual}}
|ru={{tt|Справочник чемпиона покемонов|The Manual of the Pokémon Champion}}
|sk={{tt|Oficiálna Pokémon príručka|The Official Pokémon Handbook}}
|sv={{tt|Den officiella Pokémon-Handboken|The official Pokémon-Handbook}}
}}

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[[Category:Guide books]]

[[it:Il grande libro ufficiale dei Pokémon]]
[[zh:宝可梦手册（学乐）]]