The Mutts Diaries

 

The Mutts Diaries

by Patrick McDonnell

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The first Mutts collection in the AMP! Comics for Kids series!

The beloved characters in Mutts have a special appeal to kids. The warm humor and friendship between unlikely characters create a special blend. Earl is a small mutt with a big heart who cheerfully tugs at the leash on the walk of life. Earl is Mooch the cat's innocent friend, as well as a witness to Mooch's antics, and is sometimes a reluctant participant. Mooch has a fuzzy way of thinking and exclaiming "Yesh!" when really excited. Lively, animated, confident, and silly, Mooch is a smorgasbord of emotions who dances with enthusiasm and sings a lot. Mooch is the curious instigator of action, while the ever-loyal Earl often gets pulled into the fray.

Created in 1994, Mutts appears in more than 700 newspapers and in 20 countries. McDonnell has received numerous awards for this strip, including the National Cartoonists Society's highest honor, The Reuben, for Cartoonist of the Year, six Harvey Awards for Best Comic Strip, Germany's Max and Moritz Award for Best International Comic Strip, and the Swedish Academy of Comic Art's Adamson Statuette. Mutts has also won awards for its environmental and animal advocacy, including two Genesis Awards from The Ark Trust, The HSUS Hollywood Genesis Award for Ongoing Commitment, the PETA Humanitarian Award, and a Sierra Club award.

Who are "The Mutts"?

 For those of you who have never read any of the Mutts comic strips, (to which I ask HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE???) let me give you a brief over view and introduce you to the delightful characters you would meet if you pick up this book.

The Mutts comics are centered around Mooch and Earl tell the stories of them and their various animal and human friends. 

(Taken Directly from http://muttscomics.com)

Based on Patrick’s own dog, the small mutt with a big heart cheerfully tugs at the leash on the walk of life.

 

The tuxedo kitty and Earl’s feline pal, with his own way of thinking and talking (“Yesh!”), and loves Little Pink Sock.

 

 

The orphan kitty and animal advocate of the strip. Shtinky's obsession is helping to save the tigers.

 

 

 

The tough, tethered dog with a soft heart, Guard Dog’s mission is to remind people that it’s wrong to chain a dog.

The lovable adopted duo made their debut in a Shelter Stories series.

The two nutty squirrels, Bip and Bop are pure mayhem, especially when they’re helping unaware passersby achieve enlightenment via the BONK!

The cat who stays under the couch and avoids Mondays.

The world’s crabbiest crustacean loves to use salty (“@#$%!”) cartoon language. 

Review:

The Mutts Diaries was absolutely wonderful! I could see this in a vets waiting room, a classroom or on anyone's shelf (young or old). 

I love the lessons the book teaches both about life and in how we should treat the animals in our lives. Anyone that has the honor of being owned by an animal will find this compilaton of comic strips both heartwarming and honest. 

This is a great book for the kid in your life who has been begging for a dog or cat of their very own. Patrick McDonnell does a wonderful job of exalting the virtues of pet adoption and having an animal in your life and hilariously points out some of the odd things animals due. Many of the pieces also hold commentary as to how we treat animals as well. For example the forever chained up Gaurd Dog who is nothing but loveable and sweet. People have become so captivated by this sweet brute looking dog that they have even started a campaign to #FreeGaurdDog!

Most excellent! I can't wait for more!

Rating:

5/5 Stars