Stop and Smell the Roses: A Mutts Treasury (Volume 18)

Mutts is the most beautiful comic strip; kind and loving. Even though I don’t particularly care for dogs, and we don’t own any pets, my wife and I are in love with Earl and Mooch and their friends. These treasuries are pure gold.This is a combined review of a lot of annual and treasury collections, because essentially, they are indistinguishable. In the Mutts universe, nothing ever changes. That means you can buy ANY of these books and enjoy them in any order!The annual collections this review covers are Mutts (1996), Cats & Dogs (1997), More Shtuff (1998), Yesh! (1999), Our Mutts (2000), A Little Look-See (2001), What Now (2002), I Want to Be the Kitty! (2003)Dog-Eared (2004), and Who Let the Cat Out? (2005).After 2005, Patrick McDonnell started publishing larger treasury collections instead of the smaller annual books. They are Everyday Mutts (2006), Animal Friendly (2007), Call of the Wild (2008), Stop and Smell the Roses (2009), Earl and Mooch (2010), Our Little Kat King (2011), BONK! (2012), Cat Crazy (2013) and Living the Dream (2014). Each has a year’s worth of comic strips, and some other bonus things too.And yes we own them all! See the photo - we even have little Mutts dolls, including Mooch with his little pink sock.In each collection, we meet the same sweet animals, the same delightful children (we love Doozie and her “Bobbie Doll” car), the same eccentric grown-ups, the same familiar settings (like the seashore and my favorite place, the Fatty Snax deli). We have the everyday adventures of a little dog, Earl, and a little cat, Mooch, and their friends.We also have recurring themes, like “Shelter Stories” to encourage adoption, the annual visit to the seashore to see Crabby the Crab and Mussels Marina, encounters with a bear trying to hibernate, the same birds working on getting their songs right, and attempts to tell the worlds about endangered tigers.We always keep one or two of these beautiful comic books on the bedside table. We’re read them all many times (like Earl, they are dog-eared), and often look through a few pages every night. You can’t get tired of them!If you follow the comic strip “Mutts” you know what I’m talking about. If not, well, you will love these books.Hint: You can follow the comic online at http://muttscomics.com/

Patrick McDonnell is the zen master of the cartoonist world. His artwork is masterful-often paying tribute to the grand masters of the art world. His gentle but funny characters sneak lessons in morality and philosophy into the strips with a ninja-like stealth. His strips also demonstrate his dedication to saving the beautiful creatures of this world, and remind us that we are or should be responsible shepherds and stewards of these endangered animals.

Nobody can translate animal speak into human speak like Patrick McDonnel can. He has a rare talent for showing us that we can all learn from the characters in his drawings. I find words of comfort, inspiration, humor, and contentment in his daily comic strips. Having them collected in one book is a joy. We can all take a lesson for living in our daily lives from Earl and Mooch and their friends. Stop and Smell the Roses: A Mutts Treasury

Some of the best recent strips form the past year, and as always, the diverse artwork of the Sunday strips in full color. Not everyone sees the humor in animal comic strips, and not everyone appreciates the soul of gentleness McDonnell displays, but then again, not everyone depends on blatant slapstick one-liners for a good laugh. McDonnell always shows up the good in the characters around us and gives us hope and a sense of community with life.

All of Patrick McDonnell's books are terrific and heartwarming!

Charley loves the books. Thanks, MC

This book it's a very great way to make a travel for the pet's world.... I learned some very important lessons of life.. ;)

I am always happy when a new MUTTS collection becomes available, and this one hits on all notes. I love my MUTTS! Thank you Patrick McDonnell!