Best of
Humor

2001

Calvin and Hobbes: Sunday Pages 1985-1995: An Exhibition Catalogue


Bill Watterson - 2001
    Then Bill Watterson came along and reminded a new generation of what older readers and comic strip aficionados knew: A well-written and beautifully drawn strip is an intricate, powerful form of communication. And with Calvin and Hobbes, we had fun—just like readers of Krazy Kat and Pogo did. Opening the newspaper each day was an adventure. The heights of Watterson's creative imagination took us places we had never been. We miss that.This book was published in conjunction with the first exhibition of original Calvin and Hobbes Sunday pages at The Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library. Although the work was created for reproduction, not for gallery display, was a pleasure to see the cartoonist's carefully placed lines and exquisite brush strokes. In an attempt to share this experience with those who were unable to visit the exhibition, all of the original Sunday pages displayed are reproduced in color in this book so that every detail, such as sketch lines, corrections, and registration marks, are visible. On the opposite page the same comic strip is printed in full color. Because Watterson was unusually intentional and creative in his use of color, this juxtaposition provides Calvin and Hobbes readers the opportunity to consider the impact of color on its narrative and content.When I first contacted Bill Watterson about the possibility of exhibiting his original work, I used the term "retrospective." He replied that we might be able to do an exhibit, but that calling it a retrospective made him uncomfortable. He felt that a longer time was needed to put Calvin and Hobbes in the historical perspective implied by that term. Nonetheless, this show is a "look back" at the comic strip as we revisit favorites that we remember. Calvin and Hobbes: Sunday Pages 1985-1995 is particularly interesting because each work that is included was selected by Bill Watterson. His comments about the thirty-six Sunday pages he chose are part of this volume. In addition, he reflects on Calvin and Hobbes from the perspective of six years, and his essay provides insights into his life as a syndicated cartoonist.Reprint books of Calvin and Hobbes are nice to have, but the opportunity to see the original work and read Bill Watterson's thoughts about it is a privilege. He generously shared not only the art, but also his time and his thoughts. When I first reviewed the works included in the exhibit, I knew that everyone who visited it would begin with laughter and end with tears.On behalf of all who enjoyed Calvin and Hobbes, thank you, Bill Watterson.--Lucy Shelton Caswell, Professor and Curator The Ohio State University Cartoon Research Library, June 2001

Big Nate: Dibs on This Chair


Lincoln Peirce - 2001
    

David Sedaris - 14 CD Boxed Set


David Sedaris - 2001
    Now, for the first time on CD and in a convenient box set, he gives voice to his biting sensibility.Barrel Fever and others Stories is Sedaris' first collection of comic stories and essays. Performed by David and Amy Sedaris, this program is described by the New York Post as "a nuclear barrage of humor you could never replicate by reading this material on your own."In Holidays on Ice, Sedaris skewers the absurd conventions and contrivances of the holiday season, with hilarious effect.Naked, a riotous compilation of stories performed by David and Amy Sedaris, was praised by Publishers Weekly as "highly likeable and spirited throughout."Traveling from his childhood in North Carolina to a second linguistic childhood as a non-French-speaking citizen of Paris, Me Talk Pretty One Day is both poignant and full of humor.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Primary Phase


Douglas Adams - 2001
    The day aliens decide to demolish the Earth to make way for a hyperspace bypass is the day when Arthur Dent realises the futility of such advice. The story begins when Arthur, not really your average man-in-the-street, finds that his planet is suddenly destroyed around him, and the great hitch-hike begins... Starring Peter Jones as The Book, Simon Jones as Arthur Dent and Geoffrey McGivern as Ford Prefect, this is the first Douglas Adams' legendary radio series.3 CDs. 3 hrs.

Erasure


Percival Everett - 2001
    But as both a writer and an African American, he is offended and angered by the success of We's Lives in Da Ghetto, the exploitative debut novel of a young, middle-class black woman who once visited "some relatives in Harlem for a couple of days." Hailed as an authentic representation of the African American experience, the book is a national bestseller and its author feted on the Kenya Dunston television show. The book's success rankles all the more as Monk's own most recent novel has just notched its seventh rejection." "Even as his career as a writer appears to have stalled, Monk finds himself coping with changes in his personal life. In need of distraction from old memories, new responsibilities, and his professional stagnation, Monk composes, in a heat of inspiration and energy, a fierce parody of the sort of exploitative, ghetto wanna-be lit represented by We's Lives in Da Ghetto." But when his agent sends this literary indictment (included here in its entirety) out to publishers, it is greeted as an authentic new voice of black America. Monk - or his pseudonymous alter ego, Stagg R. Leigh - is offered money, fame, success beyond anything he has known. And as demand begins to build for meetings with and appearances by Leigh, Monk is faced with a whole new set of problems.

Dispatches from the Tenth Circle: The Best of the Onion


Robert D. Siegel - 2001
    But will those Nobel bastards honor them, too? Only God, our merciless and just God, knows."-Dave Eggers"The funniest publication in the United States."-The New Yorker"This publication is tasteless and destructive to our shared values. Read it for yourself and you'll see what I mean. Seriously, what else could make me laugh-much less laugh uproariously-while being offended week after week after week?"-Al Gore"The Onion is the funniest thing in news since Dan Rather's spooky stare."-Matt Groening"Brutal satire that rushes into the far reaches of race, class, sexuality, and culture where many publications-and critics-fear to tread."-Chicago Tribune"The Onion, unlike any other entity in our media culture, offers a refreshingly honest look at our complicated life."-Ken Burns

Peanuts: The Art of Charles M. Schulz


Chip Kidd - 2001
    Schulz and his art, providing an unprecedented look at the work of the most brilliant and beloved cartoonist of the twentieth century. Here is the whole gang–Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Snoopy, Peppermint Patty, Schroeder, Pig-Pen, and all the others from the original Peanuts strips.More than five hundred comic strips are reproduced, as well as such rare or never-before-seen items as a sketchbook from Schulz's army days in the early 1940s; his very first printed strip, Just Keep Laughing; his private scrapbook of pre-Peanuts Li'l Folks strips; developmental sketches for the first versions of Charlie Brown and the other Peanuts characters; a sketchbook from 1963; and many more materials gathered from the Schulz archives in Santa Rosa, California.The art has been stunningly photographed by Geoff Spear in full color, capturing the subtle textures of paper, ink, and line. The strips–which were shot only from the original art or vintage newsprint–reveal how, from the 1950s through 2000, Schulz's style and the Peanuts world evolved. The book features an introduction by Jean Schulz and has been designed and edited by renowned graphic artist Chip Kidd, who also provides an informed and appreciative commentary. This celebration of the genius of the most revered cartoonist of our time is a must for anyone who has ever come under the spell of Peanuts.From the Hardcover edition.

Are You Dave Gorman?


Dave Gorman - 2001
    They visit Scotland, Israel, America, France and Ireland. They even hold a party in London where 50 Dave Gormans attend, including two women who have kindly changed their name via deed-poll. Silly, but engrossing, fascinating and addictive - and a touching, funny story of two friends who grow to share a mutual obsession.

Agnes Browne Trilogy Boxed Set: The Mammy, The Chisellers, The Granny


Brendan O'Carroll - 2001
    The Agnes Browne Trilogy includes: * The Mammy * The Chisellers * The Granny

Junie B. Jones's First Boxed Set Ever!


Barbara Park - 2001
    Jones. This four-book collection chronicles the first four adventures in the highly popular series from award-winning writer Barbara Park. Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus, Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business, Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth, and Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying are featured in all their hilarious glory.Junie B. is a feisty firecracker with her own sense of style, strong opinions, and a serious loathing for the stinky yellow school bus. Junie B. exhibits the many traits of a headstrong youngster, from her persistence to her amusing defiance. And just try and keep up with her raidly developing philosophy. Volumes can be written about this girlie's worldview, from cribs ("A crib is a bed with bars on the side of it. It's kind of like a cage at the zoo. Except with a crib, you can put your hand through the bars. And the baby won't pull you in and kill you") to water fountains ("No putting your mouth on the water spout. Or else germs will get inside you. And you will die"). Full of surprises and endowed with an extra-large sense of humor, Junie B. Jones is decidedly the funniest kindergartner in the world. (Amy Barkat)

The Dog Is Not a Toy: House Rule #4


Darby Conley - 2001
    This freshly amusing strip is a darling among readers who enjoy pets with an attitude. This wry cartoon features Rob Wilco, a mild-mannered ad guy who's guardian to two rambunctious pets: Bucky, a temperamental cat who carries a boom box and goes on spending sprees, and Satchel, a gentle canine who tries to remain neutral even when he bears the brunt of Bucky's mischief. Together, this unlikely trio hangs out together, watching TV, cooking for friends, and attempting the occasional adventure outside. Anyone who has a pet or even knows one will find this Get Fuzzy collection, The Dog is Not a Toy, an astutely witty take on relationships between the species.

Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood


Mike Artell - 2001
    He presents no match for the spunky heroine and her quick-thinking cat TeJean, though, as they use some strong Cajun hot sauce to teach Claude a lesson he will never forget!The combination of hilarious rhyme and exaggerated art creates a highly original retelling of the classic fairy tale. A pronunciation guide/glossary accompanies a tempting dialect that begs to be read aloud or acted out again and again. This is Little Red Riding Hood as she's never been seen before: Cajun and ducky.

How to Be Totally Miserable


John Bytheway - 2001
    No matter what happens, they can always find a cloud attached to their silver lining. How do they do that? How do miserable people get that way? This book has the answers! With surefire suggestions like "Recycle regrets," Take counsel from your fears," "Relive your bad memories," and "Blame everyone and everything," you'll learn how to be a breath of stale air at any occasion. (Caution: There is a risk--while musing on methods for misery, you may also discover the highway to happiness.)

Butt-Naked Baby Blues: A Baby Blues Treasury


Rick Kirkman - 2001
    As usual, Darryl and Wanda have their hands full chasing, refereeing, and pleading with their adorable and hilariously true-to-life kids. Featuring the best of Lift and Separate, I Shouldn't Have to Scream More Than Once!, and Motherhood Is Not for Wimps, it also includes original gems and insight from the creators themselves.

Napalm & Silly Putty


George Carlin - 2001
    I THINK.In Napalm & Silly Putty, George Carlin, the thinking person's comic, offers a hilarious new collection of razor-sharp observations on God, language, death, pets, driving, food, sports, airplanes, advertising, news, businessmen, and much, much more!* Just when I discovered the meaning of life, they changed it.* If people climb Mt. Everest because it's hard to do, why do they go up on the easy side?* With a little effort, oxen can be trained to genuflect and whistle softly in the moonlight.* How can it be a spy satellite if they announce on TV that its a spy satellite?* If people stand in a circle long enough, they will eventually begin to dance.* Guys don't seem to be called "Lefty" anymore.* No one quite knows what's next, but everybody does it.* I think it would be great if you could make a guy's head explode just by staring at him.* Am I the only one who's noticed that the Lone Ranger and Tonto never got their laundry done?You'll learn what Carlin thinks of saving the planet, his suggestion for revamping the prison system, and why he prays to Joe Pesci. Add to the mix "The Ten Most Embarrassing Songs of All Time," "The 20th Century Hostility Scoreboard," and "People I Can Do Without," and you have an irresistible assortment of quips, probes, thrusts, and verbal ordeals that are as smart as they are infectiously funny.

Take Me Out of the Bathtub and Other Silly Dilly Songs


Alan Katz - 2001
     "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and "I've Been Working on the Railroad"? Well, forget 'em! Songwriter and comedy writer extraordinaire Alan Katz has turned those and other old favorites on their ears and created new nonsense songs kids will love. With zany, spirited pictures by illustrator and cartoonist David Catrow, this kooky collection guarantees laughs and plenty of silly dillyness for kids everywhere!

Robert Anton Wilson Explains Everything (or Old Bob Exposes His Ignorance)


Robert Anton Wilson - 2001
    A once-in-a-lifetime audio meeting with The Illuminatus! Trilogy author Robert Anton Wilson- bringing you face-to-face with this unconventional and brilliant novelist, visionary, and "standup comic for the mystically inclined." Features Wilson on futurist psychology, the paranormal, God, political conspiracies (real and imagined), life extension and space migration, the origins of language, guerrilla ontology, and much more.

The Gallery of Regrettable Food: Highlights from Classic American Recipe Books


James Lileks - 2001
    You'll find no tongue-tempting treats within -- unless, of course, you consider Boiled Cow Elbow with Plaid Sauce to be your idea of a tasty meal. No, The Gallery of Regrettable Food is a public service. Learn to identify these dishes. Learn to regard shivering liver molds with suspicion. Learn why curries are a Communist plot to undermine decent, honest American spices. Learn to heed the advice of stern, fictional nutritionists. If you see any of these dishes, please alert the authorities.Now, the good news: laboratory tests prove that The Gallery of Regrettable Food AMUSES as well as informs. Four out of five doctors recommend this book for its GENEROUS PORTIONS OF HILARITY and ghastly pictures from RETRO COOKBOOKS. You too will look at these products of post-war cuisine and ask: "WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?" It's an affectionate look at the days when starch ruled, pepper was a dangerous spice, and Stuffed Meat with Meat Sauce was considered health food.Bon appetit!The Gallery of Regrettable Food is a simple introduction to poorly photographed foodstuffs and horrid recipes from the Golden Age of Salt and Starch. It's a wonder anyone in the 1940s, '50s, and '60s gained any weight. It isn't that the food was inedible; it was merely dull. Everything was geared toward a timid palate fearful of spice. It wasn't nonnutritious -- no, between the limp boiled vegetables, fat-choked meat cylinders, and pink whipped Jell-O desserts, you were bound to find a few calories that would drag you into the next day. It's just that the pictures are so hideously unappealing.Author James Lileks has made it his life's work to unearth the worst recipes and food photography from that bygone era and assemble them with hilarious, acerbic commentary: "This is not meat. This is something they scraped out of the air filter from the engines of the Exxon Valdez." It all started when he went home to Fargo and found an ancient recipe book in his mom's cupboard: Specialties of the House, from the North Dakota State Wheat Commission. He never looked back. Now, they're not really recipe books. They're ads for food companies, with every recipe using the company's products, often in unexpected and horrifying ways. There's not a single appetizing dish in the entire collection.The pictures in the book are ghastly -- the Italian dishes look like a surgeon had a sneezing fit during an operation, and the queasy casseroles look like something on which the janitor dumps sawdust. But you have to enjoy the spirit behind the books -- cheerful postwar perfect housewifery, and folks with the guts to undertake such culinary experiments as stuffing cabbage with hamburger, creating the perfect tongue mousse when you have the fellas over for a pregame nosh, or, best of all, baking peppers with a creamy marshmallow sauce. Alas, too many of these dishes bring back scary childhood memories.

Uncle John's Supremely Satisfying Bathroom Reader (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, #14)


Bathroom Readers' Institute - 2001
    Since 1987, the Bathroom Readers’ Institute has led the movement to stand up for those who sit down and read in the bathroom (and everywhere else for that matter). With more than 11 million books in print, the Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader series is the longest-running, most popular series of its kind in the world.Where else could you learn how soap works, why people started tipping, and the history of chocolate? Uncle John rules the world of information and humor, so get ready to be thoroughly entertained. Read all about…Dumb 9-1-1 calls22 things that fell from the skyHow Star Trek went from failed series to cult phenomenonThe origins of football, photography, soap operas, and paperclipsQuack medicines from yesterday and todayThe “Uplifting” history of the braAnd much more!

Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges Into History


Bathroom Readers' Institute - 2001
    Uncle John uncovers the truth behind some of history’s most persistent myths, flushes out information you were never taught in school, and gives history fans something they can really digest. Since 1987, the Bathroom Readers’ Institute has led the movement to stand up for those who sit down and read in the bathroom (and everywhere else for that matter). With more than 11 million books in print, the Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader series is the longest-running, most popular series of its kind in the world.Where else could you learn about the 10 most forgotten people in history, mistakes that led to great discoveries, and how a fish had a hand (er, fin) in beating Napoleon? Uncle John rules the world of information and humor, so get ready to be thoroughly entertained. Read all about…The short history of underwearOdd deaths of famous figuresAbe Lincoln, fashion iconThe real Lady GodivaRoyal inbreeds and promiscuous popesThe true story of BraveheartAnd much more!

The Twelfth Garfield Fat Cat 3-Pack


Jim Davis - 2001
    "The Twelfth Garfield Fat Cat 3-Pack" carries on this tremendous tradition with a gut-busting team-up featuring a trio of classic collections. It's guaranteed to make "Garfield's" fans triple up with laughter!

What Now: MUTTS VII


Patrick McDonnell - 2001
    As usual, the endearing pair can be counted on for laughs and charming adventures. In this collection, Mooch professes his love . . . for a little pink sock."How can I take you seriously with a little pink sock in your mouth?" asks Earl."This from a guy who wears a 'Shnoopy' collar," retorts Mooch.Mooch's affection for his sock is so deep, he sings little songs about it. But the love affair comes to an abrupt end when his pal Earl buries it to try to end the obsession. Fortunately for Mooch, socks come in pairs, and he's soon reunited with "its twin sister."  Earl and Mooch put their comic spin on a wide range of subjects, from napping and poetry to summer vacations and Christmas anticipations. Interspersed with its charming humor are more weighty messages on issues important to McDonnell, such as animal shelters, saving our endangered species, and other animal-protection topics.What Now? delivers creative style and the charm of yesteryear unlike any other strip on the funny pages today.

Spy vs. Spy: The Complete Casebook


Antonio Prohías - 2001
    This commemorative issue features their creation, history and illustrious late creator, Prohias. Illustrations.

Gopal And Jester


Urmila Sinha - 2001
    Bullies and misers, dreamers and the narrow-minded, all got a taste of his wit, much to the delight of readers.

MUTTS Sunday Mornings: A MUTTS Treasury


Patrick McDonnell - 2001
    The colors are delicately applied, a visual feast. In short, not only is this tome exemplary of the cartoonist's art, it is similarly an exemplar of the printer's. A well-made book." - Comics Buyer's Guide, on MUTTS' first Sunday treasury, MUTTS SundaysMUTTS is known for its straight-forward, delightful artwork, its positive messages, and, of course, the antics of its charming furry protagonists, Earl the dog and Mooch the cat. But MUTTS has also garnered praise for its creative and colorful Sunday strips.Sunday Mornings is a collection of MUTTS Sunday strips hand-picked by creator Patrick McDonnell. Monday through Saturday, readers of every generation have wide-ranging reasons why they love MUTTS. But Sunday is a special visual adventure. The logo panel is almost a strip unto itself, often paying homage to cartooning of yesteryear, with Mooch and Earl in a comic book cover tribute or parodying a strip from decades gone by. Some readers may have never seen the logo panel, since they are sometimes dropped for space. Those cheated readers, as well as those who have come to love MUTTS' special Sunday full-color strips, will cherish this vibrant collection.

The Sweet Potato Queens' Guide to Life


Jill Conner Browne - 2001
    Two wonderfully funny books in one edition.

Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts


Roald Dahl - 2001
    Here are six of the best known tales retold with more than a twist or two, by that master of the comic and the bloodcurdling, Roald Dahl.Dirty BeastsMeet Roald Dahl's ghastly menagerie of wonderful comic animals. The collection includes the poor toad that jumps to France, the pig who ponders on the meaning of life, and the anteater who gets the wrong end of the stick.

The Monster Who Ate My Peas


Danny Schnitzlein - 2001
    somebody... somewhere had heard."He makes a bargain with a fiendishly funny monster. First the deal is simple: the monster will eat the boy's peas in exchange for his soccer ball. But with each new encounter, the monster's demands escalate. Eventually, our hero faces a daunting decision--can he conquer his loathing for peas or will he lose his most prized possession?Matt Faulkner's uproariously detailed illustrations and Danny Schnitzlein's Seuss-inspired verse combine to create a clever story about how far we are willing to go to avoid doing the things we hate.

Shrek


Hal Leonard Corporation - 2001
    Includes 12 songs from the soundtrack: All Star * Bad Reputation * The Best Years of Our Lives * Hallelujah * I'm a Believer * I'm on My Way * It Is You (I Have Loved) * Like Wow * My Beloved Monster * Stay Home * True Love's First Kiss * You Belong to Me.

The Pop-Up Book of Nightmares


Gary Greenberg - 2001
    The Pop-Up Book of Nightmares brings them vividly to life with ten richly illustrated, over-the-top pop-ups that put the reader right in the center of a world gone mad. Which one of these nightmares did you have last night?--Being unprepared for a final exam--Going for a midnight snack and finding a refrigerator teeming with rats--Giving birth to a baby that's anything but normal--Being chased by a menace that seems to be everywhere at once--Free falling with no hope of a safe landingThe Pop-Up Book of Nightmares is the perfect gift for anyone who wants to mine the psychological riches of their deepest slumber.

Your Disgusting Head


Doris Haggis-on-Whey - 2001
     Well, we offer you YOUR DISGUSTING HEAD by Dr. and Mr. Doris Haggis-On-Whey. A world-renowned and much feared expert on everything, Dr. Doris Haggis-On-Whey has seventeen degrees from eighteen institutions of higher learning. With her husband, Benny, she has traveled the world many times over, has learned about all aspects of life, including outer space and food, first hand. The human body is beautiful and mysterious. The mysterious part reeks of cheese. But no part of your body is as scary and horrifying as your head! In YOUR DISGUSTING HEAD: The Darkest, Most Offensive--and Moist--Secrets of Your Mouth, Nose and Ears, Dr. & Mr. Doris Haggis-on-Whey reveal -- through newly discovered discoveries -- all the ways in which your head disappoints you. With such amazing information as: • The ear was invented and designed by Feranando de la Mancini Goldfarb, in 1911, which was also a good year for yeast. • Good Reasons for teeth removal: dentist did it; peer pressure; not sharp enough; found better teeth, like, on the ground; suspected of enjoying flossing; decay and mouth politics. • The real reason your ears can't hear your pets talking. The answer is simple: your pet is a mumbler." With the wit and irreverent sense of humor for which Dave Eggers and McSweeney's is known, comes the second volume in the revolutionary Haggis-On-Whey World of Unbelievable Brilliance books. More than just entertaining and informative, YOUR DISGUSTING HEAD will help you appear smarter, more in touch with your sensitive side and whiten your teeth. And much, much more that will likely sicken you.

The Complete Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers: Volume One


Gilbert Shelton - 2001
    

Playboy's Silverstein Around the World


Shel Silverstein - 2001
     While children and adults alike know Shel Silverstein for his classic books The Giving Tree, A Light in the Attic, and Where the Sidewalk Ends, they may be less aware that Silverstein also created a dazzling series of illustrated comic travelogues published by Hugh M. Hefner in Playboy. Playboy's Silverstein Around the World not only reproduces these fascinating articles in facsimile form, it also provides an introduction with never-before-seen photos and drawings and rare, illuminating biographical detail. Beginning in May 1957 with "Return to Tokyo," the pieces reproduced in this book took Silverstein from Scandinavia to Africa and the Middle East, from Paris and London to Moscow, ending in the summer of 1968 with the two-part epic "Silverstein Among the Hippies." This unique collection is a legacy of the close relationship between Silverstein and Hefner, who saw the great potential of this particular combination of artist and assignment, and the social revolution led by Playboy in the 1950s and 1960s. With its wry, ribald humor and beautifully produced color illustrations, this tableau of the mid-twentieth-century world is sure to please and fascinate Silverstein's millions of fans.

That's Disgusting!


Francesco Pittau - 2001
    Adorable artwork on every spread accompanies simple text. Swallowing a worm, smelling a sock, playing in the cat litter . . . That's Disgusting! Not for the faint of heart, this kid approved book focuses on a love of all things icky and gross. Firmly focused on fun, That's Disgusting! is the perfect distraction to help your young gross out expert learn to read.

Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind / Miss Julia Takes Over


Ann B. Ross - 2001
    Suddenly, this longtime church member and pillar of her small Southern community finds herself in the center of an unseemly scandal-and the guardian of a wan nine-year-old whose mere presence turns her life upside down. With razor-sharp wit and perfect "Steel Magnolia" poise, Miss Julia speaks her mind indeed-about a robbery, a kidnapping, and the other disgraceful events precipitated by her husband's death. Miss Julia Takes Over - Miss Julia has come to terms with her onetime rival, Hazel Marie, and is now the guardian of Little Lloyd. Now Hazel Marie has disappeared, and Miss Julia has to find her. With Little Lloyd by her side, she sets off across North Carolina, and encounters enough obstacles and adventures to tax even Miss Julia's amazing and ingenious survival skills.

How to Be Happy, Dammit: A Cynic's Guide to Spiritual Happiness


Karen Salmansohn - 2001
    Think love and happiness have passed you by? Think no schmaltzy book can help you capture the life-joy you're looking for? This book is different, promises author Karen Salmansohn. Peek within its colorful, uniquely designed pages, and you really will find pearls of wisdom to help you discover more satisfaction every day. And you'll find no saccharine sweetness here. This book tells it like it is, exploring the ups and downs of life in a straightforward, thought-provoking, and humorous way. HOW TO BE HAPPY, DAMMIT is the self-help book for people who don't buy self-help books. It may not change your life (unless you let it), but it will certainly brighten your day, even if you are a die-hard cynic. - Includes 44 life lessons that will save you years of time, effort, and navel-gazing.- Inspiring, fanciful graphics and illustrations throughout.- Karen Salmansohn's book How to Make Your Man Behave in 21 Days or Less Using the Secrets of Professional Dog Trainers has sold over 450,000 copies.

The Complete Wendel


Howard Cruse - 2001
    Originally published in The Advocate throughout the 1980s, Howard Cruse’s Wendel is widely considered the first gay comic strip to be featured in mainstream media. A topical and heartfelt chronicle of one gay man’s journey through the often-rocky Reagan-Bush years, the strip followed the adventures of Wendel Trupstock, his boyfriend Ollie, and an unforgettable cast of supporting characters. More realistic than most comics of the time, Wendel did not observe the traditional comic strip formula. Instead, it presented realistic depictions of relationships, politics, personal struggles, and public triumphs, all seen through a gay perspective that was just coming into relative widespread acceptance. Wendel became more than a comic strip as it, and Cruse, were propelled into the rarefied pop culture category reserved for art and artists that not only entertain, but also influence and are influenced by shifts in public consciousness. Its influence was such that Tony Kushner wrote, "Wendel unfolds with the narrative complexity, nuance, detail, and honesty of a great satirical novel." The Complete Wendel contains every episode of the series and includes a new foreword by Cruse, who contextualizes the story of the creation and publication of the strip within the often tumultuous political zeitgeist of the 1980s. It also features a new cover and a special "where are they now" section created for this book.

All About April: Our Little Girl Grows Up!: A For Better or For Worse Special Edition


Lynn Johnston - 2001
    Since then she has continued to add surprise and sparkle to the Patterson family. Cartoonist Lynn Johnston has gathered her favorite strips about April, chronicling her fun-filled and rambunctious first 10 years. From the wonder she brought to the family as a tiny baby through her exploits as a toddler, her traumatic fall into a raging river and subsequent rescue by Farley, and her other adventures while growing up, making friends, and going to school, April's life is told through cartoons, new art, and written commentary in All About April.

The Unhinged World of Glen Baxter: Collected Works, Volume 1


Glen Baxter - 2001
    But his irreverent and wildly funny work, with all its odd takes on life, will surprise you in how keenly it reflects the "real" world. And therein is the brilliance of Glen Baxter: his unhinged world turns out to be the one we all live in. Here is a welcome anthology of three of Baxter's out-of-print books: Atlas, The Impending Gleam, and Jodhpurs in the Quantocks.

Dear Mom: Thank You for Everything


Bradley Trevor Greive - 2001
    "I'd be lost without you, Mom, and I only wish I had more than one lifetime to repay the incredible debt I owe you." Sometimes it's hard to find the right words to tell Mom just how you feel. How can you adequately thank her for all her selfless acts of love and tireless devotion? Bradley Trevor Greive's book, "Dear Mom," will help children of all ages (especially those who call themselves grown-ups) express those special thoughts and feelings in tenderly honest words and pictures. A poignant tribute to mothers everywhere, "Dear Mom" artfully combines touching animal photographs with gentle humor and heartfelt words of thanks. This sweet volume will let moms know just how much all their efforts are appreciated and how much they are truly loved.

Snoopy the Great Philosopher


Charles M. Schulz - 2001
    Join America’s best-loved dog in his meditations on life, love, and the secrets of the universe.

Southern by the Grace of God


Lewis Grizzard - 2001
    No other contemporary humorist knew the South so well, loved it so passionately, or wrote about it so vividly.

The Grrl Genius Guide to Life: A Twelve-Step Program on How to Become a Grrl Genius, According to Me!


Cathryn Michon - 2001
    In The Grrl Genius Guide to Life, stand-up comic and Grrl Genius Club founder Cathryn Michon explains why she is a genius and demonstrates how you can become one, too, by following her easy twelve-step program.The first step in the program is the most important: Admit that you are a Grrl Genius. Acknowledge that you are beautiful, intelligent, and talented and that you are the only person in the world who can decide just how great you are. In subsequent steps, you will learn to embrace the domestic arts, love your Grrl Genius good looks, celebrate your sexuality, appreciate your Grrl Genius mother, and pass the Grrl Genius message on to others!Filled with little-known facts about such unacknowledged Grrl Geniuses as Mozart's younger sister Nannerl and Einstein's wife Mileva, as well as hilarious, embarrassing stories from Michon's own life, The Grrl Genius Guide to Life is a must-read for Grrl Geniuses and Enlightened Males everywhere. Michon shares her most humiliating memories -- singing show tunes at her aunt's funeral, crying uncontrollably in an airplane bathroom and holding up the flight -- as well as her moments of triumph, like attending the birth of her niece (a future Grrl Genius) and getting liposuction that not a single human being noticed. This is an uproarious roller-coaster ride through the life of a self-declared Genius -- in which Michon writes about everything from doughnuts to divorce, from physics to push-up bras -- and a comic inspirational guide for those aspiring to Grrl Geniushood.Cathryn Michon is a genius -- just because she says she is. Read her book, and you will become one, too. As with any twelve-step program, becoming a Grrl Genius takes work. All your life you have been telling yourself that your butt is too big, your ideas are too small, and your love for creme-filled doughnuts is inherently evil. With the help of The Grrl Genius Guide to Life, you will learn to recognize your own brilliance, shamelessly proclaim it to the rest of the world, and eat all the Krispy Kreme doughnuts you want. In case you need inspiration, Michon has included numerous Grrl Genius slogans and Little Pink Post-it Notes; in case you get hungry, she has included her recipe for the best chocolate chip cookies in the world. So go on -- take the first step. Read the book that is guaranteed to change your life forever (or at the very least to make you laugh yourself silly) -- and declare your Genius to yourself and the world!

The Meaning Of Life


Bradley Trevor Greive - 2001
    Illustrated with playful photographs of animals, BTG's insightful prose again hits his target straight on. He muses about why we're here and our greater purpose in the grand scheme of things. His informal style provides a refreshing counterpoint to what has always been one of life's big debates. For example, when it comes to discovering your passion, BTG writes, "First, no one else will tell you about it - it's just like walking around all day with a sign on your back that says KICK ME." The Meaning of Life is a witty, thought-provoking book that makes an ideal gift for anyone who's seeking their true purpose-and wants to laugh along the way.

8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter: And other tips from a beleaguered father [not that any of them work]


W. Bruce Cameron - 2001
    The reason is simple: he expresses something very true in a very funny way, examining just what happens when Daddy's little girl becomes a teenager. Beginning with the warning signs (#5: Your car insurance suddenly costs more than the car), the book covers dating (Rule #2: Keep your hands and eyes off my daughter's body or I will remove them), the telephone (seemingly wired to her nervous system), braces (the costliest metal on earth), the first job, and more. "Cameron's take on the angst felt by every father of a teenage daughter is witty, wise, and excruciatingly on the money" (Charles Shyer, writer and director, Father of the Bride I and II).

The Root of All Evil


Illiad - 2001
    The cast: Quake-obsessed techies, self-absorbed sales staff, well-meaning execs, and assorted almost-humans. The background: too little office space, warring operating systems, and eternally clueless customers.Tag along as geeks go camping, Mike finds a new use for silly putty, and Stef decides to beef up his Quake skills with the Acme Forced-Feedback Enemy-Denial Smackdown Ergonomic Game Chair.If you've read the first two User Friendly editions from O'Reilly, you don't need an introduction to Greg, Jeff, Miranda, the Dust Puppy and the others. But if you haven't, welcome to the world of the hard-core geek, where humor--especially at one's own foibles--can be a survival skill. Since this is true of most work environments, chances are you won't have to know Unix or be able to log in as "root" in order to get the joke.Illiad's community is truly global--the comic's one-million-plus readers log on from Israel, Brazil, Iceland, New Zealand, and Greece, among other far-flung locations. All kinds of people seem drawn to the strip-- from 8-year-old girls to 81-year-old women--a large, diverse, and very loyal community.

Haw!


Ivan Brunetti - 2001
    HAW! is not for the young or weak of heart!

Good Thing You're Not an Octopus!


Julie Markes - 2001
    Julie Markes′s first picture book is charmingly illustrated by Maggie Smith.

The Secrets of Ms. Snickle's Class


Laurie Miller Hornik - 2001
    Snickle’s topsy-turvy classroom there are no tests or math lessons. Instead, there are pizza-topping spelling contests and class trips to find runaway desks. And there are lots of secrets, some of them quite unusual. For example, Eva is a swan, and Dennis’s mother really is the tooth fairy! Lacey knows that the rule in the classroom is No Telling Secrets, but she makes it her business to learn all the secrets. And when she learns the most extraordinary secret of all—that Ms. Snickle can turn her classroom into an apartment by pushing a magic button—she discovers just how powerful secrets can be. Complemented by Debbie Tilley’s zany illustrations, this wildly imaginative and humorous novel will be a hit with any kid who’s ever wished for more fun at school.

Chet Gecko-Private Eye


Bruce Hale - 2001
    2.5 hours2 cassettesListen to the first two hilariously hip Chet Gecko mysteries in this one audio package!The Chameleon Wore ChartreuseShirley Chameleon's friend Billy has disappeared and it's up to Chet, super sleuth, to find him.The Mystery of Mister NiceWhat has happened to Principal Zero? All of a sudden he's nice. And one thing is certain: Principal Zero is not a nice guy. It's up to Chet to prove he's an imposter.

Bastard Operator From Hell (Version 1.0) (Bastard Operator From Hell)


Simon Travaglia - 2001
    They dared call:The Bastard Operator from Hell

The Wit and Wisdom of Lewis Grizzard: Life Is Like a Dogsled Team... If You're Not the Lead Dog, the Scenery Never Changes


Lewis Grizzard - 2001
    A collection of Lewis' best one-liners, quick-takes, and short tales â�� the clasic Grizzard lines that delighted millions of fans.

Gon: Introducing the Dinosaur That Time Will Never Forget!


Masashi Tanaka - 2001
    Gon meets wild animals across the world, including penguins and world cubs, while showing his all-too-human personality.

Emily's Little Black Book: Emily the Strange Address Book


NOT A BOOK - 2001
    Includes three pages of stickers!

Absolutely Fabulous: Continuity


Jennifer Saunders - 2001
    Millions have tuned in over the last nine years to watch the outrageous antics of Edina and Patsy, and the familiar cast of regulars. This book is a celebration of all four series of the hit show, written by Jennifer Saunders herself with input from the entire cast. It includes original photos, handwritten script notes, interviews with the cast, personal anecdotes, and monologues about the characters—a truly must-have accessory for any self-respecting Ab Fab fan.

Ji Mantriji


Aloka Tomara - 2001
    Kaul, Suryaprakash's Private Secretary. Based on the television series Ji Mantriji, an adaptation of the immensely popular 'Yes Minister' books, this is a sharply perceptive glimpse into the farcical world of Indian politics, and the bureaucratic red tape that appears to hold it together.

8 Bit Theater Vol. 1


Brian Clevinger - 2001
    Follow the Fighter and Black Mage as they go on many quests and adventures, normally ending in peril and hilarity. Each page is in "Episode" format. Issue one consists of 31 adventures that the dumb Fighter and sadistic Black Mage travel on.

Time Warp Trio Gift Set


Jon Scieszka - 2001
    The first four books of the wildly popular Time Warp Trio series are now in one value-priced boxed set! Whether the gang's fighting off the Black Knight in the middle of Camelot, practicing magic tricks on Blackbeard and his pirates, stampeding cattle in the Old West, or running from a woolly mammoth, one thing is for sure: no one's ever bored when the Time Warp Trio's around!

Major Ingredients: The Selected Short Stories of Eric Frank Russell


Eric Frank Russell - 2001
    It includes “Allamagoosa,” “And Then There Were None,” “Dear Devil,” “I Am Nothing,” “Jay Score,” and “Metamorphosite.” Introduction by Jack L. Chalker. Dustjacket art by Bob Eggleton.Contents8 • Editor's Introduction (Major Ingredients: The Selected Short Stories of Eric Frank Russell) • (2000) • essay by Rick Katze9 • Eric Frank Russell (Major Ingredients: The Selected Short Stories of Eric Frank Russell) • (2000) • essay by Jack L. Chalker13 • Allamagoosa • (1955) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell24 • And Then There Were None • (1951) • novella by Eric Frank Russell (variant of ... And Then There Were None)76 • The Army Comes to Venus • (1959) • novelette by Eric Frank Russell102 • Basic Right • (1958) • novelette by Eric Frank Russell124 • Dear Devil • (1950) • novelette by Eric Frank Russell152 • Diabologic • (1955) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell168 • Fast Falls the Eventide • (1952) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell182 • Hobbyist • (1947) • novelette by Eric Frank Russell206 • Homo Saps • (1941) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell214 • I Am Nothing • (1952) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell230 • Into Your Tent I'll Creep • (1957) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell237 • Jay Score • [Jay Score / Marathon • 1] • (1941) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell250 • Last Blast • (1952) • novelette by Eric Frank Russell287 • Late Night Final • (1948) • novelette by Eric Frank Russell314 • A Little Oil • (1952) • novelette by Eric Frank Russell330 • Meeting on Kangsham • (2000) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell (variant of Meeting on Kangshan 1965)342 • Metamorphosite • (1946) • novella by Eric Frank Russell386 • Minor Ingredient • (1956) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell399 • Now Inhale • (1959) • novelette by Eric Frank Russell418 • Nuisance Value • (1957) • novella by Eric Frank Russell472 • Panic Button • (1959) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell488 • Plus X • (1956) • novelette by Eric Frank Russell529 • Study in Still Life • (1959) • novelette by Eric Frank Russell549 • Tieline • (1955) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell555 • The Timid Tiger • (1947) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell571 • Top Secret • (1956) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell584 • The Ultimate Invader • (1954) • novella by Eric Frank Russell (variant of Design for Great-Day 1953)633 • The Undecided • (1949) • novelette by Eric Frank Russell656 • U-Turn • (1950) • shortstory by Eric Frank Russell665 • The Waitabits • (1955) • novelette by Eric Frank Russell698 • The Man Who (Almost) Never Was (Major Ingredients: The Selected Short Stories of Eric Frank Russell) • (2000) • essay by Mike Resnick

Groo: Mightier Than the Sword


Sergio Aragonés - 2001
    That must be why so many accountants are buying Groo collections This trade paperback collects the latest and greatest adventures of Groo, the world's stupidest barbarian. In a savage land of another era, a goodly segment of the world has long been under the heavy thumb of the evil, power-mad despot known as Pipil Khan. The tyrant wants nothing more than to name an heir and shuck his mortal coil, but one thing stands in his way: Groo It seems Khan just can't rest easy until Groo is out of the way. He'll give his kingdom to the one of his sons who can accomplish this. One of them has a foolproof plan how to do it. Unfortunately for him, it may be that no plan is foolproof enough to thwart Groo. Eisner Award-winning cartoonist Sergio Aragones and "World's Greatest Soccer Mom" Award-winning wordsmith Mark Evanier bring you more moronic mayhem from the barbarian who made "mulch" a household word.

Nancy Drew's Guide To Life


Jennifer Worick - 2001
    Nancy Drew's Guide to Life is a loving tribute to the young sleuth and the wisdom she imparted.This book is filled with practical tips, as well as seemingly whimsical (but surprisingly sound) advice. Her sage counsel is accompanied by the classic covers and artwork from her yellow-spined books.

Immodest Proposals: The Complete Science Fiction of William Tenn, Volume 1


William Tenn - 2001
    It includes such classic stories as "Child's Play," "Time in Advance," "Down Among the Dead Men," and "On Venus, Have We Got a Rabbi."The next volume on the series, Here Comes Civilization, will contain the remainder of his short science fiction, the novel Of Men and Monsters, and the short novel A Lamp for Medusa.Tenn has long been considered one of the major satirists in the field. The Science Fiction Encyclopedia calls him "one of the genre's very few genuinely comic, genuinely incisive writers of short fiction." Theodore Sturgeon had the following to say:"It would be too wide a generalization to say that every SF satire, every SF comedy and every attempt at witty and biting criticism found in the field is a poor and usually cheap imitation of what this man has been doing since the '40s. [But] his incredibly involved and complex mind can at times produce constructive comment so pointed and astute that the fortunate recipient is permanently improved by it."

Frumpy the Clown, Volume 1: Freaking Out the Neighbors


Judd Winick - 2001
    Their parents, neighbors, and local law enforcement, on the other hand, wish he would go away.

Frumpy the Clown, Volume 2: The Fat Lady Sings


Judd Winick - 2001
    He doesn't do birthday parties, he isn't in the circus, and he's never run for public office. Instead, Frumpy is a chain-smoking, cynical anarchist who is more interested in sticking it to the stuffed-shirt establishment than making balloon animals or performing in the center ring.

I Ain't Scared of You: Bernie Mac on How Life Is


Bernie Mac - 2001
    The Chicago-bred performer and royal king of the Original Kings of Comedy, Bernie Mac, has won over countless fans of cutting comedy and family humor with an edgy show that tells it like it is but never loses heart. No surprise, Mac has earned a reputation as perhaps the truest voice of modern humor. Here, in his debut book, Mac brilliantly captures the R-rated side of his comedic genius in print. Touring through a wide range of topics with equal parts insight and irreverence, Bernie presents a way of looking at the world guaranteed to make you laugh. Tackling superstar athletes, the movie business, his fellow comedians, his marriage, and, of course, his friends and family, Mac offers side-splitting riffs on sex, religion, hygiene, money, and more. Nobody is safe; nothing is sacred. Not even Bernie himself. Throughout I Ain't Scared of You, Mac turns his humor inward, firing off hilarious self-deprecating salvos about his golf game and his own hypocrisies. Bernie Mac's hit show and his vital live performances have earned him critical acclaim and international popularity. Now, I Ain't Scared of You reveals his humor whole—unpretentious, unafraid, and unbelievably funny and raw.

The Web Files


Margie Palatini - 2001
    Ducktective Web andhis partner Bill are hot on the trail, but this could be a hard case to quackas vegetables are vanishing all over the farm.

How to Live at the Beach


Sandy Gingras - 2001
    How to Live at the Beach is a gift book that is at home anywhere, on any coast, or far from it. For the beach is only a metaphor, and with every reading we are awakened: How we might live, how we can pace ourselves, how we can appreciate our world, how we can love.

Bastard Assistant From Hell.


Florian Schiel - 2001
    

Double Income, No Kids Yet: The Complete Series 1


NOT A BOOK - 2001
    Then, when a top author gets writer's block, Lucy and Daniel get landed with an unwelcome guest. In the third episode, Daniel and Lucy's plans for a quiet weekend are hit by a stream of unplanned visitors and are later hit by other people's baby blues. Is poker really the answer? Lucy's up for promotion, but Katie can't decide on naming her baby. And in the last episode, when they're asked to be godparents, Lucy's thrilled. The same can't be said for Dan, however. This series was first broadcast in 2001.

Bastard Operator From Hell II: Son Of The Bastard


Simon Travaglia - 2001
    They dared call:The Bastard Operator from Hell

Rejuvenate!: (It's Never Too Late)


Eartha Kitt - 2001
     From her hit songs in the 1950s and television stardom as Catwoman on Batman in the 1960s to her sold-out shows at New York's Café Carlyle in the 1990s, her Tony-nominated role on Broadway in 1999, and her hilarious performance as Yzma, the villainess in Disney's The Emperor's New Groove in 2000, Eartha Kitt is one of America's most versatile and enduring performers. Now, at seventy-four and still going strong, Kitt reveals her secrets of vitality in Rejuvenate!, an elegant and inspiring book. Seductive, provocative, amusing, and calming, she combines the lessons of her life -- from a difficult childhood in the South and in Harlem to the joys and challenges of her life in the public eye -- to offer this wise window into her incredible mental and physical vigor and an open invitation to the joys of aging in style. Rejuvenate! is a simple, user-friendly guide that doesn't require a gym, a personal trainer, or even exercise equipment. Each of the nine chapters, with titles such as "Bend," "Stretch," and "Rock-and-Roll," features one basic exercise for the body with easy-to-follow instructions and an entertaining, inspiring message for the mind.

The Fun of It: Stories from The Talk of the Town


Lillian Ross - 2001
    The section began in the first issue, in 1925. But it wasn't until a couple of years later, when E. B. White and James Thurber arrived, that the Talk of the Town story became what it is today: a precise piece of journalism that always gets the story and has a little fun along the way.The Fun of It is the first anthology of Talk pieces that spans the magazine's life. Edited by Lillian Ross, the longtime Talk reporter and New Yorker staff writer, the book brings together pieces by the section's most original writers. Only in a collection of Talk stories will you find E. B. White visiting a potter's field; James Thurber following Gertrude Stein at Brentano's; Geoffrey Hellman with Cole Porter at the Waldorf Towers; A. J. Liebling on a book tour with Albert Camus; Maeve Brennan ventriloquizing the long-winded lady; John Updike navigating the passageways of midtown; Calvin Trillin marching on Washington in 1963; Jacqueline Onassis chatting with Cornell Capa; Ian Frazier at the Monster Truck and Mud Bog Fall Nationals; John McPhee in virgin forest; Mark Singer with sixth-graders adopting Hudson River striped bass; Adam Gopnik in Flatbush visiting the ìgrandest theatre devoted exclusively to the movies; Hendrik Hertzberg pinning down a Sulzberger on how the Times got colorized; George Plimpton on the tennis court with Boris Yeltsin; and Lillian Ross reporting good little stories for more than forty-five years. They and dozens of other Talk contributors provide an entertaining tour of the most famous section of the most famous magazine in the world.

The Mother's Guide to the Meaning of Life: What I've Learned in My Never-Ending Quest to Become a Dalai Mama


Amy Krouse Rosenthal - 2001
    Here author Amy Krouse Rosenthal explores the joys and pitfalls of parenting in a way that mothers everywhere will recognize and appreciate. Rosenthal, who has written for The New York Times and Redbook, offers a series of essays, anecdotes, vignettes and asides, and she explores the universal themes of motherhood, from guilt and inadequacy to joy and magic to the astonishing sense of self-discovery that comes with being a mother. With wit, understanding, and hilarity, Rosenthal covers everything from "What I've Learned About Humility" to a mother's occasional, secret fantasy to run away from it all. Her fresh, Seinfeld-esque humor taps into the minutiae of everyday life with "that-is-so-true" insight and sets itself apart with its smart, witty, and delightfully quirky nature.

The Complete Henry Root Letters


William Donaldson - 2001
    It consists of real correspondence between an apparently wealthy and eccentric retired fish-merchant, and many public figures to whom he wrote, requesting support for bizarre right-wing proposals.

Puerto Vallarta On 49 Brain Cells A Day (Book 1)


Gil Gevins - 2001
    Many of the stories deal with the author's misadventures while under the influence of "Raicilla",the local moonshine. Among these are episodes in which the author buys a five-foot iguana and attempts to bring it home, first by boat and then in the passenger seat of his Volkswagen Bug; or falls into a pigsty while attending a rural wedding; or sets his boss on fire while lighting a barbecue with the afore-mentioned moonshine, etc.Many readers have reported laughing out loud with such vehemence as to frighten seatmates on airplanes,small children and nervous cats.

The Sound and the Furry


Poul Anderson - 2001
    A complete and unabridged collection of Anderson's Hoka stories.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer/Adventures of Huckleberry Finn/The Prince & the Pauper/Pudd'nhead Wilson/Short Stories/A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court


Mark Twain - 2001
    In a proudly democratic spirit, and with a lively storytelling style that both children and adults alike devour, Twain took comic aim at antebellum Southern racism—especially in his often-misunderstood masterpiece, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; aristocratic superiority (in The Prince and the Pauper); and even the American can-do spirit (A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court). With its array of wonderful illustrations, this collection from perhaps the ultimate American writer is perfect for all ages, and includes not only the above titles, but The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, with its clever, mischievous hero; Pudd'nhead Wilson, a complex mystery about a slave woman who swaps her light-skinned son with a judge's child; and several short stories: "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," "The Stolen White Elephant," "The £1,000,000 Bank-note," and "The man that corrupted Hadleyburg."

The Last Bus to Albuquerque: A Commemorative Edition Celebrating Lewis Grizzard


Lewis Grizzard - 2001
    20 b&w photos.

Gold Digger Gold Brick I


Fred Perry - 2001
    Cheetah: A were-cheetah, she is Gina's adopted sister and shares her adventures. Strong and fast, she almost always has to pull her sibling's hash out of the fire.Brianna Diggers: An amalgam of both Gina and Cheetah, she has a hot temper and is adept at all forms of combat (armed and unarmed)!Gold Digger is a unique blend of humor, adventure, and science! It's fast paced, and full of action in exotic locales like The Garden of Eden, Shangri-La, and Atlantis to name a few. Rocket along with the Diggers sisters through fantastic excitement and family hijinks alike!

Holes (with "Connections")


Louis Sachar - 2001
    Also included is a collection of short stories and poems by multiple authors called Connections.

The Dog Department: James Thurber on Hounds, Scotties, and Talking Poodles


James Thurber - 2001
    In The Dog Department, Michael J. Rosen, a literary dogcatcher of sorts, has gathered together Thurber's best in show. Here we have the stylish prose and drawings from Thurber's Dogs (which connected the words "Thurber" and "Dog" as inseparably as "Bartlett" and "Quotation," as "Emily Post" and "Etiquette"), along with unpublished material from the Thurber archives, a great sheaf of uncollected cartoons, and two dozen "Talk of the Town" miniatures from The New Yorker — the consummate dog book from an artist of extraordinary pedigree. What other author can claim to have penned his own personal breed? The Thurber hound is a creature as unmistakable as Disney's mouse or Playboy's bunny.In The Dog Department you'll find standard poodles, Scottish terriers, an Airedale, a rough collie, an American Staffordshire terrier — all Thurber family members who inspired quintessential dog tales. For instance, there's Muggs, "the dog that bit people," an avocation that, each year, required Thurber's mother to send her famous chocolates to an ever-growing list of Muggs's victims. There's also a fair share about bloodhounds, German shepherd dogs, and pugs. But what you'll find remarkable and comforting is that reading Thurber from fifty or even seventy-five years ago is akin to reading about dogs today — or about dogs from the previous century, as Thurber grew up reading — or about dogs, we hope, from this new century we've just entered. The Dog Department is proof that Thurber's work defines the canine canon.

Snoopy the Music Lover


Charles M. Schulz - 2001
    Join the gang on these musical escapes, and soon you’ll be whistling along with Woodstock.

Retief!


Keith Laumer - 2001
    This is the first unitary edition."... into the chaotic Galactic political scene, the CDT emerged to carry forward the ancient diplomatic tradition ... Corps diplomats displayed an encyclopedic grasp of the nuances of Extra-Terrestrial mores as set against the labyrinthine socio-politico-economic Galactic context..."-- Official History of the Corps Diplomatique, AD 2940NOT! What they really had was Retief! Ignore the official version--in these pages is the real story of how Retief tied the bad guys' eye-stalks in knots, and made the Galaxy safe for humanity.Contents:* Diplomat-at-Arms* Protocol* The Brass God* Sealed Orders* Palace Revolution* Cultural Exchange* Saline Solution* Native Intelligence* Policy* Ultimatum* The Prince and the Pirate* The Castle of Light* Retief's War* Wicker Wonderland* Courier* Protest Note* Aide Memoire

Ugly Bugs And Nasty Nature (Horrible Science S.)


Nick Arnold - 2001
    

The Aliens Have Landed at Our School


Kenn Nesbitt - 2001
    Children will love the slightly screwy world of Kenn Nesbitt, with mashed potatoes on the ceiling, kangaruplets, skunks falling in love, antigravity machines, and a jillion other imaginative subjects.

The Moskowitz Code


Joel Bresler - 2001
    With that single dodgy digital diagnosis, a chain reaction is set in motion leading Mike to lose his job, accidentally get all trace of himself wiped off of every computer in the known universe, and seriously contemplate buying a Harley. And Mike isn't exactly what you'd call a motorcycle kind of Moskowitz. Somehow Mike must find a way to get back on the grid and get his old job back, all without his wife finding out about any of it. Joel Bresler’s writing style can be referred to as literary silliness—the experience of reading the prose is more fun than anything the prose might be leading up to. Stories are all well and good, Bresler believes, but they've all been done already anyway, so why let something as trivial as a plot interfere with a good read? After all, nobody ever bought a P.G. Wodehouse novel just to see if Bertie Wooster gets away with it this time.

Village In The Snow


Roderick Hunt - 2001
    It contains a free resources website with downloadable photocopy masters and a Teacher's Handbook and special edition for Scotland. This work also contains 3 added stories.

Inept: Impaired: Overwhelmed: Tall Tales from West Virginia and Beyond


Bil Lepp - 2001
    Being a five-time winner of the West Virginia Liars' Contest makes Lepp a natural for his two jobs: a state employee and a Methodist minister. From childhood to adulthood, Bil's wacky adventures often include his best friend, Skeeter Barth. Whether you find that Bil and Skeeter are trouble-makers or that trouble just follows them around, you'll be laughing as they test smelly catfish-bait; get stopped by the sheriff; struggle with rock climbing; and get attacked by woodpeckers, catfish, and moose. Bil is often accompanied by his super-dog Buck, "whose mother was a German shepherd and whose father was a prolific and extremely determined basset hound." With Buck's help, Bil tries kayak dogsledding on the New River; stops up the Bluestone Dam; and takes the Monster Stick out for one last wild ride.

That's What Mamas Do


Donald Davis - 2001
    She had a pretty good idea what boys would do, so she was always on the lookout. As Davis later learned, always being on the lookout is what mamas do. His vigilant but gentle mother gave her son multiple gifts in life, and as we learn in the end gifts that do not end with her passing.

Munchkin


Steve Jackson - 2001
    Kill everything you meet. Backstab your friends and steal their stuff. Grab the treasure and run.Admit it. You love it.Munchkin is the mega-hit card game about dungeon adventure . . . with none of that stupid roleplaying stuff. You and your friends compete to kill monsters and grab magic items. And what magic items! Don the Horny Helmet and the Boots of Butt-Kicking. Wield the Staff of Napalm . . . or maybe the Chainsaw of Bloody Dismemberment. Start by slaughtering the Potted Plant and the Drooling Slime, and work your way up to the Plutonium Dragon . . .And it's illustrated by John Kovalic!Fast-playing and silly, Munchkin can reduce any roleplaying group to hysteria. And, while they're laughing, you can steal their stuff.

Cromartie High School, Vol. 01


Eiji Nonaka - 2001
    But as fate would have it, he's ended up at the notorious reform school, Cromartie High. After becoming friends with a motley crew of thugs, a gorilla, and a trashcan-shaped robot, Takashi won't just learn his ABCs - he'll learn everything there is to know about being a juvenile delinquent. And so will you!

P.G. Wodehouse in His Own Words


P.G. Wodehouse - 2001
    G. Wodehouse's life, through the comic master's own writing and with the help of Tony Ring, president of the International Wodehouse Association. Beautifully illustrated and full of the brilliant wordplay and hilarity that characterize Wodehouse's novels, stories, letters, and nonfiction, P.G. Wodehouse "In His Own Words" is the perfect companion to Overlook's sumptuous Wodehouse collection and a marvellous book in its own right.

Arthur Marx's Groucho: A Photographic Journey


Arthur Marx - 2001
    Arthur Marxs GROUCHO offers never before seen images of his legendary family and the Hollywood scene of the th cent

Mad about the Eighties: The Best of the Decade


MAD Magazine - 2001
    With forty-eight pages in full color, it includes "Feeble Attraction," "M*U*S*H," "Grossanne," Spy vs Spy, and much more.

Land of Nod Treasury


Jay Stephens - 2001
    Step into the Eisner Award-nominated world of Jay Stephens—a place where Roald Dahl walks arm-in-arm with Salvadore Dali and Winsor McCay to create fun and hilarious comics where the only thing that can be expected is to never know what's coming next.

Father Was a Wise Old Man


Donald Davis - 2001
    The five stories here recall the wisdom of fathers with humor and rich detail: a visit to the Smithsonian inspires Father's memory

Sooper Secrets and Boomerang Bloopers (KND Codename: Kids Next Door)


Alison Wilgus - 2001
    Their secret team is known as Codename: Kids Next Door (also known as KND).A behind-the-scenes guide to the best and worst schemes in KND history. An insiders look at the greatest hits of each of the five Kids Next Door Operatives including sooper secrets and boomerang bloopers!

The Great Show-and-Tell Disaster


Mike Reiss - 2001
    The result is "Ned's Mix-Up Ray," a device that scrambles the letters in a word, changing the object into something else entirely. It's bad enough that he changes his AUNT into a TUNA and the PEAS and GRAPES at the local grocer's into APES with PAGERS. But when he uses the device on his classmates (BRIAN becomes a disembodied BRAIN and poor KRISTEN turns into a STINKER), he pushes things too far. Following a BUS ride, (well, a SUB ride, actually) and a disastrous field trip to an art museum, Ned realizes that he hasn't been kind. So putting his inventive mind to work, he comes up with an ingenious solution to fix all the trouble he's caused. From the off-kilter mind of Mike Reiss, author of the best-selling How Murray Saved Christmas and former writer for The Simpsons, comes this hilarious tale of a show-and-tell project gone waaaay out of control. Mike Reiss' other TV writing credits include The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, It's Garry Shandling's Show, Alf, and The Critic, starring Jon Lovitz, which he co-created. His first book, How Murray Saved Christmas, received unanimous rave reviews.

Ladies of Letters.com


Lou Wakefield - 2001
    As perceptive as Joyce Grenfell, as waspish as Hinge and Brackett, Vera and Irene's correspondence is as coruscating as ever.

The Unrest-Cure and Other Beastly Tales


Saki - 2001
    Wodehouse, a soupçon of Wilde's epigrammatic wit, then season with the bloodthirsty malevolence of Edward Lear and Roald Dahl, and you will have an approximation of the inimitable genius of Hector Hugo Munro (alias Saki), the most hilarious and savage exponent of the short story in the English language. His flawlessly-etched cautionary tales, which invariably involve wild animals, tell of country parties where upper-class twits and bores meet with fittingly macabre accidents, where the children are always beastly, and where his urbane and naughty young heroes get the better of their peers using barbed sarcasm and elaborate hoaxes. Saki exposes his upper-crust guests to the menace of Nature—always perched, just out of sight, waiting to claim its next victim.