Best of
Humor

2004

The Complete Peanuts, Vol. 1: 1950-1952


Charles M. Schulz - 2004
    (Among other things, three major cast members—Schroeder, Lucy, and Linus—initially show up as infants and only "grow" into their final "mature" selves as the months go by. Even Snoopy debuts as a puppy!) Thus The Complete Peanuts offers a unique chance to see a master of the art form refine his skills and solidify his universe, day by day, week by week, month by month.This volume is rounded out with Garrison Keillor's introduction, a biographical essay by David Michaelis (Schulz and Peanuts) and an in-depth interview with Schulz conducted in 1987 by Gary Groth and Rick Marschall, all wrapped in a gorgeous design by award-winning cartoonist Seth.

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog!


Mo Willems - 2004
    But . . . then a very sly and hungry duckling enters the scene and wants a bite. Who will be the more clever bird?In this hilarious follow-up to the acclaimed Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Mo Willems has created another avian adventure that encourages children to share even their most prized processed foods.Mo Willems is a six-time Emmy Award-winning writer and animator for Sesame Street and the head writer of Cartoon Network's Codename: Kids Next Door. The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! is the companion to Mo's first children's book, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! He is also the author of Time to Pee!.

The Art of Discworld


Terry Pratchett - 2004
    It's a world bursting with magic, a land of contrasts and extremes, from the bustling metropolis of Ankh-Morpork, the oldest city on the Disc (now ruled with an iron hand in a velvet glove by the Patrician, Lord Vetinari), to the ancient empire of Klatch, where there are fifteen words for assassination. There's the mysterious continent XXXX, or Foureks, about which nothing anyone has ever heard is really an exaggeration, the tiny kingdom of Lancre and the dark country of Uberwald, where things do go bump in the night. And then there are the inhabitants: the witches Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, Magrat Garlick (now a Queen, of course). There are wizards galore, Archchancellor Mustrum Ridcully, the Librarian, Rincewind, the Bursar . . . there are the History Monks and the ancient Vampyre families. There are great heroes, like Cohen the Barbarian and his Silver Horde, Sam Vimes, Captain Carrot and the men* of the City Watch . . . and there are the ordinary folk like Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler, Foul Ole Ron, the Igors . . . and there's Death.The Discworld might have started out in the imagination of its Creator, Terry Pratchett, but over the past 30 or more books, it has taken on a life of its own.Here, gathered together for the first time, is artist Paul Kidby's own voyage through the Disc, in glorious color and intricate black and white: a cornucopia of characters that have won the hearts of millions of adoring readers the world over:Here is The Art of Discworld. werewolves, zombies, gargoyles, dwards - in fact, menof the Watch are actually few and far between these days.

Sgt. Piggy's Lonely Hearts Club Comic: A Pearls Before Swine Treasury


Stephan Pastis - 2004
    Piggy's Lonely Hearts Club Comic, the first Pearls Before Swine treasury-supersized for your enjoyment.But this is no ordinary cartoon treasury. Like the influential Beatles album that inspired the book's title, Sgt. Piggy is full of surprises. In addition to collecting all of the Pearls cartoons that appeared in BLTs Taste So Darn Good and This Little Piggy Stayed Home, cartoonist Stephan Pastis takes readers on a VIP backstage tour of one of the most successful comic strips in newspapers today. In Sgt. Piggy, Pastis explains the genesis of Pearls (hint: it didn't begin at an artist's easel), why he was initially reluctant to show it to newspaper syndicates (and the surprising reason he changed his mind), the unexpected responses from readers to his work, and which Pearls strips worked and which ones didn't (and how he would have corrected the ones that didn't). The result is a rare and revealing glimpse into the world of Rat, Pig, Goat and Zebra. Full of humor and insight, sardonic asides and unexpected truths, Sgt. Piggy's Lonely Hearts Club Comic is a book that comics fans everywhere can enjoy anytime-even when they're 64!

The Complete Cartoons of The New Yorker


Robert Mankoff - 2004
    Organized by decade, with commentary by some of the magazine's finest writers, this landmark collection showcases the work of the hundreds of talented artists who have contributed cartoons over the course ofThe New Yorker's eight-two-year history. From the early cartoons of Peter Arno, George Price and Charles Addams to the cutting-edge work of Alex Gregory, Matthew Diffee and Bruce Eric Kaplan (with stops along the way for the genius of Charles Barsotti, Roz Chast, Jack Ziegler, George Booth, and many others), the art collected here forms, as David Remnick puts it in his Foreword, "the longest-running popular comic genre in American life." Throughout the book, brief overviews of each era's predominant themes—from the Depression and nudity to technology and the Internet, highlight various genres of cartoons and shed light on our pastimes and preoccupations. Brief profiles and mini-portfolios spotlight the work of key cartoonists, including Arno, Chast, Ziegler, and others. The DVD-ROM included with the book is what really makes the "Complete Cartoons" complete. Compatible with most home computers and easily browsable, the disk contains a mind-boggling 70,363 cartoons, indexed in a variety of ways. Perhaps you'd like to find all the cartoons by your favorite artist. Or maybe you'd like to look up the cartoons that ran the week you were born, or all of the cartoons on a particular subject. Of course, you can always begin at the beginning, February 21, 1925, and experience the unprecedented pleasure of reading through every single cartoon ever published in The New Yorker. Enjoy this one-of-a-kind protrait of American life over the past eight decades, as captured by the talented pens and singular outlooks of the masters of the cartoonist's art.

The Complete Peanuts, 1950-1954


Charles M. Schulz - 2004
    The first volume, The Complete Peanuts 1950-1952, covers the first two and a quarter years of the strip (October 1950 through December 1952), and will be of particular fascination to Peanuts aficionados worldwide: Although there have been literally hundreds of Peanuts books published, many of the strips from the series' first two or three years have never been collected before—in large part because they showed a young Schulz working out the kinks in his new strip and include some characterizations and designs that are quite different from the cast we're all familiar with (Among other things, three major cast members—Schroeder, Lucy, and Linus—initially show up as infants and only "grow" into their final "mature" selves as the months go by. Even Snoopy debuts as a puppy!). The second volume, The Complete Peanuts 1953-1954, begins with Peanuts' third full year and a cast of eight: Charlie Brown, Shermy, Patty, Violet, Schroeder, Lucy, the recently born Linus, and Snoopy. By the end of 1954, this will have expanded to nine. Linus still doesn't speak (except, on a few occasions, to himself, à la Snoopy), but Schulz begins laying the foundation for his emergence as the most complex and arguably most endearing character in the strip: garrulous and inquisitive, yet gentle and tolerant. And he evens acquires his "security blanket" in this volume! Meanwhile, Lucy, an infant just a year ago, has forcefully elbowed herself to the front of the cast, proudly wearing her banner as a troublemaker or, in Schulz's memorable phrase, "fuss-budget." The strong, specific relationships she sets up with each character further contributes to making her central to the strip. (She has earned her cover status on this volume.) This period's significant new character is Pig-Pen, who would remain one of the main cast members throughout the decade. And then there's Snoopy. To readers unfamiliar with the early days of the strip, Snoopy's appearances here will no doubt come as the biggest surprise. Although Snoopy has started talking/thinking to himself, he does no imitations (except for one brief shark impression), he doesn't sleep atop his doghouse (much less type or fly a Sopwith Camel), and has no fantasy life—in fact, he doesn't even walk upright! But as we know, he is merely biding his time, and his evolution continues its fascinating course within these pages. Peanuts is the most successful comic strip in the history of the medium as well as one of the most acclaimed strips ever published. (In 1999, a jury of comics scholars and critics voted it the 2nd greatest comic strip of the 20th century—second only to George Herriman's Krazy Kat, a verdict Schulz himself cheerfully endorsed.) Charles Schulz's characters—Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, and so many more—have become American icons. A United Media poll in 2002 found Peanuts to be one of the most recognizable cartoon properties in the world, recognized by 94 percent of the total U.S. consumer market and a close second only to Mickey Mouse (96 percent), and higher than other familiar cartoon properties like Spider-Man (75 percent) or the Simpsons (87 percent). In TV Guide's "Top 50 Greatest Cartoon Characters of All-Time" list, Charlie Brown and Snoopy ranked #8.

Bucky Katt's Big Book of Fun: A Get Fuzzy Treasury


Darby Conley - 2004
    Some are taken by the visual element...Then there's the people who want it to be funny...Darby gets both." --Scott Adams, creator of DilbertGet Fuzzy collections are flying off the shelves. And Bucky Katt's Big Book of Fun, the second full-color treasury of the outrageous antics of Bucky, Satchel, and Rob, is sure to attract more readers of the strip voted Best Comic Strip of 2002 by the National Cartoonists Society.Behold the world of Get Fuzzy. Meet Bucky Katt, the Siamese smart-ass who coexists under protest with Satchel Pooch, the sweet-tempered shar-pei/Lab mix, and Rob Wilco, the human who keeps the refrigerator stocked.Each day in newspapers around the world readers visit the place where cats, dogs, and humans meet and learn a little bit more about each other-not necessarily by choice. By turns hilarious, poignant, and even human, Get Fuzzy is the smartest, funniest comic strip in newspapers today.

Giraffes? Giraffes!


Doris Haggis-on-Whey - 2004
    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.When is the last time you actually sat down and had a conversation with a giraffe? That's what I thought. You are hopelessly clueless on giraffe culture, their likes/dislikes and voting patterns -- most giraffes are probably libertarian. "GIRAFFES? GIRAFFES " is the authoritative text on the biology, history and overall nature of giraffes.You are so behind on giraffes that it's rather embarrassing and you obviously need this book more than health insurance. Things you probably don't know about giraffes -- and can only be found in this book -- include giraffes' preferred mode of transportation (conveyor belt), what their bodies are made of (paper mache, a clock, fruit juices and a super-strong lightweight titanium alloy), where most giraffes live (Terra Haute, Indiana -- known for many things, including buildings made of wood and ground made of dirt), and basic giraffe history (in 50,000 B.C giraffes began to hang out with primitive man, they found him to be likeable and helped him paint buffaloes in caves).Cheat Sheet onGiraffes (good for slumber parties and barroom brawls):- Giraffes invented plastic. "No, not plastic--latex. My bad. Still, though isn't that amazing?"- Frequently Asked Question: "Why do we call giraffes "giraffes?"" Answer: Because when they came to Earth they asked us to.- Rarely Asked Question: "How fast can giraffes run?" The giraffes have tried to phase out running from their lives but if they had to, they could still run much faster than you. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that they can run 780 mph.With the wit and irreverent sense of humor for which Dave Eggers and McSweeney's is known, comes the first volume in the revolutionary Haggis-On-Whey World of Unbelievable Brilliance books. More than just entertaining and informative, "GIRAFFES? GIRAFFES " 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.

A Lovely Love Story


Edward Monkton - 2004
    And that, my friends, is how it is with love." --Edward MonktonMr. Darcy and Miss Bennett. Ozzie and Harriet. Jay-Z and Beyonce. Great couples often find togetherness by embracing their individual differences. In this modern-day fable, Edward Monkton pens an irresistible love story about a fiercely funny but distant Dinosaur who falls in love with a forgetful but free-spirited (and shopping-savvy) Lovely Other Dinosaur.* Monkton, perhaps better known as the U.K.'s top-selling living poet Giles Andreae* This ode to love pairs Monkton's signature illustrations with simple yet profound prose.

Foxtrotius Maximus


Bill Amend - 2004
    After all, the friends, Romans, and countrymen would have been too busy laughing over Jason Fox, pictured in full toga-and-laurel regalia on the cover. This Foxtrot treasury will delight and amuse Fox family fans in the same surprising way. Thumbs up-once again-for creator Bill Amend!Jason Fox rules . . . his computer code, at calc and trig, and in whatever fantasy he happens to be headlining at the moment. Just because the rest of the Fox family-from older brother Peter and sister Paige to parents Roger and Andy-haven't quite accepted his Dominion Over All isn't cause for concern. Math geeks, Jason is convinced, will govern the earth, and he will lead the way. FoxTrotius Maximus: A FoxTrot Treasury, picks up on Jason's megalomania and runs with it . . . and it doesn't stop until you are out of breath from laughing so hard. FoxTrotius Maximus combines the works Your Momma Thinks Square Roots Are Vegetables, Who's Up for Some Bonding, and Am I a Mutant or What? That means longtime FoxTrot readers and new fans alike are treated to Jason and his friend Marcus's never-ending antics, Andy's ongoing allergy fun, Peter's latest hot haircut, and a host of pop-culture trends and topics including music piracy, video games, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Timely, topical, and terribly funny! All hail, FoxTrotius Maximus! Universal Press Syndicate newspaper feature:*FoxTrot Author's web site: www.foxtrot.com/

Improvise.: Scene from the Inside Out


Mick Napier - 2004
    His experience as founder of the acclaimed Annoyance Theatre/Annoyance Productions, as well as Resident Director and Artistic Consultant for The Second City, has led him to continually question why and how scenes work or don't work and what one must do in order for a scene to be successful.In this book, Napier takes an irreverent, but constructive look at the art and practice of improvised scenes. He covers such topics as: two-person scenes group scenes entering scenes techniques to achieve richer, more layered scenes auditioning solo exercises for practice at home. Napier also challenges the conventional wisdom of the "rules" of improvisation, examining what's behind them and how they came to be in the first place.Get helpful, tangible guidelines for bringing strength and direction to your scenes. Just "Improvise."

Opus: 25 Years of His Sunday Best


Berkeley Breathed - 2004
    From one of the funniest minds - and pens - of our time this title is a collection of the very best of Opus, everyone's favourite maladjusted penguin.

Life Is Good: Lessons in Joyful Living


Trixie Koontz - 2004
    Much of the credit must go to Trixie, the golden retriever who has taught him things about life that no human ever could. Trixie shows us how to be happy every moment of the day, except those fleeting moments after a meal when the dish is (temporarily) empty. Dogs know how to work hard and to play even harder. With words of wisdom only a bird dog knows, and beautiful photos to warm your heart, this book will lift your spirits and make your leg shake uncontrollably with pleasure! Trixie wrote LIFE IS GOOD to support her friends who are service dogs for people with disabilities. She is donating her royalties to Canine Companions for Independence (CCI), the national organization that breeds and trains assistance dogs for adults and children with disabilities.

Gin Tama, Vol. 1


Hideaki Sorachi - 2004
    In his days, Gintoki is joined by Shinpachi Shimura, a teenager son of a samurai who wants to learn about him, and Kagura, an alien girl who went to Earth to earn money for her poor family, but is unable to return home and threatens Gintoki to let her live with him. While Kagura and Shinpachi live with Gintoki, they meet a terrorist named Kotaro Katsura who participated alongside Gintoki in the war between samurais and aliens, and lost. Odd Jobs is forced to help Katsura escape from the Shinsengumi, a police force working for the Bakufu, after they accidentally perform a terrorist attack. The volume ends with a one-shot from Sorachi named "Dandelion", which explores the work of a pair of exorcists.

The Mighty Boosh: The Complete Radio Series


NOT A BOOK - 2004
    . . Here are all six episodes of the BBC Radio 4 series, complete and uncut, from the winners of the Perrier Best Newcomer Award. In Episode 1, a mysterious character called The Phantom is stealing animals from the zoo. Howard and Vince go on a mission to find the thief and the sinister figure behind the plot. In Episode 2, tired of Bob Fossil's management, Howard and Vince venture into the zoo's Jungle Room in search of former zoo boss Tommy Nookah, (Howard's idol), who disappeared there long ago. Episode 3 sees Vince forming a rock band, but after annoying the guitarist Dave and driving him to quit, he calls on Howard to overcome the Spirit of Jazz and join them. In Episode 4, when keeper Joey Moose is savagely bitten, Howard and Vince investigate and discover Bob Fossil is breeding mutant animals to sell to wealthy Japanese businessmen. Episode 5 finds Bob Fossil sending Vince to Spain and Howard to the Arctic to collect more animals for the zoo. Our heroes end up back together facing the perils of the tundra. In Episode 6, Howard and Vince take Tony the prawn to the Zoo for Animal Offenders. Along the way they meet a mysterious hitchhiker, and end up in the bizarre world of "The People of the Box." Starring Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding, with Rich Fulcher, Lee Mack, and Richard Ayoade. 3 CDs, 178 minutes

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim


David Sedaris - 2004
    He goes on vacation with his family. He gets a job selling drinks. He attends his brother’s wedding. He mops his sister’s floor. He gives directions to a lost traveler. He eats a hamburger. He has his blood sugar tested. It all sounds so normal, doesn’t it? In his newest collection of essays, David Sedaris lifts the corner of ordinary life, revealing the absurdity teeming below its surface. His world is alive with obscure desires and hidden motives — a world where forgiveness is automatic and an argument can be the highest form of love. Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim is another unforgettable collection from one of the wittiest and most original writers at work today.--davidsedarisbooks.com

Krazy and Ignatz, 1931-1932: A Kat Alilt With Song


George Herriman - 2004
    In 2002, Fantagraphics embarked on a publishing plan to reintroduce the greatest strip of the first-half of the 20th Century (the Peanuts of its era) to a public that has largely never seen it: this volume is the fourth in a long-term plan to chronologically reprint strips from the prime of Herriman's career, most of which have not seen print since originally running in newspapers 75 years ago. Each volume is edited by the San Francisco Cartoon Art Museum's Bill Blackbeard, the world's foremost authority on early 20th Century American comic strips, and designed by Jimmy Corrigan author Chris Ware, who may well go down as the best cartoonist of the 21st Century. Krazy & Ignatz 1931-1932 is a hot-baked brickbat of a volume, a dance with nearly two full years of the Sunday Krazy Kat (Herriman did not use color until 1935), snug between multiple pages of Herriman extras, including an extensive essay by series editor Bill Blackbeard on pre-Kat Herriman work (with reproductions from rare "Baron Mooch" and "Gooseberry Sprig" strips, and a rarely-seen 1923 full-page drawing of the Kat done for Circulation magazine), and, best of all, a 30-page sequence of over two straight months' worth of 1931 dailies! Plus a new "Debaffler" page decoding Krazy arcana, and a stunning layout front and back and throughout by the inimitable Chris Ware! Krazy Kat is a love story, focusing on the relationships of its three main characters. Krazy Kat adored Ignatz Mouse. Ignatz Mouse just tolerated Krazy Kat, except for recurrent onsets of targeting tumescence, which found expression in the fast delivery of bricks to Krazy's cranium. Offisa Pup loved Krazy and sought to protect "her" (Herriman always maintained that Krazy was gender-less) by throwing Ignatz in jail. Each of the characters was ignorant of the others' true motivations, and this simple structure allowed Herriman to build entire worlds of meaning into the actions, building thematic depth and sweeping his readers up by the looping verbal rhythms of Krazy & Co.'s unique dialogue.

Capt Underpants Boxset 5-7 & Adventures Of Super Diaper Baby


Dav Pilkey - 2004
    . . . Beware as they battle the Bionic Booger Boy. . . . Rejoice as they resist the Ridiculous Robo-Boogers. . . . And when you're done with all that, don't miss the very first graphic novel that George and Harold have written themselves: The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby. For extra fun, check out the groovy glow-in-the-dark poster inside!

Uncle John's Slightly Irregular Bathroom Reader (Uncle John's Bathroom Reader, #17)


Bathroom Readers' Institute - 2004
    The crackpot staff at the Bathroom Readers’ Institute has scoured the worlds of pop culture, politics, sports, history, and more to bring you Slightly Irregular, the 17th all-new edition in the best-selling series. As always, the articles are divided by length for your sitting convenience. So turn thine eyes away from the shampoo bottle, O bathroom reader, and let Uncle John pepper your brain with these absorbing articles…Women in spaceThe origin of Kung FuThe CIA’s secret coupThe great windshield epidemicSpider eggs in the brain, and other urban legendsWhat went down at WoodstockFreedom of McSpeechThe curse of MacbethHow to kill a zombieThat ’70s bathroomAnd much, much more!

Bunnicula In-a-Box


James Howe - 2004
    Now all their vegetables are turning white! Chester, the Monroes' cat, sets out to save the world from the vampire bunny. Harold the dog tries to stop Chester before it's too late! And the rest, as they say, is history.In the twenty-five years since the publication of Deborah and James Howe's "Bunnicula," the book and its five sequels have become contemporary classics. Now the first three books are available in this handsome boxed set for the series's millions of fans.

Miss Daisy Is Crazy!


Dan Gutman - 2004
     Miss Daisy, who teaches second grade, doesn't know how to add or subtract. Not only that, she doesn’t know how to read or write either. She is the dumbest teacher in the history of the world!

Fanfare for the Area Man: The Onion Ad Nauseam Complete News Archives Volume 15


The Onion - 2004
    Here they are at last: all the issues of The Onion that you missed because you had a life to live. And each page takes 0.0 seconds to load!Fanfare for the Area Man: The Onion Ad Nauseam Complete News Archives, Volume 15 is packed with material no longer available online or anywhere else. Look for a new volume every year.

Once More* *with footnotes


Terry Pratchett - 2004
    A collection of Terry Pratchett's short works, fiction and non-fiction, with annotations by Pratchett and by the editors.

Interior Desecrations: Hideous Homes from the Horrible '70s


James Lileks - 2004
     What James Lileks did for dinner with the critically acclaimed classic "The Gallery of Regrettable Food," he now does to the wonderful world of 1970s home interiors. Blazing plaid wallpaper. Vertigo-inducing matching patterns on walls, rugs, chairs, pillows, and blinds. Bathrooms straight out of "2001: A Space Odyssey." The whole '70s shebang. If you think the '80s were dumber than the '70s, either you weren't there or you weren't paying attention. James Lileks came of age in the 1970s, and for him there was no crueler thing you could inflict upon a person. The music: either sluggish metal, cracker-boogie, or wimpy ballads. Television: camp without the pleasure of knowing it's camp. Politics: the sweaty perfidy of Nixon, the damp uselessness of Ford, the sanctimonious impotence of Carter. The world: nasty. Hair: unspeakable. Architecture: metal-shingled mansard roofs on franchise chicken shops. No oil. No fun. Syphilis and Fonzie. "Interior Desecrations "is the author's revenge on the decade. Using an ungodly collection of the worst of 1970s interior design magazines, books, and pamphlets, he proves without a shadow of a doubt that the '70s were a breathtakingly ugly period. And nowhere was that ugliness and lack of style felt more than in our very homes, virtual breeding grounds for bad taste, manifested in brown, orange, andplaid wallpaper patterns. This is what happens when Dad drinks, Mom floats in a Valium haze, the kids slump down in the den with the bong, and the decorator is left to run amok. It seemed so normal at the time. But this book should cure whatever lingering nostalgia we have. Exploring all the rooms in the house, Lileks marries the worst of design with the funniest of commentary. His sharp-witted humor, keen eye for detail, and ability to pull the most obscure 1970s references out of his hat make "Interior Desecrations" the perfect gift for those of us who languished away the decade watching Sonny and Cher, Donny and Marie, and Chico and the Man down in our rec rooms, sprawled out on the shag carpeting, waiting for it all to mercifully end. For those people born later and who may think it was all made up--it wasn't. Would that it was! The photos in this book are not the product of some cruel designer gone crazy with Photoshop. They're all too real. So adjust your sense of style, color, and taste. . . and beware! You've been warned.

Vice DOs & DON'Ts: 10 Years of Vice Magazine's Street Fashion Critiques


Suroosh Alvi - 2004
    From the creators of the runaway cult magazine sensation and arbiter of all that is cool comes the ultimate visual guide on how to be - and not to be - a modern urban hipster.

Get Your War On 2


David Rees - 2004
    Now, David Rees returns to do it once again--just in time for the most anticipated election in years. He's taking on the Bush Doctrine, Operation Iraqi Freedom, the war in Afghanistan, tax cuts, the 2004 campaign--and much, much more!

Love All the People: Letters, Lyrics, Routines


Bill Hicks - 2004
    Hicks's summation of life gains greater spirituality as he goes on.' Scarlett Thomas, Independent on Sunday

Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads


Gary Greenberg - 2004
     Finally, a book that teaches men all the things they really need to know about fatherhood...including how to: - change a baby at a packed sports stadium - create a decoy drawer full of old wallets, remote controls, and cell phones to throw baby off the scent of your real gear - stay awake (or at least upright) at work - babyproof a hotel room in four minutes flat - construct an emergency diaper out of a towel, a sock, and duct tape Packed with helpful diagrams and detailed instructions, and delivered with a wry sense of humor, Be Prepared is the ultimate guide for sleep-deprived, applesauce-covered fathers everywhere.

Poop: A Natural History of the Unmentionable


Nicola Davies - 2004
    . . and most grownups would rather not to mention it. Meanwhile, scientists who study animal feces find out all sorts of things, such as how many insects a bat eats or just what technique a T. rex used to devour a triceratops 70 million years ago. However you look at it, poop is the quintessential prototype for recycling and probably the most useful stuff on earth. Take a peek at POOP and find out all you need to know — what it's for, where it goes, and how much we can learn from it.

MUTTS Sunday Afternoons: A MUTTS Treasury


Patrick McDonnell - 2004
    . . all of these can make for captivating cartoons. But it's the artist who can take the simple, keep it simple, and still tell a story who really stands apart from the crowd. Patrick McDonnell, creator of Mutt's Mooch the cat and Earl the dog, is such a cartoonist.The quickest way to absorb McDonnell's mastery of his art is to pick up this third Mutts treasury, in which frame after frame and strip after strip he consistently displays his wit, cleverness, and ability with a pen. Mutts is the perfect way to escape into what appears to be an easygoing, carefree world. But just beneath the character's banter and endearing mannerisms are the universal concerns of animals and people alike. The cartoonist's spare style and gentle humor invite readers to fill out the frames with their own imaginations.Mutts, syndicated by King Features since 1994, enjoys a circulation of more than 500 daily newspapers. Nationally McDonnell has received awards ranging from Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year to Newspaper Comic Strip of the Year, and worldwide he has received such praise as being named the Swedish Academy of Comic Art's Best International Comic Strip Artist. This strip's a winner the world around.

Asterix Comics (Graphic Novels) Box Set of 34 Titles


René Goscinny - 2004
    (1976) Asterix in Belgium (1979) Asterix and the Great Divide (1980) Asterix and the Black Gold (1981) Asterix and Son (1983) Asterix and the Magic Carpet (1987) Asterix and the Secret Weapon (1991) Asterix and Obelix All at Sea (1996) Asterix and the Actress (2001) Asterix and the Class Act (2003) Asterix and the Falling Sky (2005) Asterix and Obelix's Birthday: The Golden Book (2009) Asterix and the Picts (2013)

Dog-Eared: MUTTS 9


Patrick McDonnell - 2004
    His artistry is in his Zen-like clarity, his simple direct address, and his unique understanding of the essential animal-human continuum. When one experiences MUTTS, one experiences genius." -Alice Sebold, author of The Lovely Bones"Dog-Eared"is exactly what this latest collection from cartoonist Patrick McDonnell is destined to become. The brilliant assortment of simple-yet-complex strips will have readers turning its pages again and again, eager to revisit the charm, truth, and humor found within.McDonnell's strip, highlights the adventures of Earl the dog and Mooch the cat, best buddies who regularly come in contact with Shtinky Puddin', Sourpuss, Guard Dog, and Crabby-as well as an assortment of whimsically rendered humans. This cast is capable of endless antics, interspersed with poignant views on both the animal and human condition. And whether they're raiding garbage cans or basking in full-frontal belly rubs, Mooch and Earl always have a comment to clinch the scene.MUTTS is the kind of strip that comic readers find irresistible. "Dog-Eared" is the same kind of collection. One strip leads to another, and before you know it you've turned page after dog-eared page to satisfy a growing MUTTS addiction.

Still Pickled After All These Years: A Pickles Collection


Brian Crane - 2004
    The other one was to Hopalong Cassidy, when I had a great crush on him at about six years old. But I did want to let you know how very much both my husband and I have enjoyed Pickles from the very first strip. Would you please consider putting a collection together in book form?"—Lois F. in Nevada  As its loyal fans will gladly tell you, Pickles has been a zinger-filled, laugh-out-loud gem since its debut in 1990. Since then, it has steadily climbed in popularity, and today appears in over 400 newspapers worldwide. Still Pickled After All These Years collects strips from this sweet intergenerational comic that alternates point of view between an older married couple, a 30-something married couple, and their son. The strip centers on Earl and Opal Pickles, who have been married over 50 years but inject plenty of spunk and insight into everything they do. Whether they're taking a wry but sympathetic glance at their divorced daughter, Sylvia, laughing at their faithful but feckless canine, Roscoe, marveling at their dictatorial feline, Muffin, or just commenting on the little things in life, Earl and Opal's good-natured wit and dry humor is brilliantly on target. Pickles is about growing old and keeping your sense of humor but never forgetting what it's like to be a child. The strip's inaugural AMP collection, Still Pickled After All These Years, encapsulates the importance of staying close to those who bring you the most joy and reminds everyone about the incalculable value of the unconditional love of pets, family, and friends.

What Color Is Your Underwear?


Sam Lloyd - 2004
    We save the best for last, though--on the final spread, an elephant is hiding behind a large leaf...for good reason. He forgot to put on any underwear! This is a fun way to teach colors...and the importance of wearing your drawers!

Science Verse


Jon Scieszka - 2004
    / 'Cause whether his or hers amoeba, / They too feel like you and meba.What if a boring lesson about the food chain becomes a sing-along about predators and prey? A twinkle-twinkle little star transforms into a twinkle-less, sunshine-eating-and rhyming Black Hole? What if amoebas, combustion, metamorphosis, viruses, the creation of the universe are all irresistible, laugh-out-loud poetry? Well, you're thinking in science verse, that's what. And if you can't stop the rhymes ... the atomic joke is on you. Only the amazing talents of Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, the team who created Math Curse, could make science so much fun.

The Vampire Bunny


James Howe - 2004
    But when the vegetables in the Monroes' kitchen start turning white, Chester the cat is worried. Could Bunnicula be a vampire bunny? Chester will stop at nothing to protect the Monroes and their vegetables from the threat.

Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into History Again


Bathroom Readers' Institute - 2004
    More than 500 pages of great stories, fascinating facts, and fun quizzes await you. Read about… * Philosophers who fought with fireplace pokers* “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this Wall!”* Where are they now—the Goths* The golden age of wife-selling* History’s most horrible dentist award* The French monks who invented tennis* Women of the Gold RushAnd much, much more!

Suddenly Silver: Celebrating 25 Years of For Better or For Worse


Lynn Johnston - 2004
    "They talk and can be heard in conversation-with you, with each other......... They allow you to be a part of their world inasmuch as you have asked them to be a part of yours."That sentiment also applies to the millions of faithful For Better or For Worse fans who follow the popular family strip each day. Suddenly Silver celebrates that decades-old relationship between creator, characters, and readers.Millions of readers share a daily relationship with Lynn Johnston and her cartoon family, the Pattersons. Suddenly Silver: Celebrating 25 Years of For Better or For Worse allows these faithful friends-and new readers, too-to honor that long association through a one-of-a-kind collection of strips that also includes Johnston's musings about her real life and how it's reflected in one of the cartooning world's most beloved and followed families.Suddenly Silver is divided into three sections using cartoons from the strip's early, middle, and more recent years. This insightful structure enables readers to revisit favorite earlier strips and to watch the development of storylines and the growth of characters over the years. Throughout it all, readers will find the same focus on everyday family life humorously portrayed through the good and the not-so-good days. All the cherished characters are present, including parents Elly and John, their children and grandchild, Grandpa Jim, and of course the dogs.Johnston's thoughts about them, their individual development, and their familial evolution makes Suddenly Silver particularly captivating. As Lynn describes her work, readers get to share in the Pattersons' rendition of real life through the heartwarming, the humorous, the tragic, and the triumphant. This book, like the cartoon it honors, will make readers smile while emphasizing what's important in life.For Better or For Worse: What a run! What a celebration! What a future to look forward to!

Garfield's Guide to Everything


Jim Davis - 2004
    Sleep — “The best 18 hours of my day”Coffee — “Mother Nature’s Jumper Cables”Dogs — “They contain 90% of the world’s drool supply.”Love — “”…is splitting the last piece of pizza.”Exercise — “My favorite spectator sport.”Mondays — “The armpit of days.”Golf — “That’s Scottish for ‘AAARGH!’.”

Catalina Magdalena Hoopensteiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan Was Her Name


Tedd Arnold - 2004
    With googly eyes that move and priced at $10.95!Meet Catalina Magdalena Whoopensteiner Wallendiner Hogan Logan Bogan... She had two holes on the bottom of her nose-- One for her fingers, and one for her toes!Though she has two arms that drag along the ground, two feet bigger than a bathroom mat, and just two teeth in her mouth, life for Catalina is full and fun! Best-selling author/illustrator Tedd Arnold has transformed a popular camp song into a wild, wacky, happy book--with a wonderful message of making the most of life and finding joy where one can! And on the cover of the book are googly eyes that really move!

Spongebob Squarepants Movie: A Novelization of the Hit Movie!


Marc Cerasini - 2004
    Krabs is held accountable for the crime! So it's up to SpongeBob and his trusty sidekick, Patrick, to make the dangerous trip to Shell City to retrieve the crown and save Mr. Krabs's life. Meanwhile, the evil Plankton has set his plan into motion: to steal the secret Krabby Patty formula and rule the sea! Will SpongeBob and Patrick be able to save the crown "and" make it back in time to save the fate of Bikini Bottom?

Smarter than Squirrels


Lucy Nolan - 2004
    But when Here Kitty Kitty moves in next door, their daily routines are turned topsy-turvy. Filled with humor and adventure, this illustrated chapter book takes a look at life in the backyard from the well-intentioned but misguided viewpoint of man’s best friend.

Doonesbury: The Long Road Home


G.B. Trudeau - 2004
    As a medevac chopper swoops down, the wounded Guardsman hears "Not your time, bro. Not today," and his remarkable healing journey begins.Thousands of U.S. soldiers have suffered grievous wounds in Iraq, but only one of them is a Doonesbury character. The Long Road Home: One Step at a Time chronicles seven months of cutting-edge cartooning, during which B.D.-and readers of the strip-got an up-close schooling in a kind of personal transformation no one seeks.Deprived not only of leg but also his ubiquitous trademark helmet, B.D. survives first-response Baghdad triage, evacuation to Landstuhl's surgeon-rich environment, and visits by innumerable morale-boosting celebs, both red and blue in hue. He's awed in turn by morphine, take-no-guff nurses, his fellow amps, and his family, including the daughter who hand-delivers succor, one aspirin at a time.Transferred stateside to Walter Reed's Ward 57, B.D. is inspired by the wisdom of physiatrists, warmed by the dedicated ministrations of real-life fellow-amp heroes like Jim the Milkshake Man, and dazzled by high-tech prostheses that cost more than luxury cars. He's annoyed by his own bouts with self-pity, by the bedside awkwardness of friends more comfortable regarding his stump from e-mail distance, and by Zonk's unwavering commitment to supplementing his care with organic meds.As their journey continues, B.D. and Boopsie are cared for by Fisher House, a home-next-door-to-the-hospital for families whose lives revolve around therapy. B.D. finds himself painfully engaged in building his future, one sadistically difficult physical therapy session at a time. "To Lash, Helga, and the Marquis!" toast the band of differently limbed brethren, raising their glasses to their PT masters as they prepare for reentry into the ambulatory world.From rebuilding tissue to rebuilding social skills to rebuilding lives, B.D's inspiring, insightful, and darkly humorous story confirms that it can take a village, or at least a ward, to raise a soldier when he's gone down. "Thank you for getting blown up," offers one of B.D.'s visiting players. Replies the coach, "Just doing my job."

Screen Burn


Charlie Brooker - 2004
    Sit back and roar as Brooker rips mercilessly into Simon Cowell, Big Brother, Trinny and Susannah, Casualty, Davina McCall, Michael Parkinson...and almost everything else on television. This book will make practically anyone laugh out loud.

What Is Goth?


Aurelio Voltaire - 2004
    Imagine The Preppy Handbook colliding with Charles Addams. Then add a lot more melancholy and a lot more spooky. What Is Goth? dispels the false stereotypes and reinforces the true ones surrounding Goths and Goth culture. "To the mundane," Voltaire writes, "Goths are weird, black-clad freaks who are obsessed with death; they are sad all of the time. Take a closer look at the Goth scene, however, and you will find a rich tapestry of ideas and practices and a menagerie of colorful characters. Oh, dear. I said 'colorful.'" Yes, Goths are pale, wear black clothing, love black makeup (on men and women), mope, listen to real downer music, and perfect the art of living in a perpetual state of ennui and melancholy. But there's so much more to being Goth. Goths come from all walks of life. Many are teenagers who live with their parents; others are doctors, lawyers, musicians, and so on. Most Goths are highly literate and creative, but all real Goths have to dress the part. In other words, "Abandon all hope ye who enter a Goth club in khakis " Eerily illustrated, What Is Goth? is the perfect book for any Goth, Goth wannabe, or "mundane" who is hopelessly confused by all the gloom.

Friends to the End: The True Value of Friendship


Bradley Trevor Greive - 2004
    I hope this little book helps us all appreciate those people in our lives whom we both adore and sometimes want to strangle, but at the end of the day, we simply couldn't live without--our friends." --Bradley Trevor GrieveFriends and life. Life and friends. The two are so tightly interwoven it's impossible to imagine one being remotely worthwhile without the other. As Bradley Trevor Greive points out, "There are very few truly solitary creatures on this planet. And most of them have serious personal hygiene issues."What makes friends so special? What does our choice of friends say about us? What sparks the best friendships and keeps them burning? In Friends to the End: The True Value of Friendship, BTG uses his trademark witty narrative illustrated with irresistible animal photos to explore the daily magic we experience through our friends. Best described as a cross between his famously successful Dear Mom and The Blue Day Book, Friends to the End examines themes such as why we can't live without friends, how great friendships grow from humble beginnings, how to identify different types of friendship, what to do when good friends turn bad, and why it's all so worthwhile."When I think back to all the really great or the horrendously bad times in my life," says BTG, "I can't help but think about how my friends made the former all the more enjoyable and the latter at least survivable. I want this book to help people appreciate friendship for all it is and all it can be.

The Devil's Panties, Vol. 1


Jennie Breeden - 2004
    this wasn't quite what Jennie had in mind after graduating with a shiny degree in Sequential Art(though it may have been what was in everyone else's). As life overwhelmed her and her drawing hand withered away, Jennie made a promise to herself to stay in practice by drawing a new comic every single day.This first volume is a compilation of those comics. From dating and clubbing to trying to make it as an artist, follow along as Jennie chronicles her daily struggles, sorrows, joys and WTFs in life.

I'd Really Like to Eat a Child


Sylviane Donnio - 2004
    He's tired of bananas; today he'd like to eat a child. But he's smaller than he thinks, and the little girl he chooses for his first meal puts him in his place—she picks him up and tickles his tummy! The little crocodile is going to have to eat a lot of bananas and grow a lot bigger before he can add children to his menu! Simple yet hilarious artwork brings this droll story to life.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened


Jim Benton - 2004
    Actually, it was better than okay. Angeline got her long, beautiful hair tangled in one of the jillion things she has dangling from her backpack, and the school nurse -- who is now one of my main heroes -- took a pair of scissors and snipped two feet of silky blond hair from the left side of her head, so now Angeline only looks like The Prettiest Girl in the World if you're standing on her right. (Although personally, I think she would look better if I was standing on her neck.)

Scribbles: A Really Giant Drawing and Coloring Book


Taro Gomi - 2004
    This is no ordinary coloring book! With playful drawings, funny scenarios and fun-to-follow instructions, this book is not just for coloring, but for doodling, drawing, imagining and thinking!

Technically, It's Not My Fault: Concrete Poems


John Grandits - 2004
    His musings cover the usual stuff, like pizza, homework, thank-you notes, and his annoying older sister. In addition, he speculates about professional wrestling for animals, wonders why no one makes scratch-and-sniff fart stickers, designs the ultimate roller coaster (complete with poisonous spiders), and deconstructs the origins of a new word, snarpy. A playful layout and ingenious graphics extend the wry humor that is sure to resonate with readers of all ages.

Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest


P.G. Wodehouse - 2004
    A friend of Bertie's Aunt Agatha, Lady Malvern requests that Wilmot stay with Bertie for a couple of weeks whilst she is away in America. Whilst not perfectly happy with the idea, Bertie agrees, to find that the seemingly mild-mannered Wilmot may have a wilder side, especially when it comes to alcohol! And as ever, trusty valet Jeeves is quietly and staunchly on the scene, working fastidiously to keep everything on an even keel, and of course, to try to persuade Bertie not to make his rotten fashion mistakes.

Goblin Quest


Jim C. Hines - 2004
    Captured by a party of adventurers searching for a magical artifact, and forced to guide them, Jig encounters every peril ever faced on a fantasy quest.

Snarf Attack, Underfoodle, and the Secret of Life: The Riot Brothers Tell All


Mary Amato - 2004
    Narrated by fifth-grader Wilbur and featuring his third-grade brother, Orville, this hilarious story follows the antics of two boys with overactive imaginations and a comfortable sibling relationship. The action is divided into three "books," with six chapters each. In the first, the brothers are determined to catch a crook. They make a windfall by giving lessons in being annoying to their classmates, are reprimanded by the principal (who is also their mother), and still manage to foil a bank robber on the way home from school. Next, while searching for treasure, they find a mysterious box in the closet. After they finally open it, they discover that the contents, although not worth money, are still valuable. The final installment has the duo building a catapult designed to overthrow a king and using it instead to defeat a bully. Full-colour illustrations

MeruPuri: Märchen Prince: The Complete Series


Matsuri Hino - 2004
    

Waggin' Tales: A Red and Rover Collection


Brian Basset - 2004
    . . . Just the book to pick up when you need a booster shot of the warm fuzzies.""-Syracuse Post-StandardWhy are readers so dedicated to this simple comic about a boy and his dog? That simplicity itself is one of the best-loved characteristics of the strip. Ten-year-old Red and his lab-mix mutt, Rover, are a metaphor for friendship, and their shared adventures hearken back to a simpler time that holds a strong nostalgic appeal for modern readers.The other feature of Red and Rover that draws fans to the strip is the realness of its character. Rover is not a talking dog; he and Red communicate through thought bubbles. Moreover, Rover's facial expressions and body language are drawn with an authenticity, recognized and lauded by dog lovers, that communicates volumes about what he's thinking and feeling.As proclaimed on the popular family-oriented Web site infodad.com, ""Well focused, well thought out, and well drawn in something of a 'retro' style, Red and Rover is the most heartwarmingly funny new comic strip in years. Cynics, go elsewhere. Red and Rover is for the rest of us.""

America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction


Jon StewartScott Jacobson - 2004
    But what is American democracy? In America (The Book), Jon Stewart and The Daily Show writing staff offer their insights into our unique system of government, dissecting its institutions, explaining its history and processes, and exploring the reasons why concepts like one man, one vote, government by the people, and every vote counts have become such popular urban myths. Topics include: Ancient Rome: The First Republicans; The Founding Fathers: Young, Gifted, and White; The Media: Can it Be Stopped?; and more!

Futurama Adventures


Eric Rogers - 2004
    Take flight to the future of Futurama and leave the past behind ... today!

Found: The Best Lost, Tossed, and Forgotten Items from Around the World


Davy Rothbart - 2004
    Discarded valentines. Ransom notes. To-do lists. Diaries. Homework assignments. A break-up letter written on the back of an airsickness bag. Whether they are found on buses, at stores, in restaurants, waiting rooms, parking lots, or even prison yards, these items give readers an uncensored, poignant, and often hilarious peek into other people's lives. By collecting them in his hit magazine, "Found" (and its companion website, www.foundmagazine.com), Davy Rothbart has bewitched the nation with a surprising window into its heart and soul and turned his many readers into an army of sharp-eyed finders. "Found" is chock-full of the latest and greatest of these finds, arranged in the style of the magazine, laying bare the tantalizing tales to be discovered in the trash we toss. By turns heartbreaking and hysterically funny, "Found" is a mesmerizing tribute to everyday life and our eternal curiosity about our fellow human beings.

Holy Tango of Literature


Francis Heaney - 2004
    This devilishly witty book has a twist: Each writer's name is rearranged as a title, creating the subject for a parody rendered in the author's style.

Furry Logic


Jane Seabrook - 2004
    Exquisitely detailed watercolor paintings depicting animals caught up in the joy and drudgery of life are paired with old adages given a new spin for our times. Tender thoughts such as “Smile first thing in the morning—get it over with,” “If you don't agree with me—it means you haven't been listening,” and “You'll always be my best friend—you know too much” go a long way toward banishing the blahs and shaking off the blues. Designer and illustrator Jane Seabrook's 40 universally appealing paintings of birds, bears, penguins, chipmunks, frogs, baboons, and more are rendered in delicate and biologically accurate detail using a tiny sable brush with a single hair at its tip. In the spirit of international best-seller The Blue Day Book, FURRY LOGIC speaks to the human condition in a way we can all relate to and feel good about.A humorous collection of quotes and drawings that turns life's little challenges into opportunities for laughter.An ideal gift for Mother's or Father's Day, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, or for no reason at all.

The Pain—When Will it End?


Tim Kreider - 2004
    His manic, spontaneous line, and his eye for facial expression, gesture, and detail make his cartoons more than one-shot gags. His humor is both crudite and puerile, as personally revealing as a drunken blackout and as politically trenchant as a lone gunman. Kreider's work has been likened to the foul result of inbreeding between Ralph Steadman and B. Kliban. The wide range of subject matter in this collection, from religion and politics to Nietzsche and pie, from sex and violence to the sheer pointlessness of it all, can only be suggested by a sampling of titles: "Breakfast for the Devil, " "The Four Press Secretaries of the Apocalypse, " "Learn German While Drunk, " and "I'm Sorry I'm So Horrible." (The collection also includes the unspeakable "Graveyard Shift at the Pussy Juice Factory.") Kreider's vision of the human condition is of a man distracted from the vast starship hovering over his city by a glimpse of a pretty girl's ass; his version of the existential abyss is a cruddy laundromat with old magazines spilled on the plastic chairs and the word "FAGOT" scratched on a dryer; and the only hope or joy he finds in this life is in jigglin' dem monster juggs or setting a monkey's ass on fire. You may be ashamed to laugh, but laugh you will.

Thrilling Tom the Dancing Bug Stories


Ruben Bolling - 2004
    Recognized the past two years by the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN) as Best Cartoon, Tom the Dancing Bug is consistently funny, pointed without being dogmatic, and takes on subjects that no one else does . . . an oasis of keen intelligence in the comics page, according to the 2003 AAN judges. Here are just a couple headlines from the quirky strip's News of the Times: o?= Computer Loses to Human Candy Land Champion: Despite progress made in developing a computer program that can defeat a human chess champion, computer scientists confess that they have been unable to launch a significant challenge to human supremacy in the game of Candy Land.o?= Scientists Discover Media Has Quantum Effect on Reality: A team of physicists discovers that an electron is in an uncertain state until the media report on it. For example, once an electron was measured and reported upon by Mary Hart on the Celebrity Corner segment of Entertainment Tonight, it instantly assumed its nature as a particle.Tom the Dancing Bug's client list is diverse, representing the breadth of contemporary journalism: alternative newspapers, such as Dallas Observer and the Village Voice; prestigious daily newspapers, including the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times; Salon.com, an acclaimed online magazine; and the New Yorker magazine.

The Best of Gahan Wilson


Gahan Wilson - 2004
    Not content to chronicle just a collection of cartoons, this retrospective includes Wilson's wry, illustrated essays on such topics as childhood fears and human tourists in space. A unique creator, Wilson straddles humor markets ranging from art enthusiasts to sci-fi junkies with offbeat aplomb.

Twelve Plays by Shakespeare


William Shakespeare - 2004
    Unabridged texts of Hamlet, Richard III, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest, Othello, King Lear, Julius Caesar, and Much Ado About Nothing.

You Say I'm a Bitch Like It's a Bad Thing


Ed Polish - 2004
    Featuring full-color advertising images from the 1950s and 1960s paired with sly, laugh-out-loud sayings, this sassy little gift book tackles issues of love, motherhood, housework, menopause, shopping, and diet with daring humor and a healthy dose of bitchiness. The spiral-bound book stands on its own base for easy display. A gift book of hyped-up affirmations featuring full-color advertising images from the 1950sâ??1960s paired with hilarious sayings.The spiral-bound, stand-up cover allows for easy display.A perfect shower, hostess, birthday, or friendship gift for women of all ages. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â

Laughter from Heaven


Barbara Johnson - 2004
    With her humorous approach to all life's circumstances, Barbara wants her readers to catch a light-hearted look at the hereafter.Filled with hope and encouragement, this book is sure to become a favorite of many women who long for a sense of joy in the midst of everyday struggles. In classic Barbara Johnson style, these hilarious pages will show you how to put life's trials into heavenly perspective. She hopes you will find encouragement through your difficulties, renewal for your spiritual doldrums, and laughter when you think you'll never laugh again. Similar in nature to her best-selling title Humor Me, this delightful look at heaven reveals it as a place that will be not only without pain, but will actually be fun!Jokes, stories, cartoons and Barbara's famous one-liners make this another joy-filled book that all her fans will love.

How to Remodel a Man: Tips and Techniques on Accomplishing Something You Know Is Impossible But Want to Try Anyway


W. Bruce Cameron - 2004
    For want of a better term, let's call these people "women."Their urge is understandable. We've all had to take measures to accommodate men, because they are involved in nearly every aspect of modern life except maybe housework and they like to run things like corporate meetings and the planet. The only other alternative has been to try to avoid men altogether, which is pretty hard to do if you are interested in stuff like reproduction or having your oil changed.That's why How to Remodel a Man is so indispensable-it is a clear, step-by-step guide for anyone who wants to alter the character and behavior of a man, written by an actual man. Author W. Bruce Cameron provides startling insight into male pattern thinking, explaining why men can open a refrigerator and not see the mayonnaise, or how it is that they can throw dirty clothes at the hamper or in front of the hamper or even on top of the hamper and yet not seem capable of getting any of it in the hamper. Normally, changing a man has certain obstacles, including, but not limited to, the fact that it is impossible. But Cameron is able to overcome this hindrance because he, himself, has been remodeled. In a move so bold it may be shocking to people unaccustomed to such personal courage, Cameron turned himself over to the women in his life and asked them to change him. It started with a list of his flaws (Cameron came up with four; the women came up with one hundred seventy eight) and ended with him writing How to Remodel a Man, so that others could learn from his experience.If you're a woman, you'll be amazed to learn that men can be trained to perform all sorts of tricks, like using the instruments on the sides of their heads (the ears) to listen to you, and the space between those instruments to think about you.If you're a man, you've been given this book so that you'll see that it's possible to watch television without holding the remote or to ask for directions from strangers without suffering a catastrophic loss of testosterone. Cameron changed, and you can too.How to Remodel a Man is the essential guide for anyone in the awkward position of having to interact with a person of the male gender.

Sea Smoke


Louis Jenkins - 2004
    Many of these pieces begin with the ordinary, but a subtle pivot in language propels the reader into an unexpected and oftentimes humorous perspective from which to view the world anew. Herein the blue moon is unhappy as it gazes into car windows, clouds sweep across the horizon as if serving Genghis Khan, and the poet considers the benefits of retirement:RetirementI’ve been thinking of retiring, of selling the poetry business and enjoying my twilight years. It’s a prose poem business, so it’s a niche market. Still, after thirty some years, I must have assets worth well in excess of $300. Perhaps the new owner of the business will want to diversify, go into novels or plays, or perhaps merge into a school or movement. It won’t matter to me once I’ve retired. Maybe I’ll do a little traveling, winter in the Southwest. Take up golf. Spend more time with the family. Maybe I’ll just walk around and look at things with absolutely no compulsion to say anything at all about them.Louis Jenkins lives in Duluth, Minnesota. His poems have been published in a number of literary magazines and anthologies. His books of poetry include An Almost Human Gesture (Eighties Press and Ally Press, 1987), All Tangled Up With the Living (Nineties Press, 1991), Nice Fish: New & Selected Prose Poems (Holy Cow! Press, 1995), Just Above Water (Holy Cow! Press, 1997), and The Winter Road (Holy Cow! Press, 2000). Some of his prose poems were published in The Best American Poetry 1999 (Scribner) and in Great American Prose Poems (Scribner, 2003).

Dogwitch: Direct to Video


Dan Schaffer - 2004
    But Violet is quickly learning that fame's not all it's cracked up to be!

Who Let the Dogs In?: Incredible Political Animals I Have Known


Molly Ivins - 2004
    But those are just a few of the political animals who are honored and skewered for our amusement. Ivins also writes hilariously, perceptively, and at times witheringly of John Ashcroft, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, H. Ross Perot, Tom DeLay, Ann Richards, Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, and the current governor of Texas, who is known as Rick “Goodhair” Perry.Following close on the heels of her phenomenally successful Bushwhacked and containing an up-to-the-minute Introduction for the campaign season, Who Let the Dogs In? is political writing at its best.From the Hardcover edition.

The Grrl Genius Guide to Sex (with Other People): A Self-Help Novel


Cathryn Michon - 2004
    Armed with the information from Cathryn's Wild Sexual Animal Kingdom research and her "Love is Important but Chocolate is Essential" Chocolate Fun Facts, her posse of Grrl Geniuses struggle with singlehood, married life, sexual preferences, widowhood, and friendship. Cathryn's journey veers from a "nails-on-chalkboard-scratchingly-awful" divorce and the botched kidnapping of her own dog, to pretending to be a lesbian, seeing her old lingerie sold on her old front lawn by her ex-husband's girlfriend, losing her job, and a tragic industrial accident-level bikini wax. And through everything, Cathryn searches for the answer to the most important relationship question of all: why are all the best men gay?If you've ever been tempted to have sex with another person, this is an essential read. If you've ever felt inadequate to a task or a failure at love or in any way anything less than a genius and you've sunk so low that even a new pair of cute shoes won't help, Cathryn Michon can show you the way to relationship happiness-all you have to do is learn from her very funny mistakes. However badly you think you've done anything, Cathryn has done it even worse, and reveals lessons learned in the wryly witty and devastatingly honest style that has made her the favorite of aspiring geniuses everywhere!

The Complete Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers: Volume Two


Gilbert Shelton - 2004
    

The Disney Princess Little Golden Book Library: 6 Little Golden Books


Walt Disney Company - 2004
    From Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Snow White to Ariel, Jasmine, and Belle, this enchanting boxed set brings the most-beloved Disney Princesses together for fans and collectors alike.

Clinton Anderson's Downunder Horsemanship: Establishing Respect and Control for English and Western Riders


Clinton Anderson - 2004
    

Playing Right Field: A Jew Grows in Greenwich


George Tabb - 2004
    "Playing Right Field" refers to an early experience of the author and his brother, Lloyd, who played Little League together; they were forced to share one team t-shirt between the both of this because his father the multi-millionaire was too cheap to buy one of each of them. George and Lloyd chose right field because hardly any balls ever got hit out there and they thought it would be safe and provide them with lots of space. The book will include many stories, all true – and some very hard to believe. Each story has a strong sense of morality, and the book will be fun as well as very educational. Using the idea of "right field", the book will trace Tabb's growing sense of isolation and rebellion from birth through near the end of tenth grade.

Georgia Nicolson's Fab Diary Confessions


Louise Rennison - 2004
    

The Unhinged World of Glen Baxter


Glen Baxter - 2004
    Celebrates the humorous and offbeat artwork of visual satirist Glen Baxter.

The Crazy Years


Spider Robinson - 2004
    Written by Spider Robinson, 'The Crazy Years' takes its name from Robert A Heinlein's designation of the last years of the 20th century and contains essays from Robinson's tenure as op-ed columnist for 'The Globe and Mail' and from 'Galaxy Online'. Environmentalists that place the survival of earth before the survival of humanity, the idiocy of computer designs, and the downsides of the Internet are among the subjects Robinson uses to take the world to task.

Funny Bunnies


Laurie Frankel - 2004
    Funny Bunnies celebrates the many snuggly virtues of these adorable companions with 75 color photographs of 30 different breeds. This charming, visual hop along the bunny trail also includes fun-to-read details about each breed, such as its origins, coat, and behavior, as well as distinctive and downright adorable characteristics. We meet the English Lop, the oldest known domestic breed of rabbit, dubbed "King of the Fancy" by rabbit aficionados, who boasts ears up to twelve inches long. There's the sweet-natured Chinchilla Giant, renowned for its girth, weighing in at up to 16 pounds, and the Netherland Dwarf, who comes in a rainbow of rabbit colors and is small enough to nestle in the palm of your hand. Readers will marvel at the long fur of the Angora rabbit, which grows at the rate of an inch a month and is used like wool to make cozy sweaters. A great gift at Easter or anytime, Funny Bunnies includes a recommended reading list as well as a bunny resource section with tips to help bunny lovers learn more and even select an appropriate carrot-nibbling companion. If the lovable Fuzzy Lop, the Beveren with to-die-for eyes, and the wee Dutch featured in these pages don't melt your heart, you may not be bunny people after all.

Real Ultimate Power: The Official Ninja Book


Robert Hamburger - 2004
    But that's a bunch of bull crap! You dummies don't know anything. And maybe YOU should get a life. I bet a lot of you have never even seen a girl naked! You idiots believe that ninjas had some "code of honor." Yeah right! If by "code of honor," you mean "code to flip out and go nuts for absolutely no reason at all even if it means that people might think you are totally insane or sweet," then you are right. But if you mean a "code to be nice and speak nicely while sharing and not cutting off heads," then you're the biggest idiot ever!!!!!! So if you have any brains, you will shut up and get a life. So go shut up, you stupid idiot. No thank you, Robert Hamburger

Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into the Presidency


Bathroom Readers' Institute - 2004
    This book is full of interesting insights, amazing anecdotes, and trashy tidbits about the lives, times, and issues of each president. Topics include: The Men — Their Personalities, Performance, Virtues, and Vices; Presidential Firsts and Lasts; Sibling Rivalry — Presidential Brothers and Sisters in the News; Health Secrets of the Chief Executives; Close Calls — Assassination Attempts; The Presidency as Depicted in Books, Movies, the Media, and Monuments; and much more. Readers learn about the oldest sitting president (Reagan at 77); the tiniest president (5'4" James Madison, who weighed less than 100 pounds); and the special status of 1841 (the only year when three separate men all served as president).

The Appropriation of Cultures


Percival Everett - 2004
    

That's Mean!


Francesco Pittau - 2004
    Kicking the cat... That's Mean! This kid-approved book takes a humorous look at all things mean and nasty. Firmly focused on fun, That's Mean! is the perfect opportunity to have a teachable moment with your young reader, all while making them laugh.

Gold Digger Gold Brick III


Fred Perry - 2004
    Follow Gina and Cheetah from undersea city of Muthia to the fabled land of Jade encountering the questing dragon Fuantleroy and his concubines, danger and adventure on their search for treasure.

Richard's Poor Almanac: 12 Months of Misinformation in Handy Cartoon Form


Richard Thompson - 2004
    Like the almanac we've all come to know and ignore, Richard's Poor Almanac is an annual compendium of weathered wisdom rendered in the more palatable form of cartooning.

Greyhounds Big and Small: Iggies and Greyts


Amanda Jones - 2004
     Hounds in gorgeous black-and-white photography. The perfect gift for greyhound lovers. Be they Iggies (Italian Greyhounds) or Greyts (Greyhounds), these elegant dogs have been the subjects of artists' gazes for more than two thousand years. Sleek and slim, they've got the looks and bearing of supermodels-yet all it takes is a lopsided grin, a poke of the nose, or a whimsical head tilt to see that they are playful clowns at heart. Greyhounds of all sizes bring gentleness and grace into the homes of those who love them. Greyhounds Big and Small celebrates these affectionate and beautiful creatures with over fifty photographs that skillfully capture the essence of 'greyhoundedness.'

The Homeless Pooch


John R. Erickson - 2004
    But, feathers really fly when Hank the puppy defends his backyard against invading -- Phantom Ducks? Hank's mother says it's a good time for him to go out on his own before the dogcatcher arrives Hank makes his way to the Twitchell Livestock Auction. Will he join up with Slim, the cowboy he meets there? Or will the dogcatcher provide his new home? Hear Hank sing "Leaving Home." Bonus Stories: Included on this audio are the first two Hank the Cowdog short stories ever written

Douglas Adams at the BBC: A Celebration of the Author's Life and Work


Douglas Adams - 2004
    This program is an A-Z look at Douglas Adams' career, taking in extracts from the many radio and TV programs he contributed to. These include guest appearances, his own radio programs, such as Last Chance to See (about the search for endangered species) and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Future (a look at impending technology), and even a "lost" segment of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy which Adams wrote specially for BBC Radio in 1982. Also included are some of the many tributes paid to Adams following his untimely death in May 2001. This is a fascinating and in-depth audio biography of a man whose brilliant work has inspired, enraptured and entertained millions of people worldwide.

Lucy Rose: Here's the Thing About Me


Katy Kelly - 2004
    According to my mom and my grandmother, I’m what they call a handful. And according to my dad, I am one smart cookie.I say I am one girl who is feeling not-so-sure about things on account of my parents got a separation. Plus my mom and I just moved to Washington, D.C. Plus I haven’t met any friends yet, but I do know someone who is not one and that is Adam Melon, who I call Melonhead.Here’s another thing about me: Most of the time, I am plain hilarious.

The Second City Almanac of Improvisation


Anne Libera - 2004
    No one could have known that by the next century, The Second City would have established itself as the premier comedy institution in the world. Taking its act north, The Second City would build a second permanent home in Toronto where it would create the Emmy-Award winning television series "SCTV." Pioneering the use of improvisation in developing talent and creating satiric revue comedy, The Second City has become - in the words of the New York Times - "A Comedy Empire."The Second City Almanac of Improvisation - like the theatre itself - is a collection of diverse ideas, viewpoints, and memories, written by a vast array of teachers, actors, and directors who all got their start at the legendary comedy theatre. Fred Willard recalls his introduction to The Second City style in the mid-Sixties; Tim Kazurinsky gives a hilarious visual demonstration on the art of object work; "Saturday Night Live" star Tina Fey talks about re-improvising material as a mode of writing revue comedy; noted director Mick Napier takes on the thorny debate between long-form improvisation and short-form improvisation. Anne Libera guides the reader through each essay by providing a road map for understanding how The Second City method of improv-based comedy has become the industry standard.Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, Peter Boyle, Harold Ramis, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, John Candy, Martin Short, Gilda Radner, George Wendt, Jim Belushi, Bonnie Hunt, Mike Myers, Ryan Stiles, Rachel Dratch, Nia Vardalos - no other theatre can boast an alumni list of this magnitude. The Second City Almanac of Improvisation provides practical instruction, personal details, and inspiration to both improvisers and their fans.

The MAD Bathroom Companion: The Mother Load


Gene Shalat - 2004
    Flush full of classic material selected by a careful process of elimination, each article was chosen by anal-retentive "Ususal Gang of Incontinents" and satirized for you protection.Featuring the best short pieces from MAD Magazine, each one of these pungent pieces of turgid tomfoolery is guaranteed to be read in one sitting.So don't stall, buy your copy now. You won't be able to wipe the smile off your face!

My Daddy Snores


Nancy H. Rothstein - 2004
    Every night of the week it gets worse! And no one gets any rest--not even the pet hamster!How will this family ever get a good night's sleep? Find out in this fun-filled book about snoring.

Marge's Little Lulu, Volume 4: Lulu Goes Shopping


John Stanley - 2004
    Whether she's outsmarting Tubby and his fellow "Boys Only Club" members in the name of fairness and equality, weaving hilarious tall tales to entertain the irascible tot Alvin, or simply using her keen wit to think her way out of a million impossible situations, Little Lulu remains one of the most lovable comic-book heroines ever. As fresh and funny today as they were decades ago, these classic comics will keep you laughing and reading for ages.

Who's on First, Charlie Brown?


Charles M. Schulz - 2004
    So Charlie Brown shuffles, winds up, and lets the pitch fly. . . .Though we all know how the score will add up for Charlie Brown and his team (not quite as high as they expected), with the Peanuts gang, the fun is not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game!

Day of the Dachshund


Jim Dratfield - 2004
    With their low, elongated bodies, souldful eyes, and truly ridiculous proportions, dachshunds always look like they're telling a joke. Their owners get the joke, so they do things like organize everything from the annual Dachshund Parade in New York's Washington Square Park to the Weenie Run in Memphis, where hundreds of Dachshunds show up to rejoice in their dachshundood. Day of the Dachshund is for this crowd. In a gift-friendly little hardcover format-a bit more horizontal than unusal, for obvious reasons, Jim Dratfield combines 60 great photographs with delightfully clever quips to celebrate the endless charm of this unlikely breed.

The Mad Bathroom Companion: Gushing Fourth Edition


MAD Magazine - 2004
    The MAD Bathroom Companion--the Gushing Fourth Edition--is flush with classic material written and illustrated by "The Usual Gang of Idiots." After three self-defecating books, many thought we couldn't go any more--but we pushed on This hot new release from MAD will have you laughing so hard you won't be able to hold it in.

The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, on Tour: Aged Far Too Much to Be Put on the Front Cover of a Book


Adrian Plass - 2004
    With over 2 million copies sold, these beloved bestsellers naturally placed the author's fanciful alter-ego in great demand as an inspirational speaker. And of course, his touring experiences have led to all-new stories to share with his friends.

Love on a Rotten Day: An Astrological Survival Guide to Romance


Hazel Dixon-Cooper - 2004
    In Love on a Rotten Day, Dixon-Cooper walks the wild side of the zodiac, delivering the goods on which sign cheats and who's a manipulator, a bully, a brat, a nutcase, or a nympho. Lovers, would-be lovers, and ex-lovers will rejoice in advice on how to: -Safely dump a Scorpio -Convince a Virgo to have spontaneous sex -Snag a romance-phobic Aquarius An honest and uproarious guide to losing and finding your true soul mate, Love on a Rotten Day is this century's answer to the timeless query "What's your sign?"

The Mad Miscellany


Terry Deary - 2004
    Want to know: the crushing details about execution by elephant? how to soften your skin Georgian-style - using the skins of puppies? who's idea of a top treat was mashed deer tongues? Whether you're desperate to discover which famous rulers were left-handed, raring to read about the top ten dogs of all time, or just aching to ask about assassinating apes, then this book is for you. History has never been so horrible!