The Mutts Diaries

Gr 3–5—This entertaining collection of "Mutts" comic strips has been organized by character, providing a glimpse into each critter's escapades over the course of a year. Each page contains a single scene from the character's life, showing four seasons of high jinks of a neighborhood's dogs, cats, and squirrels, as well as the crabs that are encountered on vacation. Most of the quirky illustrations feature only the animals, but some of their encounters with humans are also included. Although a few of the jokes may go over children's heads, lovers of puns will relish this collection, and any child that has spent time with dogs and cats will see the hilarious truth of their behavior reflected in the cleverly depicted antics. Sprinkled throughout this volume are subtle references to humane treatment of animals and encouragements from the author to adopt pets from shelters. Filled with funny scenes, as well as a few very sweet moments, this collection will appeal to a wide range of readers, from animal lovers to those who appreciate humor and comics.—Sarah Reid, Broome County Public Library, Binghamton, NY