Note from the author:
I have spent the last 10 years as the creator of the comic strip "Mutts," which runs daily in 700 newspapers worldwide. "Mutts" is centered on the unlikely friendship of Earl, the dog, and Mooch, the cat. It’s about the simple joy of being in the moment, and sharing our planet with all creatures. I’ve been living with these characters for a long time, and telling stories with words and pictures even longer.
"The Gift of Nothing" is my first picture book, and it (of course) features Earl and Mooch. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of doing. I wanted the book to feel just right, intimate in size and with a classic look, one of those books that you can cuddle up to with a kid or kitty — or both — on your lap. In the story, Mooch ponders the age old question, "What do you get someone who has everything?" It’s about giving, sharing, purring, and love.
Mooch says he likes being the star character in a book. (Yesh!) He thinks you need at least this many pages to do a cat like him justice. Earl says that the book smells really good and the story is definitely something he would chew on later.
Bio:
Patrick McDonnell has written two additional children’s books featuring the Mutts characters, "Hug Time" (November 2007) and "Just Like Heaven" (November 2006). He also wrote and illustrated an original picture book called, "Art" (April 2006), which featured a young boy named Art who loves to draw and paint. His new children's book, "South," is about a young bird that gets separated from his family.
McDonnell was born on March 17, 1956. A native of New Jersey, he attended The School of Visual Arts in New York City on scholarship, and graduated with a BFA in 1978.
After a very successful career as a freelance illustrator, in 1994 McDonnell created the comic strip Mutts, which Charles Schulz called “One of the best comics strips of all time.”
Patrick McDonnell is on the Board of Directors for The Humane Society of The United States and The Fund for Animals. He is on the advisory boards for numerous organizations including: HSUS Hollywood, The North Shore Animal League, Art for Animals, and Neighborhood Cats. Mutts artwork has been used to raise awareness for many causes.
Mutts appears in over 20 countries, and the Mutts cartoons have been published in many books throughout the world.
Book(s):
• Mutts Shelter Stories: Love. Guaranteed. (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2008)
Appearance(s):
• Sunday, 12:00-12:30, Children's
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