Driving Under the Influence of Children: A Baby Blues Treasury

Baby Blues Specials

by Rick Kirkman, Jerry Scott

"Any parent can understand why Darryl and Wanda MacPherson can't decide whether to hug Zoe and Hammie to pieces or turn them into pieces in some less loving way. . . . Kirkman and Scott are virtuosi of the world of child-rearing." --Infodad.com

Under the sticky seats, next to the molten milkshakes, unreturned library books, and petrified french fries is where you'll probably find the hidden microphone. Those Baby Blues cartoonists undoubtedly planted it in your minivan, because how else could they come up with the ideas for their comic strip that mirror exactly what's going on in your life?

Fans and critics have been alternately checking under their seats and raving about the realism of the parenting experience depicted in Baby Blues for years. That realism is no accident (nor the result of illegal wiretaps). Parents themselves, cocreators Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott have an infinite wellspring of material at their disposal. As writer Jerry Scott explains, "As long as kids keep having runny noses and wiping them on the drapes, we're in business."

This colorful treasury, Driving Under the Influence of Children , not only contains over 240 pages of award-winning Baby Blues comic strips, but also contains Baby Blues stickers, including a bumper sticker that should be affixed to nearly every minivan on the road.

Genres: Comics, Humor, Comic Strips, Graphic Novels, Comic Book, Parenting, Graphic Novels Comics

248 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

About the author

Rick Kirkman is a cartoonist and co-creator of the comic strip Baby Blues. He received the National Cartoonist Society Newspaper Comic Strip Award in 1995, and the Reuben Award in 2012 for his work on the strip. He also served as co-executive producer of The WB animated television series of Baby Blues.

Reviews

[jacky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't heard of these until my father said he'd picked them up and asked if I'd like them. As soon as I started the first one, I recognized the name Jerry Scott and wasn't at all suprised that he is one of the co-creators of Zits, which is another of my favorite cartoons. I really enjoyed this treasury. There were many stripes that all stay at home moms or all parents could relate to. Even the ones that were more based on character were still funny.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first "deep" foray into Baby Blues. I have read it casually from time to time over the past several years in the local newspaper but have not received the paper regularly over that time. I really enjoyed the collection, especially after living with a kid over the past 3+ years. I would suggest it and and moving on to the next treasury in the series, "Framed".

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly this is the only book I've completed in the last month; however, I did laugh out loud a number of times throughout. The cartoonist really has a grasp of what happens in family life - the craziness of kids and parents - and reminds me to see the humor as it's happening.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

These comic strip sereies is HILARIOUS!!!
Cuz u know why?
It's about a family, and they just all sorts of funny stuff!
so yah!
read it!

[Trish Boese · Rating 4 out of 5]

4* A bit of humor to help parents over the rough spots.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It was typical Baby Blues. Cute, but it's no Calvin and Hobbes, that's for sure.

[B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this one hoping it was the Baby Blues I remembered - unfortunately, all I got were a few mild points of amusement. Seems like I stopped reading the comic before this point, and it just wasn't my cup of tea. Still enjoy the writing style and cartooning, but the content was a bit lacking in this compilation, for me.

[Ralph B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amusing collection of cartoons about family life with 3 kids under 6 and their doting but fatigued parents.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't subscribed to a regular newspaper in awhile, so I'm sure I'm behind on lots of comics, but I thoroughly enjoyed catching up on "Baby Blues" with this collection that was a birthday present. It was the perfect light reading while sitting out in the hallway waiting for children to fall asleep.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Driving Under the Influence of Children: A Baby Blues Treasury by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott (Andrews McMeel Publishing LLC 2005)(741.5973). A collection of "Baby Blues" comic strips. Funny as always. My rating: 7/10, finished 12/1/2010.

[Shari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books 17, 18 & 19?

[nayesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

well I think this is a vary funny book.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This and Zits are just.... yeah.

[Jamal Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buku ini dibaca waktu senggang tengah hari, sekadar penyegar minda.

But truly, the contents are entertaining! The life of a family surely merry and gaiety.