The Mutts Spring Diaries (Mutts Kids Book 4)

Mutts

by Patrick McDonnell

It's been a long, cold winter—Earl and Mooch are looking forward to shmelling the flowers! Spring is the season of new beginnings. The birds are singing fresh concertos they’ve been working on all winter long. The caterpillars are dreaming of butterfly flight. And the bears could use that first cup of coffee after their three-month hibernation. Celebrate spring with the Mutts gang as they go on egg-decorating sprees, dodge playful rain showers, and welcome home the birds from their winter vacation. Check out the “More to Explore” section to learn about the mysteries and wonders of the birds, who are all too happy to let you know that spring is here. You’ll find that Mooch and Earl’s feathered friends have some surprising secrets, and you won’t want to miss out on the springtime fun.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Manga, Middle Grade, Animals, Childrens, Humor

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 16, 2018

About the author

Patrick McDonnell’s comic strip, MUTTS, is celebrating its 30th anniversary, having appeared in over 700 newspapers across 20 countries. MUTTS has received numerous awards for its artistry and its animal and environmental themes. These include the NCS Reuben for Cartoonist of the Year, seven Harveys and the Eisner Humanitarian Award. Charles Schulz called MUTTS “One of the best comics strips of all time.”

BREAKING THE CHAIN: THE GUARD DOG STORY, a collection of his newsworthy story centered freeing MUTTS chained dog, Guard Dog, will be published in fall 2024.
McDonnell’s latest book is THE SUPER HERO’S JOURNEY, a graphic novel love letter to Marvel Comics and Jack Kirby. It was on 11 ‘best of’ lists for 2023.

THE ART OF NOTHING, an oeuvre of McDonnell’s work, comprehensively celebrates Patrick’s comic strip career. McDonnell is also the author of New York Times bestselling picture books, including THE GIFT OF NOTHING and the Caldecott Honor winning ME...JANE (a childhood biography of Dr. Jane Goodall). Both have been adapted as musicals for the Kennedy Center stage. In addition, he has collaborated with spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle on GUARDIANS OF BEING and with poet Daniel Ladinsky on DARLING I LOVE YOU. HEART TO HEART: A CONVERSATION ON LOVE AND HOPE FOR OUR PRECIOUS PLANET is a collaboration with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness has said “It is my hope that this book will open the eyes, minds and hearts of all people.”

In 2021, Ohio State University hosted Side Effects, a major exhibition of his large scale canvases. There will be a year-long retrospective of McDonnell’s comic strips, book illustrations and paintings at the San Diego Comic-Con Museum opening in January 2025.

McDonnell was a member of the Board of Directors of The Humane Society of the United States for 18 years as well as The Fund for Animals, and continues to serve as a director for The Charles M. Schulz Museum and D&R Greenway Land Trust.

You can sign up for the MUTTS daily email at mutts.com.

Reviews

[Shai · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mutts Spring Diaries is the first graphic novel created by Patrick McDonnell that I've read. I love that it is not only entertaining, but there are several comic strips that set as a reminder to readers about neglected dogs and cats. Some of the tales are poignant especially the ending of the Shelter Stories "Lenny", and the dog that chained outside all day.

However, there are more of the hilarious stories than the tear-jerking ones. Hence, readers must now worry because they will have more time laughing and smiling while reading this. This is a perfect read for those who love either dogs or cats and to those who just looking for something to make them happy.

[♛ Garima ♛ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this from netgalley from read-now section. It was okay, I have never read Mutts comics before but clearly it's not for me - though I love pets. I have both cat and dog back at home but I didn't like this as much as I wanted to.

The copy I have received, was bit blurred and it took ages to turn pages in my kindle. Now I know other comics work fast so it must be problem with this only. Nothing to do with comics but I found that it took longer to turn pages than reading the column. It was annoying...

[Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This installment of the Mutts collection is just as wonderful as the previous ones. It will be enjoyed by dog lovers of any age. The reminders to be kind to animals and to adopt had me misty-eyed. Come spring the birdhouse project in the back will be fun to try! Highly recommended!

This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore these two! I turn to Mooch and Earl whenever I need a smile.

This outing is full of goofy hijinks and spring time fun. We get rain, mud, baseball, and tweeting birds. And the love and friendship of these two BFFs shining through it all.

Bring on Spring! I’m ready!

Another happy heart read from Mr. McDonnell.

[Anna]

A cat, a dog, lots of puns and cuteness... reading the strips takes me back to reading the funnies in the newspaper at my parents' house. I liked the drawing style and the animals are just adorable.

[Deepika · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of characters from McDonnell's Mutts Comics are featured in this book too. They are warm and funny. I wish there was a better structure to this book and McDonnell's works have been warmer. This was a bit tepid. Still a fun read.

[Jennifer (JenIsNotaBookSnob) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 3 star book for me, but, a 4 star book according to my 7 year old daughter. Since this version was intended for kids, we went with her rating.

If you are an adult fan of Mutts, this isn't the collection for you unless you are an absolute diehard who must have every single one. This one is definitely setup for younger kids without the subtle laughs adults are accustomed too.

It is cute and I love the layout for kids. My daughter liked it enough where she sat and read 73 pages of it in one sitting. That's pretty good for her. She needed a couple explanations of what was going on, but, not too much as these are definitely selected for kids. If you are familiar with Mutts, then you know there are going to be strips about Earth Day, animal rescue and other related topics. My daughter was happy to see that as she is excitedly counting down to when she gets to adopt her own cat next month.

I would venture that the target audience is a sensitive child between the ages of around 5-10 years old.

I did receive a Netgalley ebook to review but feel that it did not influence my opinion.

[Rebecca Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick McDonnell’s adorable comic strip collection The Mutts Spring Diaries is a delightful and heartwarming read for all ages.

What a lovely, funny and cute book! I absolutely loved seeing Mooch, Earl and all their friends as Spring finally arrives. There are lots of flowers to shmell, birds and bears to greet, new bird songs to hear and, of course, many adventures to be had!

The puns are just delightful and nicely done. I really like that the humour is sweet and gentle while also being perfectly appropriate for all ages. The art is clean and simple yet interesting and adorable. There are also many comic strips like the shelter stories and the poor dog who is chained outside all day which are really heartfelt and poignant, and they may even make the hardest heart shed a tear or two.

I think this book would be perfect for both children and adults because it’s easy to read and meaningful. Even if you’ve never read any of the Mutts comics before, you will still be able to understand everything here quite easily. I highly recommend this book because it’ll definitely put a smile on your face!

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can never resist Mutts! This collection is no exception to the author’s track record of delightful, witty, touching cartoons which illustrate the lives of cats, dogs and other animal friends. I love that he always incorporates support of pet adoption and the humane treatment of animals.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mooch and Earl are cute companions, as ever. I am a bit more interested in the songbirds, though, and their various choices. Some cute jokes, some that my dad would love, and overall a nice familiar jaunt through spring with some familiar faces.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of Mutts comic strips focuses on spring activities, weather, special days, and more. One of my favorite comic strip sequences was towards the end of the book, when the cat Mutts rolled himself up in a carpet so that he could metamorphose. When he emerges from the carpet, he asks Earl if has "metashmorphosed." Earl informs him that he is still a cat. Then Mutts replies "Well, I guessh you can't mess with perfection." There are also a couple of strips where Mutts sheds--all over the place. An excellent collection of funny comic strips.

[J.L. Slipak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Description

Yesh! Mooch, Earl, and all their endearing Mutts friends return in this fourth Mutts collection for kids!

It’s been a long, cold winter—Earl and Mooch are looking forward to shmelling the flowers! Spring is the season of new beginnings. The birds are singing fresh concertos they’ve been working on all winter long. The caterpillars are dreaming of butterfly flight. And the bears could use that first cup of coffee after their three-month hibernation. Celebrate spring with the Mutts gang as they go on egg-decorating sprees, dodge playful rain showers, and welcome home the birds from their winter vacation. Check out the “More to Explore” section to learn about the mysteries and wonders of the birds, who are all too happy to let you know that spring is here. You’ll find that Mooch and Earl’s feathered friends have some surprising secrets, and you won’t want to miss out on the springtime fun.

Andrews McMeel Publishing

Comics & Graphic Novels , Middle Grade
Pub Date 16 Jan 2018

Thanks to Netgalley and  Andrew McMeel Publishing for providing me with this ARC for reading
and an honest review.

ISBN 9781449485146
PRICE $9.99 (USD)

MY BOOK REVIEW:

Silly, laugh-out-loud fun, even hysterical at times, this book will surely put a smile on your face. Fantastic artwork, great punch-lines–sometimes tongue in cheek, all in good fun! I loved every character! Their personalities shown from the pages.

Some comics leave you with a lasting impression and this is what Mooch and Earl do, along with all their extraordinary friends right down to a turtle and a caterpillar, or Scampi and Fido at the shelter.
There were some issues with blurriness that I’m sure will be fixed by the time the eBook version is ready, but other than that…

Kids will love these!

[I DRM Free · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, I love Mutts! This is a comic I read for many years in the papers. I find them to be funny, uplifting, happy comics. I LOVE how the author promotes adoption of cats and dogs and does MANY comics each year devoted to that endeavor.

This is a wonderful collection of 160+ comics from the comic strip. Mostly dealing with spring and similar topics. In it Mooch hides in his kitty tunnel toy trying to turn himself into a butterfly. Earl and Mooch listen to the birds new songs that they are singing. And much more.

Now here is where I’m going to get sad, I don’t blame this on Patrick McDonnell because I doubt he has much say in this, but the book is printed in China, so I have to subtract a point for that. And the digital edition has DRM, so I have to subtract a point for that as well. And the final nail in the coffin, about 1/5 comics are poorly modified for reading digitally. What they do is just show the entire comic but sideways.

How is this supposed to be readable on a computer screen or a tablet? It’s almost as if they didn’t even try. I’ve read MANY newspaper comics digitally and somehow others have figured out ways to make it readable. I tried reading this on my tablet, my phone and my PC and it was annoying on all of them. On my tablet and my phone when I rotated the device to read it, the screen would auto rotate and make things worse. I’m not going to go into settings and turn off settings like auto rotate just to read a comic. So sadly, -1 for formatting.

It really pains me to do this, but I’m getting pickier and pickier with this kind of stuff. Digital devices have been around long enough and I’ve seen many others do it right, for them to get away with doing it wrong.

[Ellen Klock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mutts created by Patrick McDonnell is one of those comic strips that pleases people of all ages, one which parents can read even to the youngest child without worrying about the content.

In The Mutts Spring Diaries, McDonnell has gathered various strips appropriate for Springtime and put them in one volume. Intended for children, these colorful comics are drawn with yellow lined paper in the background, reminding the reader of a school's legal tablet.

We have two best friends who are often found together - Earl, a sweet little dog, and Mooch, a cat with a speech impediment. Together they regularly visit the butcher and the local school as well as spend time outdoors or, on rainy days, stare out the window. Sometimes the adorable little birds nesting in a nearby tree make an appearance and even the threatening guard dog (despite his chain) gets some loving from a sweet little girl who visits him on her way home from school. Mooch is featured affectionately playing with a little pink sock and also makes an apoearance as the see it all, know it all - The Mighty Shphinx, demonstrating wisdom with wit:

You will never schmake any progress until you get over all your phobias
I was afraid you'd say that

The humor tends to be the groaning type:

I'm a snapping turtle.
I didn't even know turtles had fingers!

Veni vidi Oinki - Pig Latin

(When talking to a chicken): Pardon the fowl language.

Cute as a button, what's not to love. Four stars and a thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review also appears on my blog, Gotta Read:

ellenk59.wordpress.com

[Paul Franco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another volume about a dog and cat—with a lisp—who are best friends and do everything together. This one was more educational than the one I’d read before, especially when it comes to pet adoption, but I still find it hard to tell them apart.
To my groaning amusement, I really liked the snapping turtle pun
“Meow.” “What kind of accent was that?”
“Veni vidi oink.” Simple joke, but effective.
It sucks when you can’t get a song out of your head, doubly so if you’re a bird.
A lot of the Sphinx’s lines are old Benny Hill jokes.
These are very simple lines and drawings, which remind me of Peanuts in a way. There’s a cute innocence to these characters, like when the turtle is mistaken for a talking rock. The guard dog is not the biting type, but he can Riverdance.
My absolute favorite is the bird on a piano.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Mutts Spring Diaries' by Patrick McDonnell is the 4th book in this fun series.

Earl and Mooch are happy that it's Spring. The cartoons in this collection are all about Spring (for the most part). There are gags about the birds returning, Earl's obsession with fetching when Mooch finds a ball, and the chained up dog in the yard in the neighborhood. Birds singing in the trees gets a series, until Mooch shows up to try his hand at it.

The cartoons are well drawn, and the characters are pretty likeable. This is a good collection for anyone who likes dogs and cats, and would be nice read for younger cartoon fans.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

[virany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I'm a big fan of Patrick McDonnell's, and first discovered him through the Mutts comic strips, so I'm the exact audience this was made for -- middle grade kids and big kids at heart! It's not a stand alone new story, but it's a collection of some of the best spring-related strips and art from the comics. You don't have to be a fan of Mooch and Earl to enjoy this, you pretty much learn all you need to know about them as you read it. There are jokes kids will love, puns adults will chuckle over, art to appreciate Patrick's talent, and some genuine heart felt stories that warm your heart. Everyone should let Mooch and Earl spring into their lives! (Yes, I couldn't resist.)

Note: This review is of an advanced reading copy provided to me by Netgalley.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a bit of a rough week, I needed this book. It was cute, funny, punny, and just extremely adorable and great for all ages and genders. Those who read my reviews know that I don't put in spoilers if I can help it but I do have to say the Robin Williams quote especially made me feel better. If you're looking for an easy reader to share with the kids that will interest them as they're learning to read or if you just have one that leans towards comics, definitely read this. Or, if you're like me, you just enjoy adorable kids books as an adult, it's a great one to read.

I would like to thank the publisher, author, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was OK but there are better collections of these strips out there. As with the 'Winter' one, compiling these quick quippy strips by theme just proves the same joke comes round on an almost annual basis - here we just get over the birds starting their spring song, only to have them do the same thing moments later. And the book doesn't serve us, either, or at least not as a netgalley, with blank pages, and much in the way of dodgy formatting that shows a lack of care. This isn't bad - and I certainly did laugh at one joke late-on - but it could have been better in all departments.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spring is here (at least in the Mutts universe)! The birds are back and even the turtles. Easter is just around the corner and there are lots of bunnies to ask about eggs. Of course, there are also spring showers to contend with. Earl and Mooch also meet a caterpillar and hang out waiting for him to turn into a butterfly. A series of animal sounds puns ensue and the various animals take their turns trying to write their own comics.
Regular Mutts readers will not be disappointed.

[J.D. DeHart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have fond memories of reading Mutts when I was younger, so I was glad to find this collection of the classic comic strip. Fans of the comic will enjoy this collection, and I was reminded as I read of the attractive and humorous nature of the images McDonnell uses.

Entertaining as an anthology, and engaging as a collection of popular culture artifacts...and not without its own charming sense of nostalgia.

To quote the series, Yesh.

[Audrey Stars in Her Eye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mutts is a cute and often very funny comic featuring a dog and cat and how they see life. I receive an ARC from NetGalley on a cold winter day ad was cheered by the spring theme; it gave me hope on a dark day.
But the biggest problem is the format. The book has cut the three panel comic to two panels and one below. This messes up the flow and is hard to read.
This is a cute book that will put a smile on your face. All opinions are my own.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've always liked the Mutts comics, but this one fell a little flat. The layout makes it look like someone took Mutts comics and then glued them into a notebook. It didn't feel like a real book.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Author: Patrick McDonnell
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publication Date: 16 Jan 2018

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy an all-ages comic, especially where the message / humor is conveyed less with words than by the creativity of the artist. This collection features a Spring theme.

I learned (from the trivia section at the end of the book) that migratory birds announce their presence to other birds while in flight through "one or two notes, twitters or buzzes" that are (aptly) called "flight calls."

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

My wife always liked Mutts and now my kids are discovering it. These are reprints of the newspaper comics with either the panel tiered to fit a portrait-oriented book or just turned sideways.

Mostly, these are comics with the general theme of spring. Birds singing, playing outside, rain. My favorite is the visual gag of them painting eggs for Easter which are still in the nest.

[Didi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it when the characters (Earl and Mooch) get along with one together; unlike Tom and Jerry, where they are always trying to hurt one another.

This is my first ‘The Mutts’ and will definitely look out for more.

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of Mutts comics about spring and spring-related topics like cats shedding, birds singing, rain, and mud.

Cute all ages comics. The hazards of a collection themed like this is that some things get a little repetitive. Hand this to animal lovers.

No content issues.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always loved this comic and this was another cute collection. Funny and adorable, what's not to like?

ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC via NetGalley!

[Emily Hale · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun quick collection 😁