The petite volume, The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell, belies the simple but big message held within. The two-color drawings and uncomplicated story line are charming, as Mooch searches high and low for a gift for his friend Earl. The genius of his gift is unparalleled.

Patrick McDonnell is the creator of the Mutts comic strip, which recently celebrated its tenth anniversary. He has illustrated for the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, Reader's Digest, Time, Parents, and other journals, done CD covers for the Greatest Hit classical music series, and created a license plate for his home state of New Jersey. Patrick has been hailed as "the next Charles Schulz," sits on the board of directors of the Humane Society of the United States, and has won numerous awards for both Mutts and his animal welfare work. He is the co-author of Krazy Kat: The Comic Art of George Herriman and also contributed a story to Little Lit: It Was a Dark and Silly Night, edited by Art Spiegelman and Francine Mouly (HarperCollins, 2003). This is his first children's book.

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Distributor: Hachette Book Group USA
Publication Date: 10-05-2005
Pages: 56
Measurements: 7in X 8.125in X .5in X .55lb