Pearls Before Swine Collections

I had not realized that author-illustrator Stephan Pastis was the same Stephan Pastis that did the Timmy Failure series. I have been a fan of Pearls Before Swine off and on for a few years now. Like any comic, sometimes it was funny and sometimes not so much. I feel for the Crocs but love Zebra, too. Pig and I share a lot of the same qualities. And who does not think like Rat from time-to-time? Or feel like Goat trying to keep our own sanity as the world around us loses theirs?

I mention Timmy only to add that your child can enjoy Pearls Before Swine but Timmy might be a better choice for them. Pearls, while these gems (Suit Your Selfie; When Crocs Fly and The Croc Ate My Homework) are aimed at kids, can sometimes have the humor go over the littlest among us heads. This is truly for the middle-schooler and up aged readers.  There are others in the series, but these are just the three that found their way into my reading pile.

The humor of Pastis is punny, sarcastic and hits the nail on the head. Some story lines go too far, some not far enough and others are at the right amount. His quirky, signature styled artwork is simple but gives what is needed to continue his story.

Some of the cartoons will be repeated in other books, but that does not mean they are less funny or to-the-point. And many of the more political commentaries are still true today.