Suburban life will never be the same again as Richard Thompson, cartoonist of Cul de Sac, combines comic strips from his first collection, Cul de Sac, and his 2009 collection, Children at Play, in a hilarious compilation Cul de Sac Golden Treasury: A Keepsake Garland of Classics (Andrews McMeel Publishing).
Cul de Sac takes a lighthearted look at suburban life through the eyes of precocious preschooler Alice Otterloop. Adventures in preschool, the importance of Halloween costumes, and family vacations to the beach all take on new meaning in this delightful comic strip. Known for its imaginative humor and intelligence, Cul de Sac features Thompson’s fun and original watercolor artwork, and this collection is highlighted by Thompson’s commentary throughout. The book is a warm and witty omnibus of comic strips that will be a perfect addition to any Cul de Sac fan’s library and a fantastic introduction to readers new to this comic.

Some things are deliberately creepy, like ghosts, monsters, or serial killers. But some things -- like squirrels that look at you way too long -- are unintentionally creepy. This makes them funny, acording to David Bickel, author of Creepiosity: A Hilarious Guide to the Unintentionally Creepy (Andrews McMeel Publishing. LLC). Bickel, a comedy writer whose credits include a nine-year-stint on the Emmy-nominated show King of Queens, takes creepy things that he believes we encounter in everyday life and shines a light on them. Using his Creepiosity Index and photos to illustrate his point, Bickel sets out to prove that all “creepy phenomena” are not created equal, and some may be laughable.

At first glance, depending on which pages you read, the book may strike a humorous tone. However, some readers may find parts of the book downright offensive -- especially his claim that other people’s religions, along with your own, are creepy. Read this book carefully before recommending it as a basket stuffer for everyone. Cute but not cuddly.

One might wonder what The New Yorker -- a magazine world famous for its essays, fiction, and humor -- has to say about money. This is not The Wall Street Journal, after all. But as Malcolm Gladwell, a regular contributor to the prestigious publication, writes, “What on earth does The New Yorker think about when it thinks about money? The short answer is that we make jokes about it.”

So Gladwell states in his introduction to On the Money: The Economy in Cartoons, 1925 - 2009 (Andres McMeel Publishing, LLC), more than a generation of hilarious single-panel efforts lambasting society’s most ambivalent subject. History buffs will nudge elbows with the cyclical spiking economies of days gone by, while the chronologically unaware will discover just how little has changed in 84 years. Nine different decades span nearly 300 pages, covering the magazine’s entire financial history inwhat is easily the most comprehensive published volume to date. Compiled by current New Yorker cartoon editor Robert Mankoff, On the Money is a sobering and hilarious anthology that demonstrates all of the magazine’s characteristic quality and welcomes anyone who’s ever made, spent, or lost a dollar in our economy. (www.andrewsmcmeel.com)

Learn To Go With The Slow



What can you do for a friend who’s always on the go? Lessons of a Turtle by Sandy Gingras (Andrews McMeel Publishing LLC.) is the perfect gift to help someone slow down, enjoy more, and go with the slow.

Lessons of a Turtle is about enjoying what’s around you now and finding your own path. Gingras teaches that life is about the beauty of the journey more than the achievement of the finish line. So be like the turtle . . . notice, savor, bask, risk, and grow.

Through an engaging mix of words and illustrations, Gingras enlightens readers with chariming “turtlisms.” She teaches us about life’s little lessons with funt reats such as, “You can’t moe forward until you stick your neck out” and “The slower you go, the more you see.”

The author’s creative observations make a big difference on the journey through life and this book is the perfect gift for any busy-body.

On a personal note, I LOVE this little book! Combine it with tea, gardening or spa gifts -- or maybe a warm fireside relaxation theme with hot cocoa, popcorn, coffee and snacks. It is a small book and that makes it perfect for tucking into a more modest sized gift baskets.

Available through Andrews McMeel Publishing; 800-851-8923

Q: When do you know a business book is a GOOD business book?
A: When you’ve been in business for 26 years and you’re reading it for the second time.

That has been my experience with Pricing Strategies for Small Business by Andrew Gregson. The author takes what could be a boring subject and livens it up with bits of trivia, stories, examples, charts, and more. As an example, do you know why businesses price items one penny under the dollar ($9.99 instead of $10.00)? If you believe it is a psychological trick, you will definitely want to read the book.

If you have never been in business you will find this book to be a valuable tool as you establish initial profitable, competitive pricing strategies. For business veterans, the book offers insightful clues as to how to earn even more money by adjusting pricing margins -- sometimes up but also down. Pricing can make or break a small business. As Gregson explains, there is no “one-size-fits-all” pricing strategy, so business owners need to consider all the options for their particular type of business. Available through: www.self-counsel.com

Just in time for its 10th anniversary, Attitudes of Gratitude by M.J. Ryan has been released as a special edition. Packed with short essays and quotes, Attitudes of Gratitude has brought a positive message to readers for the past generation. “Gratitude helps us to return to our natural state of joyfulness,” Ryan writes, “where we notice what’s right instead of what’s wrong. It makes us feel complete, that we have everything we need, at least in this moment.” Available through: www.redwheelweiser.com

From the author of The Paper Bag Christmas, Kevin Alan Milne, comes another heart-melting read: The Nine Lessons. In the novel, the main character, August Witte, is firmly against having children, but after seven years of marriage, his wife is delighted to realize she is unexpectedly pregnant. August is terrified, having never learned the first thing about being a good parent from his father, London. A widower since August was a toddler, London has always valued the game of golf more than his son. In spirte of how he hates the game, when August confronts his father he finds himself agreeing to meet each month of the pregnancy for a round of golf. In exchange, London will give him the only thing that could make August agree to pick up a club again -- memories of his mother that London has written on golf scorecards since the day he met her. August quickly realizes that his father’s motive is not to teach him about golf, but to teach him about life -- and, as August learns -- the old man just might know something about it that’s worth sharing.

This is a beautiful book to tuck into Father’s Day baskets, especially for Dads who love golf. It is also a great gift for a new Dad, a grad, or anyone who loves a novel touched with philosophy and overflowing with values. Published by Center Street, a division of Hatchett Book Group. Available through Center Street and anywhere books are sold. www.centerstreet.com

Puzzle enthusiasts will enjoy testing brain skills with KenDoku -- a new puzzle introduced by the same people who launched KenKen. It combines the features of KenKen with those of sudoku. KenDoku comes in two different grid sizes, 6x6 and 9x9, so everyone can choose the size that best matches the time they want to spend on a puzzle and their own solving skills. Within each grid size the puzzles come in a wide range of levels of difficulty. One of the key features of KenDoku is the fun that can be had from using logic combined with the simple basic arithmetic skills: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Developed by David Levy & Robert Fuhrer, KenDoku is available through www.sevenfooterpress.com