Return to where the Patterson family began inside this second treasury of For Better or For Worse. The first treasury, Something Old, Something New, (December 2010), has already shipped more than 17,000 copies.As its title suggests, First, There Was Chaos follows John and Elly Patterson as they tackle the everyday joys and sorrows—and surprises and frustrations and challenges—that arise when raising a young family. In her second For Better or For Worse treasury, Lynn Johnston takes readers back to the 1980s, when Elly leaves her ho for a job at the library. As Elly chases her professional goals, she struggles with spending less time at home. Meanwhile, John provides consistent comic relief, as he plays Mr. Mom, breaks his foot with a 25-pound turkey, and gets arrested for trying to steal a potty. Of course, the kids are always in tow—Michael learning that with age comes responsibility and Elizabeth discovering the thrills of kindergarten. Combining strips from Johnston’s fourth, fifth, and sixth cartoon collections—Just One More Hug, The Last Straw, and Keep the Home Fries Burning—First, There Was Chaos reflects Johnston’s longstanding tradition of portraying family life with charm, humor, and honesty. Devoted fans will love reliving the Pattersons’ younger years, and first-time readers will discover why this endearing foursome is North America’s favorite funny page family.It takes a keen eye to recognize life’s shared experiences and an even keener intellect to assemble those moments in a humorous and heartfelt way. With For Better or For Worse, Johnston elevates everyday aspects of life into brilliant observations on personal career goals, parenting choices, and coffee klatch friendships. In 2008, Johnston made an unprecedented move within the cartooning community by deciding to use former plotlines as starting points for new ones. For Better or For Worse has been syndicated since 1979 and was named Best Syndicated Comic Strip in 1992. For Better or For Worse appears in more than 1,600 newspapers in 23 countries, and is translated into 8 languages for a devoted readership of more than 220 million. The strip boasts a lively Web presence at www.fborfw.com.

As its title implies, In the Beginning There Was Chaos follows John and Elly Patterson as they tackle the everyday joys and sorrows--and surprises and frustrations and challenges--that arise when raising a young family. In her second For Better or For Worse treasury, Lynn Johnston takes readers back to the 1980s, when Elly leaves her column for a job at the library. As Elly chases her professional goals, she struggles with spending less time at home. Meanwhile, John provides consistent comic relief, as he plays Mr. Mom, breaks his foot with a 25-pound turkey, and gets arrested for trying to steal a potty. Of course, the kids are always in tow--Michael learning that with age comes responsibility and Elizabeth discovering the thrills of kindergarten.

Combining strips from Johnston's fourth, fifth, and sixth cartoon collections--Just One More Hug, The Last Straw, and Keep the Home Fries Burning--In the Beginning There Was Chaos reflects Johnston's longstanding tradition of portraying family life with charm, humor, and honesty. Devoted fans will love reliving the Pattersons' younger years, and first-time readers will discover why this endearing foursome is North America's favorite funny page family.

In the Beginning There Was Chaos includes Johnston's commentary on the inspiration behind strips, as well as photos and newspaper clippings from the early days, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse for fans of For Better or For Worse. Join the Patterson family as they find humor in everyday life's challenges.

Lynn Johnston was born in Collingwood, Ontario, and grew up in British Columbia. Today, she lives in Corbeil, Ontario. Johnston is the first woman to receive a Reuben Award for Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society in 1985. She has also received the Order of Canada and claims a star on Canada's Walk of Fame.

For Better or For Worse has been syndicated since 1979 and was named Best Syndicated Comic Strip in 1992. For Better or For Worse appears in more than 2,000 newspapers in 23 countries, and is translated into 8 languages for a devoted readership of more than 220 million. The strip boasts a lively Web presence at www.fborfw.com.

In the Beginning, There Was Chaos

$25.99

Return to where the Patterson family began inside this latest collection of For Better or For Worse. Michael prepares for his first day of kindergarten, Elly returns to school to complete her English degree, the family adopts Mrs. Baird’s sheepdog, a.k.a. Farley, Elizabeth grows from baby to toddler, and despite her best efforts, Elly can do nothing to treat John’s hopelessly incurable fashion sense. It takes a keen eye to recognize life’s shared experiences and an even keener intellect to assemble those moments in a humorous and heartfelt way. With For Better or For Worse, Johnston elevates everyday aspects of life into brilliant observations on personal career goals, parenting choices, and coffee klatch friendships. For Better or For Worse has been syndicated since 1979 and was named Best Syndicated Comic Strip in 1992. For Better or For Worse appears in more than 2,000 newspapers in 23 countries, and is translated into 8 languages for a devoted readership of more than 220 million. The strip boasts a lively Web presence at www.fborfw.com. Inside Something Old, Something New, award-winning For Better of For Worse cartoonist Lynn Johnston takes readers to a place where Dad makes mental notes because he can’t read his own handwriting, Mom can’t get sick because she doesn’t have the time, and too much quiet from the kids can only mean disaster is about to strike. In 2008, Johnston made an unprecedented move within the cartooning community by deciding to use former plotlines as starting points for new ones. To this end, Something Old, Something New features storylines from the strip’s first three cartoon collections—I’ve Got the One-More-Washload Blues . . . , Is This “One of Those Days,” Daddy?, and more than a month of Sundays with entirely new cartoons and full-color Sundays. Something Old, Something New follows John and Elly back to where it all began as

Inside Something Old, Something New, award-winning For Better or For Worse cartoonist Lynn Johnston takes readers to a place where Dad makes mental notes because he can't read his own handwriting, Mom can't get sick because she doesn't have the time, and too much quiet from the kids can only mean disaster is about to strike.

In 2008, Johnston made an unprecedented move within the cartooning community by deciding to use former plotlines as starting points for new ones. To this end, Something Old, Something New features storylines from the strip's first three cartoon collections--I've Got the One-More-Washload Blues . . . , Is This "One of Those Days," Daddy?, and "It Must Be Nice to Be Little"--with entirely new cartoons and full-color Sundays.

Something Old, Something New follows John and Elly back to where it all began as Michael prepares for his first day of kindergarten, Elly returns to school trying to get her English degree, the family adopts Mrs. Baird's sheepdog, a.k.a. Farley, Elizabeth grows from baby to toddler, and despite her best efforts, Elly can do nothing to treat John's hopelessly incurable fashion sense.

It takes a keen eye to recognize life's shared experiences and an even keener intellect to assemble those moments in a humorous and heartfelt way. With For Better or For Worse, Johnston elevates everyday aspects of life into brilliant observations on personal career goals, parenting choices, and coffee klatch friendships.

Something Old, Something New

$25.99

This Rose is Rose comic strip collection stars the charming Gumbo family in a fantastical world all their own. The art combines dreams and reality as the stars live out their lives in sweeping fashion and the artwork begs to be cherished and collected.

There are a number of reasons cartoon legend Charles Schulz described himself as an "ardent admirer" of Rose is Rose. From its five-time nomination as Best Newspaper Comic Strip to its appearance in more than 600 newspapers, Pat Brady and Don Wimmer's cartoon creation Rose is Rose is evocative of Schulz's own revered strip where daydreams slightly blur the edges of reality.

Inside Rose is Rose: Not Just Another Sweetheart Deal, life in the Gumbo family is anything but ordinary. While gentle son Pasquale imagines toe-biting, bathtub drain--residing monsters, his mother, Rose, might morph into her leather-clad alter ego biker-chick persona, Vicki. Not to be outdone, here comes doting father and husband, Jimbo, riding in on his stallion with his romantically chivalrous ways. And let's not forget furry feline pet Peekaboo, who has fantasies of her own about her cute human counterparts.

This Rose is Rose collection features more than 40 weeks of Gumbo family amusement and artwork. Brady is the recipient of cartooning's highest honor, the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year for 2004 by the National Cartoonists Society. After two decades of sketching every Rose is Rose strip himself, Brady shifted to sharing duties to Wimmer.

Not Just Another Sweetheart Deal

$12.99