Da Crockydile Book o' Frendsheep: A Pearls Before Swine Gift Book

Pearls Before Swine

by Stephan Pastis

Pearls is the hottest comic in the newspaper business." - Raleigh News and Observer

As the first Pearls Before Swine gift book, this "book of frendsheep" conveys the unusual brand of camaraderie shared by the not-really-so-cold-blooded crocs.

Stephan Pastis's crockydiles say it best in their introduction to this sly tribute to

Someone juss says, 'You guys sooo populars. Do geeft book.' And we is like, 'OKay. Whatevers. Just pays us monees.'

Den dey is say, 'Make book about frensheep.' And we is like, 'But we ees hate evrybodies.' ANd dey is go, 'But dat make most monees.' So we is like, 'Okay. We expert.'"

And experts they are, as they show in such an endearing expression of care as, "If you is have a beeg butt, frend sometime honesst and say, 'you have beeg butt.'"

Named Best Comic Strip of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society in 2004 and 2007, Pearls Before Swine has a devoted fan following of crockydiles and humans alike.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Strips, Humor, Cartoon, Fiction

88 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

Stephan Pastis was born in 1968 and raised in San Marino, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1989 with a degree in political science. Although he had always wanted to be a syndicated cartoonist, Pastis realized that the odds of syndication were slim, so he entered UCLA Law School in 1990 and became an attorney instead. He practiced law in the San Francisco Bay area from 1993 to 2002. While an attorney, he began submitting various comic strip concepts to all of the syndicates, and, like virtually all beginning cartoonists, got his fair share of rejection slips. Then, in 1997, he began drawing Pearls Before Swine, which he submitted to the syndicates in mid-1999. In December, 1999, he signed a contract with United.
Pearls Before Swine debuted in newspapers in January, 2002, and Pastis left his law practice in August of that year. Pearls Before Swine was nominated in 2003, 2004 and 2007 as "Best Newspaper Comic Strip" by the National Cartoonists Society (NCS) and won the award in 2004 and 2007. Pastis lives with his family in Northern California.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of the crocs and it was only a matter of time before they had an entire book dedicated to their amazingly morbid humor. Frend sheep forever!

[Patricia Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Among my favorite characters from the Pearls Before Swine comic strip are the hapless crocodiles who are forever trying to get their next door neighbor, Zebra, to fall for their outrageously ill planned schemes so they can eat him. This little book contains comic strips from the comic strip introducing the crocodile characters.

[Censorhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

K

[Kevin Keating · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some pretty good stuff, but kinda short and maybe a tad redundant. But the 20 minutes I spent reading it was worthwhile. Good comics, but not Far Side or Calvin level.

[Parka · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Picture source: parkablogs.com)

While I like the comics Pearls Before Swine, this book is just too thin to be enjoyed. Maybe that's why it's mentioned on the cover that it's a gift book.

The cartoons inside are fully coloured. Most of the cartoon strips are printed on one page or across two pages. That's minutes of reading time.

This book features a collection of Crockydile related cartoon strips that have appeared in the dailies. So there's really nothing new in here.

Personally, I will go for the typical 128 page yearly collection books or treasuries. I believe they make better gifts and are more worth the money, even if they are printed in black and white.

Oh, check out the Pearls Before Swine blog. It's lovely.

This review was first published on parkablogs.com. There are more pictures and videos on my blog.

[Christian Petrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the comics I enjoy reading is Pearls Before Swine. I enjoy it in the dailies and the Sunday editions. Each time I go to the library I try to find a collection of them. This book is the closest I could find.

It takes some of the best of the "crockydiles" and makes humorous comments about their version of friendship. It is written by "them" as well. Very short book, so not much of a review.

If you like the comics, you will like this book. The downside to the book, is that it is too short. But it is meant to be short as a spoof of those uplifting books you find in Hallmark stores.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hilarious! Everyone should read it!

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love those crockydiles!!!!! Kind of hard to explain humor to my seven year old daughter though. But she loves them too.

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of my office mates said, "Here, this is hilarious!" It was okay. It's not hilarious.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the Crokydile's and this is a wonderful collection of some of their stuff and comes with commentary BY THEM! What a great little book!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I'm totally hooked on these books now! The Characters are so darn funny, it's hard not to laugh out loud when reading this ; D

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is amazing!!!!!

[Erika Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

best part of a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee and a sweatshirt.

[Chy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Frends sumtime shoot you."

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friends and colleagues at work expect copies of pages from this book in your mailbox or in the pony mail. This book made me laugh out loud.

[Samra · Rating 5 out of 5]

everything I love about those darn crocs. very funny. :)

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love anything by Stephan Pastis

[SadieKate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freends know gud humors when dey is hear it.