SOLVED. Help: humor/cartoon paperback from the 70s [s]

[Steve]

I'm trying to find this old paperback we had when I was a kid in the 70s. I would love to read it again now with adult eyes. It's probably a real long shot I'm going to find the name because all i can describe about it seems pretty generic. Anyway here goes.... it was a humor/cartoon book. A mass market paperback. It was about a family, if I remember correctly father, mother, 2 sons and daughter. The kids were probably no older than 13. It had a few different stories throughout the book. One was about a vacation/road trip. I remember a panel was the father and kids all in matching pajamas singing "We're here from Pennsylvania, we're here to entertain ya" at the embarrassment of the mom. Another story was them remodeling their basement so the kids had a "cool" place to hang out. Another was similar but they redid their yard with a fish pond, etc. I think it was similar in vain to Family Circus but perhaps aimed at kids in their teens. Anyway wish I had more info but that's really it. I guess Im just hoping someone might read this and remember it too. I'm sure it's not a real rare title. If I could find the name of it I'm sure there are probably a bunch floating around on eBay, etc. Anyway thanks in advance.

[Waldo]

Just a reply to follow this topic. It sounds like good light reading, stuff I remember from the 70s, available through Scholastic Press at my school.

Were the line drawings in the style of Bil Keane (Family Circus)? This might be something to follow up on; not based on story but based on the distinctive style of the illustrator. I am looking for an old dime pulp western from the 70s this way. I find it remarkable how easier it got for me to narrow down the field when I found the artist, Doug Wildey. [I am still looking though!]

Good luck to us. I would be tempted to pick this up myself.

[Steve]

Waldo wrote: "Just a reply to follow this topic. It sounds like good light reading, stuff I remember from the 70s, available through Scholastic Press at my school.

Were the line drawings in the style of Bil Ke..."

yes the art definitely has similar style and the humor similar sensibility. the characters didn't look like they were "inspired" by Family Circus but that style of drawing. I think the thing that's really making it difficult for me is our copy was missing the cover so the title of the book never really was engraved in my brain. Like we had some old joke paperback book as well lying around and that title "Funnier Than The First One" always stuck in my memory. But this book I never remember even knowing what the title might've been because I was never seeing the cover. (thanks for the reply....hopefully one day I'll come across it.)

[Lyn]

Quick google search comes up with

http://www.abebooks.com/Funnier-First...

Sonny Fox was a TV host in the '70s and had a paperback that had jokes...no image available, sadly

[Steve]

Lyn wrote: "Quick google search comes up with

http://www.abebooks.com/Funnier-First...

Sonny Fox was a TV host in the '70s and had a paperback that had jokes...no image availab..."

Thanks but Funnier Than The First One isn't the book I'm looking for. I was just using that as an example of a paperback we had lying around as well that did have the cover which is why I remember it. The book I'm looking for didn't have the cover so I don't think I ever knew what the name of it was. I think even the spine was kinda shot.

[Lyn]

Aahhhh....okay. Sorry, I didn't read that correctly! I am very curious about the book so I hope you get an answer soon. :)

[Lyn]

Was it Hi & Lois by any chance? They had a bunch of paperbacks and the oldest boy was pre-teen to teen during the run of the strip. More than 3 kids, though...similar to Family Circus but not so squeaky clean

http://www.abebooks.com/LOIS-FAMILY-A...

[Waldo]

OMG, Hi & Lois brings back some memories! (Haggar The Horrible too!)

[Steve]

Lyn wrote: "Was it Hi & Lois by any chance? They had a bunch of paperbacks and the oldest boy was pre-teen to teen during the run of the strip. More than 3 kids, though...similar to Family Circus but not so sq..."

nah i remember them from the newspaper. I don't recall ever seeing this particular comic anywhere else (newspaper, etc). I've only seen them in this paperback book. I have no idea even if it was their one and only book or if it was a series. It's really frustrating trying to dig it up cause I know it's pretty obscure and I have so little to go on. Last night I just googled "humor paperback 70s" and scrolled through every image hoping to find it. It's gonna be a tough one to find for sure..... but thanks again for your help.

[Lyn]

That's what I did too...it took all my strength not to buy every pack of vintage paperbacks on etsy. Wish I could have been more help - it's a tough one!

[``Laurie]

This probably isn't what you're looking for but I'll throw in out there anyway.
I recall reading a comic strip during the 70's "The Ryatt's" and the Sunday edition of this comic was "Winky Ryatt". Could this be what you're searching for?

[Steve]

Laurie wrote: "This probably isn't what you're looking for but I'll throw in out there anyway.
I recall reading a comic strip during the 70's "The Ryatt's" and the Sunday edition of this comic was "Winky Ryatt". ..."

thanks Laurie but that's not it. Those drawings seem a little more "life like" than the one I'm looking for. The one I'm looking for was much more cartoony. if that makes sense.

[Waldo]

Steve, have you thought about maybe contacting this guy? He might have all the 411 on, well, everything. Then let us know here what you may find, please?

https://sekotsstudiosblog.wordpress.c...

[Steve]

Waldo wrote: "Steve, have you thought about maybe contacting this guy? He might have all the 411 on, well, everything. Then let us know here what you may find, please?

https://sekotsstudiosblog.wordpress.c......"

thanks Waldo. I sent him an email. We'll see..... if I ever find the name of this book I will surely share it with all of you who have tried to help. Really appreciate it....

[Waldo]

I'd appreciate it Steve. I'd like to know how your journey for this title goes. If I can think of anything else I'll share.

If you're on Twitter, you might want to hit up Nat Gertler for a reply to this. He's a big Peanuts fan but might also know some names for you to chase down as what you're seeking is likely from the Shultz era of comics. Mark Evanier might also know, and could be worth Tweeting to as well. It might surprise you how all these guys know one another.

Do keep us posted. And best of luck!

[Adele]

This has the right number and gender of kids and the scenarios you mention fit the style:

The Goodreads listing gives the publication date as 1985, but I believe this is a reprint.

The Berenstain's also have a book published in 1971 that might be even more likely: Be Good or I'll Belt Ya! You can see a picture of the cover here: http://www.amazon.com/Be-Good-Ill-Bel...

And this one published in 1970 is explicitly in the It's All in the Family series and I love the irony of the title given you say in your initial post "The kids were probably no older than 13": http://www.amazon.com/Never-Trust-Any...

Of course the Berenstains went on to become so associated with their bears that most people don't realize they published family comics with human characters, which in large part is why It's All in the Family is virtually unknown today, unlike Family Circus and Hi and Lois and some of the other things that have been mentioned.

[Steve]

Adele wrote: "This has the right number and gender of kids and the scenarios you mention fit the style:

The Goodreads listing gives the publication date as 1985, but I bel..."

Geez Adele for a minute there I thought you had cracked it. And I have to do a little more digging into this but everything I'm seeing about this suggests this comic was more in the vain of Family Circus in that it was a singular panel comic. Whereas the book I'm looking for, although having one image per page, was telling a sequential story (as in the road trip or fixing up the basement stories I mentioned.) The style of the characters definitely looks similar though that's why I thought you had cracked it. But the more I research this title I have a feeling it's not it. But thanks a lot for your help.

[Steve]

Ya know what Adele I think I take that back because I was just reading about the Berensteins and they were from Pennsylvania. And the one line I remember from the book was "We're here from Pennsylvania, we're here to entertain ya!" Seems a little too coincidental to me. So I have a feeling maybe you are right. I just have to figure out which book it might be. I'm not 100% sure it's this series yet but I do think it might be...... thanks again.

[Steve]

Adele wrote: "This has the right number and gender of kids and the scenarios you mention fit the style:

The Goodreads listing gives the publication date as 1985, but I bel..."

Yes Adele I think you solved the mystery. I'm almost 100% sure this is the book. "Never Trust Anyone Over 13." The drawings on the front seem right and the fact the one kid has a guitar looks really familiar. I'm sure I can find a copy cheap and find out for sure. Thanks everyone for your help. I believe this mystery is solved.

http://www.amazon.com/Never-Trust-Any...

[Waldo]

Thanks Adele!
I see the mass market paperback is going real cheap on Amazon. It might be you can confirm this once and for all Steve?

I thought this search would be more difficult than it ultimately was. This gives me hope that my own search (gathering crickets at the moment) will bear fruit.

[Steve]

Waldo wrote: "Thanks Adele!
I see the mass market paperback is going real cheap on Amazon. It might be you can confirm this once and for all Steve?

I thought this search would be more difficult than it ultima..."

yeah I would've never guessed we'd figure it out especially considering what little I had to go on. I already picked a copy up from eBay and will know soon enough for sure. But I;m almost positive just seeing those drawings on the cover even though our copy back then didn't have the cover.

[Adele]

I'm glad Never Trust Anyone Over 13 looks like it might be it! You never know when the little you have to go on will turn out to be exactly what rings a bell for someone else. I read the scenarios you described and thought, "Those really sound like something I associate with the Berenstains, but he obviously isn't talking about bears . . . oh wait!" LOL

btw, when I was finding the links I also had a moment of doubt realizing the original It's All in the Family was single panel comics, but then I read this on Wikipedia: "individual panels in order depicted the complete arc (preparation, completion, aftermath) of that issue's family experience." and that made me think one of the mass market paperbacks was it again. I hope we're right! :-)

[Waldo]

I need folks like you working on my search! There does not seem to be anyone here interested in occult lore or satanism.... even bumping it twice in October. :-(

[Adele]

Waldo wrote: "I need folks like you working on my search! There does not seem to be anyone here interested in occult lore or satanism.... even bumping it twice in October. :-("

I looked for your search but I thought you were looking for a dime Western, so I didn't find it. I'll look again, but, yeah, that's not really my area of expertise.

[Waldo]

Hi Adele,
The one I am seeking is connected to my WIP here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The mention of my experience searching for the dime western story by looking for the artist, Doug Wildey, was an idea for Steve to search for the artist of his query here.

This one I am actively looking for is a real all-hands-on-deck doozy!

[Steve]

UGH! Well I just got back (I had been working on the road since August.) I got the book and opened it up to realize it's not the book I was looking for!! BUT I do think it is the correct series it's just the particular book in the series I'm looking for. This one was more one panel type comics. The one I was looking for were more multi-panel stories. I probably should've asked the seller on eBay if it had those stories in the book. I'm doing that now with other titles in the series..... so bummed this wasn't it. Was s excited to come home to it. Oh well the search continues.....

[Adele]

Well, that is very disappointing. :-( I hope one of the other ones in the series is actually it.

[Steve]

OK once again I think it's solved.... I asked someone selling another title from this series on eBay if the stories I was looking for were in the book "Are Parents For Real?" and they are indeed in that book. So I picked it up and it's on the way. So looks like once again it's solved. Thanks again to everybody for the help. Just thought I'd give y'all an update.

[Waldo]

This update is really great to read, Steve. I've been wondering. When this book arrives, please put up the link to it so I can flag it "to-read" for myself.

There are days I can use a laugh from a little horse sense humour. Thanks for the updates.

[Adele]

Excellent! Here's hoping second time's the charm! :-)

[Steve]

hey all. yup second time was the charm. "Are Parents For Real?" was the correct title in this book series. Again thanks all ya for your help finding this book from my childhood. here's hoping y'all find your's as well!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Steve wrote: "hey all. yup second time was the charm. "Are Parents For Real?" was the correct title in this book series. Again thanks all ya for your help finding this book from my childhood. here's hoping y'all..."

Do you have a link to that? I'm not seeing it on GR.

[Kris]

I don't see it on GR. Here's the Worldcat's link - http://www.worldcat.org/title/are-par...

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Ok, I added it but it takes time for it to show up in a database search.

[Adele]

Steve wrote: "hey all. yup second time was the charm. "Are Parents For Real?" was the correct title in this book series. Again thanks all ya for your help finding this book from my childhood. here's hoping y'all..."

That's great news! Thanks for letting us know. :-)

[Adele]

Lobstergirl wrote: "Ok, I added it but it takes time for it to show up in a database search."

Thanks! You found a cover and everything. :-)

[Waldo]

THANK YOU!

[Steve]

yup thats it.

[Waldo]

I suspect you will be the first GoodReads review of it. I will look forward to it. I've go it in my to-read and potential purchase shelves.

[Steve]

haha. once i have the chance to sit down and thumb through it I'll write something up. I'm sure it's not something that's going to blow me away. Just a nice trip down Nostalgia Lane.....

[Lyn]

I am SOOOO glad this is solved! And the fact that it is a Berenstain book just makes it that much sweeter. <3