Books published by Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC

This volume in the American Antiquarian Cookbook Collection, published in Philadelphia in 1850, is an exhaustive compilation of hundreds of methods, formulas, and recipes for culinary, housekeeping, agricultural, and medical issues of importance in nineteenth century households, assembled by an unknown physician.In his introduction, the "eminent physician" cited as compiler of this fascinating volume states, "There was a time when ladies knew nothing beyond their own family concerns; but in the present day there are many who know nothing about them." His intention was to supply every possible bit of information about housekeeping, homemaking, farming, and medical care that contemporary women seemed to lack. His work contains hundreds of procedures, advice, and recipes organized in a whimsical hodgepodge without a table of contents or index to guide the reader. For example, a recipe for "an excellent tooth power" is sandwiched in between "a method of cleaning china" and "how to stain paper." Similarly, "pickling tomatoes" can be found between "means of stopping a runaway horse" and "grafting grapevines." It makes an engrossing, entertaining read that provides an intriguing portrait of nineteenth century lifestyles.Although many medical entries appear throughout the text, the final 20 percent of the book appears to be an independent and uncredited work entitled The Family Physician-such plagiarism was common in nineteenth century publishing. In fact, the disorganization of the material makes it likely that the entire contents of the book were taken from an existing volume or a number of sources and the "compiler" simply collected other authors'' work in this encyclopedic treasury.This edition of The Cook Book of Rare and Valuable Recipes was reproduced by permission from the volume in the collection of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1812 by Isaiah Thomas, a Revolutionary War patriot and successful printer and publisher, the society is a research library documenting the lives of Americans from the colonial era through 1876. The society collects, preserves, and makes available as complete a record as possible of the printed materials from the early American experience. The cookbook collection comprises approximately 1,100 volumes

With almost encyclopedic detail, The Dessert Book supplies precise, easy-to-follow recipes for desserts of all kinds, including puddings, pies, cakes, soufflés, "jumbles," wafers, biscuits, meringues, nougats, bouchées, glaces, ice creams, fruit ices, coffees, teas, chocolate drinks, liqueurs, creams and wines, jellies and marmalades, brandied fruits, compotes, and much more-over 400 recipes that describe many favorite sweets of the day. Although economy was a factor in her recipe selection, the unknown author had high standards of presentation for desserts, asserting in her Introduction, "In arranging the table, the greater number of handsome dishes and high stands that can be available the better, as glaces, fruits, compotes, and confectionery look much handsomer when so displayed." Clearly, she set an elegant dessert table in her own home.This edition of The Dessert Book was reproduced by permission from the volume in the collection of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1812 by Isaiah Thomas, a Revolutionary War patriot and successful printer and publisher, the society is a research library documenting the lives of Americans from the colonial era through 1876. The society collects, preserves, and makes available as complete a record as possible of the printed materials from the early American experience. The cookbook collection comprises approximately 1,100 volumes.

Published in 1843 in Philadelphia, this volume in the American Antiquarian Cookbook Collection is derived from an earlier English work that author J. M. Sanderson heavily adapted for American usage, creating not only a cookbook that combined the best of American and European cooking of the time, but perhaps one of the first "international" cookbooks.James M. Sanderson''s The Complete Cook contains over 700 recipes, including "directions for the choice of meat and poultry; preparations for cooking, making soups and broths; boiling, roasting, baking and frying meats, fish; seasonings, colourings, cooking vegetables; preparing salads, clarifying; making of pastry, puddings, gruels, gravies, garnishes, and, with general directions for making wines." According to the title page and his introduction, Sanderson clearly states that the majority of his book was copied heavily from a well-known English work, and he is but the adaptor. We now know the uncredited author was W. G. Lewis.Sanderson''s small contributions throughout create an excellent combination of American and English cooking. For example, he provides an American recipe for Pumpkin Pie alongside the English version, comments on cooking in the excessive heat of the West Indies, and refers to a superior English method for boiling meat without contact with the water. There are quite a few American recipes cited with their English counterparts and referred to as "the American mode," for example, "The American Mode of Dressing Salt Fish."This edition of The Complete Cook was reproduced by permission from the volume in the collection of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1812 by Isaiah Thomas, a Revolutionary War patriot and successful printer and publisher, the society is a research library documenting the lives of Americans from the colonial era through 1876. The society collects, preserves, and makes available as complete a record as possible of the printed materials from the early American experience. The cookbook collection comprises approximately 1,100 volumes.

Strip Search, a contest sponsored by Andrews McMeel Universal and Follett College Bookstores, invited promsing young collegiate cartoonists to submit their best work. The contest was judged by Universal Press Syndicate editors, who regularly work with such cartoon legends as Cathy Guisewite, Garry Trudeau, and Jim Davis.Laugh along at the best and brightest cartoons of the next generation.

An anthropomorphic hipster cockroach is on the cutting-edge of American comic-strip humor. La Cucaracha (aka Cuco Rocha) and his pals voice the concerns and observations of the Latino-American community with an edgy, insightful wit.Through La Cucaracha, creator Lalo Alcaraz makes blunt social commentary both hard-hitting and hilarious. The result is not just a pleasure, but also a craving. The strong undercurrent of modern Latino themes and issues adds a sharp layer of meaning to the humor. In one strip, an immigrant bartender has listened to two customers rant, ""I''m telling ya, there''s too many immigrants pouring into this country."" When one of the customers asks for another drink the bartender declares, ""I''m an immigrant, and guess what? I''m not pouring!""This first of perceptive La Cucaracha humor will delight and gratify all audiences that appreciate intelligent, progressive, deeply amusing comics. 

""It''s a sweetly funny strip, reminiscent of the relationship of Charlie Brown and Snoopy or Calvin and Hobbes. . . . Just the book to pick up when you need a booster shot of the warm fuzzies.""-Syracuse Post-StandardWhy are readers so dedicated to this simple comic about a boy and his dog? That simplicity itself is one of the best-loved characteristics of the strip. Ten-year-old Red and his lab-mix mutt, Rover, are a metaphor for friendship, and their shared adventures hearken back to a simpler time that holds a strong nostalgic appeal for modern readers. The other feature of Red and Rover that draws fans to the strip is the realness of its character. Rover is not a talking dog; he and Red communicate through thought bubbles. Moreover, Rover''s facial expressions and body language are drawn with an authenticity, recognized and lauded by dog lovers, that communicates volumes about what he''s thinking and feeling.As proclaimed on the popular family-oriented Web site infodad.com, ""Well focused, well thought out, and well drawn in something of a ''retro'' style, Red and Rover is the most heartwarmingly funny new comic strip in years. Cynics, go elsewhere. Red and Rover is for the rest of us.""

Rudy Park: The People Must Be Wired is the hilarious first collection of the technocentric comic strip Rudy Park. The strip lampoons the fast pace of our technology-driven world, our obsession with materialism, and the foibles of our cultural and political icons. Set at an Internet café, the strip follows the lives of a regular cast of characters, including Rudy, the café''s manager, who believes in all things Internet, the healing powers of consumption, and the conviction that inner peace lies in having the latest technological gadget. At the cybercafé, Rudy must deal with his new station in life, his entrepreneurial boss, and an odd assortment of regular patrons, like Mrs. Cohen, an irascible octogenarian who challenges Rudy at every turn. The café is also a crossroads for contemporary issues and celebrity and political visitors, such as John Ashcroft (who monitors people from his home inside a pastry container at the cafe), and Senator Tom Daschle (who, afraid to draw too much attention to himself, lives under a table). Writer Theron Heir grew up in Boulder, Colorado, but currently lives in San Francisco. He is biding his time with cartooning until he finds a way to profit from his revolutionary theories on napping. Cartoonist Darrin Bell grew up in East L.A. before making his current home in the San Francisco Bay Area. His other comic strip, Candorville, is syndicated by the Washington Post Writer''s Group. His editorial cartoons appear regularly in the L.A. Times and other major newspapers.

Award-winning cartoonist Mark Tonra uniquely interprets the quintessential tug-of-war we call "childhood," where innocence confronts experience, right debates wrong, and halfhearted independence challenges a loving lap to sit on. Buffered by his own wide-eyed resilience, James collides daily with life''s most poignant and comic truths-exhibiting a bravado (both real and false) that is at once endearing and universally human. With a deceptively simple palette, Mark Tonra skillfully paints a detailed portrait of every reader''s experience. Wit and wisdom are on full display as James marches through life with his offbeat -and equally adorable-cohorts. ˆ is a rare combination of heart and razor-sharp humor that has comic fans of all ages shouting for more!

The lead character of Baldo, Baldo Bermudez, is a 15-year-old Latino teen with visions of creating the perfect low rider and being popular with the girls. Meanwhile, the strip''s creators, Hector Cantu and Carlos Castellanos, began the strip in 2000 with dreams of creating a comic rooted in Latin American heritage that would have wide appeal and soar in popularity. Judging by the pieces of car in the driveway and yet another dateless weekend for Baldo, it''s fair to say Cantu and Castellanos are having all the luck, and Baldo''s readers are having all the laughs. Night of the Bilingual Telemarketers is a compilation of strips from the increasingly popular comic''s second year.The strip centers around Baldo and his humorous observations on teenage life in school and with family. On the home front is Baldo''s relationship with his single-parent dad, his younger sister and budding political activist Gracie, and his live-in Old World aunt Carmen. Cantu and Castellanos know firsthand the experience of growing up within two cultures. Consequently, Baldo''s daily adventures challenge him to balance his mainstream sensibilities with his Latino heritage. The result is the humorous mix of teenage silliness rooted in reality found in Night of the Bilingual Telemarketers, a book that will delight readers of ages and cultures.

Baldo is the 15-year-old title character in a hilarious new comic, the first nationally syndicated strip to depict a Latino family''s lives. This refreshingly hip new collection captures the lifestyle and humor of the country''s fastest-growing ethnic group through the adventures of a typical American teenager, who just happens to live a salsa-mix life of mainstream sensibilities and Latino culture. The result is a merry combination of silliness that rings true, whether Baldo and his buddies are dreaming of girls or building the sweetest low-rider car imaginable.

Like a hot latte on a cold, rainy day, Café Adam is sure to warm the hearts of comic readers everywhere. In this sixth collection, cartoonist Brian Basset focuses on a whole host of compatriots who hang out at the local coffeehouse, log in remotely, and compare work-at-home notes.

""Harrell's work combines pop culture, innocence, friendship, and some of the seamier side of the circus background that only adults can appreciate."" Come one! Come all . . . to the exciting world of Big Top! Rob Harrell's three-ring comic strip has already packed the house with fans eager for his hilarious take on the circus and those who bring it to life. The circus and its colorful cast-led by 10-year-old Pete and his happily reformed performing bear, Wink-are a perfect metaphor for life. It's not always what happens on the surface, Big Top reminds us, but what takes place backstage that delivers the lessons and the humor. Pete and Wink keep plenty of odd company, including Kingston, coolest king of the jungle; Stucco, a mute clown who still manages to make his point; Manfred, the bookish monkey; Dusty, the wisecracking tell-it-like-it-is trained poodle; Andrea, the new acrobat girl who's caught Pete's eye; and Hairy Mary the Bearded Lady, a mother figure to them all. Take this crew on the road and you get an endless array of situations and relationships, care and impatience, honesty and intolerance. It's like one big Big Top family . . . one that welcomes all readers for the mere price of a ticket.

Every once in a great while the glimmer of something different will twinkle from the stack of comic cordwood piled in the daily newspaper. In I Have Tampered with the Divine Plan, the second Agnes collection, that glimmer continues to shine brightly. Agnes, the round-nosed, elegantly footed little girl in the cute black shift, and her best friend, Trout, continue their mad scramble through youth's treacherous minefield. High adventure and mayhem are afoot as they share the odd conversations that cobble together all amazing relationships. And when all that imagination no longer fits in their heads, it spills out into some very messy puddles. And messy puddles are funny.

Sit on the couch. Speak. Engage in witty banter and share ideas with friends who really understand your predicaments. Sounds like the perfect cafe. Especially if you're a dog.Pooch Cafe is the home away from home for Poncho and his canine buddies. No Collar, No Service marks the second collection of the hip hit strip Pooch Cafe, named for the place where Poncho, Boomer, and the rest of their pals regularly gather to discuss life among the humans and to hatch their plans to catapult all the world's cats into space. But you won't find this spot on Main Street. Its actual location is a canine secret compromised just once when they tried to get a pizza delivered.Poncho is as passionate about his love for his master, Chazz, as he is about his distaste for kitties. When Poncho and Chazz move in with Carmen and her medley of cats, Poncho pals up with "Fish," a goldfish who conveniently speaks dog, to learn the lay of the land. Poncho views his master's new life as a threat to the sacred man-dog bond, despite Carmen's efforts to make peace with Poncho using love, tenderness, and cheese. Good thing there's always the gang at the cafe.No Collar, No Service is the saga of a strip that captures the intensity of the human-dog bond in a way that resonates with pet lovers everywhere.

""This is the second fan letter I have written in my whole life. The other one was to Hopalong Cassidy, when I had a great crush on him at about six years old. But I did want to let you know how very much both my husband and I have enjoyed Pickles from the very first strip. Would you please consider putting a collection together in book form?""-Lois F. in Nevada  As its loyal fans will gladly tell you, Pickles has been a zinger-filled, laugh-out-loud gem since its debut in 1990. Since then, it has steadily climbed in popularity, and today appears in over 400 newspapers worldwide.Still Pickled After All These Years collects strips from this sweet intergenerational comic that alternates point of view between an older married couple, a 30-something married couple, and their son. The strip centers on Earl and Opal Pickles, who have been married over 50 years but inject plenty of spunk and insight into everything they do. Whether they're taking a wry but sympathetic glance at their divorced daughter, Sylvia, laughing at their faithful but feckless canine, Roscoe, marveling at their dictatorial feline, Muffin, or just commenting on the little things in life, Earl and Opal's good-natured wit and dry humor is brilliantly on target.Pickles is about growing old and keeping your sense of humor but never forgetting what it's like to be a child. The strip's inaugural AMP collection, Still Pickled After All These Years, encapsulates the importance of staying close to those who bring you the most joy and reminds everyone about the incalculable value of the unconditional love of pets, family, and friends.

"I laughed so hard at Citizen Dog one day that I actually got the hiccups." -Kevin Fagan, creator of Drabble Man is dog's best friend. At least, that is the case in Dog's Best Friend, the hilarious collection of Citizen Dog comic strips from creator Mark O'Hare. The humor of quick-witted canine Fergus and his hapless owner Mel are reminiscent of classic comedy teams such as Laurel and Hardy or the Honeymooners' Ed Norton and Ralph Cramden. Everything Fergus and Mel do, they do together-whether it's going to the movies, shopping, taking a walk, or sleeping. By foregoing the traditional master/dog relationship, Mel and Fergus are in a perpetual-and hysterical-power struggle that's reminiscent of an old married couple. Which one gets to be "roller guy" and who has to paint all the edges when the two decide to repaint the living room? How many times does Fergus get to eat-six or seven? The two may never figure out solutions to these everyday problems, but Citizen Dog readers found out long ago that the results are always hysterical. Anyone who enjoys slapstick humor, the company of a fun pet, or just plain funny circumstances won't want to miss Dog's Best Friend. Whether you're a child, a parent, or a senior citizen, it's a treasure of strips that will leave you howling.

The Nutz family will never be confused with the Waltons, the Partridges, or the Bradys. But you might confuse them with another family: your own. Soup To Nutz: The First Course is the first collection of comic strips featuring the off-kilter Nutz family, where the battle for the last chicken leg rivals the Battle of Bull Run and sibling "rivalry" is putting it mildly. The battling brood includes brothers Roy-boy and Andrews, their sister and middle child Babs, parents Roy and Pat, and their faithful dog Rosco. These six Nutz make up a family that is every bit as funny and screwball as their name implies. Roy-boy teases his younger brother by telling him that he became part of the family when they found him in the woods and adopted him. But his sister is quick to set the record straight: "Don''t be silly, Andrew, you weren''t adopted . . . Dad made you out of wood and a cricket turned you into a real boy." The irreverent humor of Nutz flows from the pencil of creator Rick Stromoski, whose research includes growing up the seventh member of a family of 12 children. That experience no doubt helped shape the humor behind what is one of the funniest up-and-coming strips on the funny pages today.