Most Popular Books by Stephan Pastis

Timmy Failure is the founder, president and CEO of the greatest detective agency in town, probably the country, perhaps the world. And he''s about to crack the biggest case of his generation: a school competition to find a stolen globe, and win the $500 prize which will set him up for life. But someone is clearly trying to cheat

From the author of the Pearls Before Swine comic strip and New York Times bestselling Timmy Failure series comes a laugh-out-loud, heartwarming, full-color graphic novel series about a quirky town—just right for young readers starting to read longer books! Wendy the Wanderer has lived in Trubble Town her whole life but never had the chance to go exploring. For this reason, she thinks she was definitely misnamed. Her dad likes to know where she is to make sure she’s safe, so she’s never been anywhere on her own. Then, her dad leaves on a trip and the babysitter doesn’t reinforce all the usual rules. Or any of the usual rules! Suddenly, Wendy is free to do what she wants, and what she wants is to live up to her name…and find Trubble. Turns out, there’s lots going on in Trubble Town. As she encounters endearingly goofy animals and hilariously hapless townsfolk, Wendy’s very first adventure takes more twists and turns than she could have ever expected. She learns some really valuable life lessons and even teaches a few of her own.

In the newest Pearls Before Swine treasury, the Hollywood dreams of cartoonist Stephan Pastis meet with hilarious—and disastrous—results! Pearls Before Swine is one of the most popular comic strips of the past two decades, and this treasury packs in 18 months worth of daily comic strips including special commentary by author Stephan Pastis, winner of the 2018 Reuben Award for Cartoonist of the Year. The book also includes an essay about his foray into the world of screenwriting.

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Timmy Failure series comes a quirky and heartwarming middle grade novel about a girl struggling with loneliness and the curveballs of life—featuring black and white illustrations throughout! Living alone with her mother in a poorer part of town, Saint—a girl drawn to medieval knights, lost causes, and the protection of birthday piñatas—sees the neighborhood she has always known and loved disappearing around her: old homes being torn down and replaced by fancy condos and coffee shops. But when her favorite creaky old toy store is demolished, she knows she must act. Enlisting the help of Daniel “Chance” McGibbons, a quiet, round-faced boy who lives across the street (and whose house also faces the wrecking ball), Saint hatches a plan to save what is left of her beloved hometown.

Meet Timmy Failure, founder of the ''best'' detective agency in town - Total Failure, Inc. Timmy may only be 11, but with the help of his polar bear, Total, he already has plans for world domination. Plans that will make his mother rich and unpaid bills a thing of the past. And plans that will defeat Corrina Corrina, ''The One Whose Name Shall Not Be Uttered''. But she''s not going away.

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

Follows the escapades of self-centered Rat and kindly (but dumb) Pig and their pals, with commentary from the author.

From the author of the Pearls Before Swine comic strip and New York Times bestselling Timmy Failure series comes the second book in a laugh-out-loud, heartwarming, full-color graphic novel series about a quirky town—perfect for readers of all ages, and just right for young readers starting to read longer books! Just when you thought things could not get any wackier in Trubble Town, the adult residents are abducted by aliens, leaving the town in the hands of all the kids. What could possibly go wrong…besides everything?

These strips appeared in newspapers from September 3, 2012 to June 2, 2013.

Join award-winning cartoonist Stephan Pastis in his comical, careening journey to enlightenment, featuring 18 months of daily comic strips from 2020-2021 along with an introduction, reflections, and strip-by-strip commentary by the author. Stephan Pastis is no ordinary cartoonist. In his two decades of writing and illustrating the blockbuster daily comic strip Pearls Before Swine, the award-winning humorist has traveled the globe, co-written a film for Disney+, and authored several hit book series, but always stopped short of total enlightenment—until now! Throughout the 256 pages of this treasury, Pastis provides commentary on each and every comic strip, along with photos, behind-the-scenes insights on the creative process, and meditations on how the tumultuous past two years have affected his life and work. Loyal readers and comics fans of all ages will be rewarded for digging into the uplifting, enlightening, and downright hilarious pages of the newest Pearls Before Swine treasury.

Banishment from his life’s calling can’t keep a comically overconfident detective down in the latest episode by New York Times bestseller Stephan Pastis. This book was never meant to exist. No one needs to know the details. Just know this: there’s a Merry, a Larry, a missing tooth, and a teachers’ strike that is crippling Timmy Failure’s academic future. Worst of all, Timmy is banned from detective work. It’s a conspiracy of buffoons. He recorded everything in his private notebook, but then the manuscript was stolen. If this book gets out, he will be grounded for life. Or maybe longer. And will Timmy’s mom really marry Doorman Dave?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR! In true Pearls Before Swine tradition, this treasury is full of Stephan Pastis’s cynical humor, sharp wit, and clever commentary. Always together—and sometimes with their fellow funny-page characters—the regular Pearls clan weighs in on everything from modern technology to current events to human nature. All the members of the skewed gang are here as Zebra engages in a never-ending war of neighborly hate with the Crocs. As always, Goat offers a voice of reason amid the ongoing chaos that Pastis creates, either from behind the pen or as a character within the strip itself. Includes all cartoons from the collections I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream Because Puns Suck and Floundering Fathers.

Follows the escapades of self-centered Rat and kindly (but dumb) Pig and their pals, with commentary from the author.

This is not your grandmother’s gift book. Sarcastic with a cutting wit, this is Stephan Pastis’s particularly funny take on the anti side of friendship, shown through sarcastic comments juxtaposed with sappy photographs. Looking for a kind and thoughtful gift to share with a bud? Well, then you’ve picked the wrong book. But if you’re looking for an antidote to the sweet and sappy inspirational tripe that clogs gift book shelves, you’ve just hit pay dirt. Bless your sociopathic heart.

"Pearls Before Swine" is the hilarious comic strip tale of two friends: arrogant, egotistical Rat and slow-witted Pig. Smart, witty, and painfully honest, this cartoon mocks the flaws and shortcomings of human nature with cynical humor.

Follows the escapades of self-centered Rat and kindly (but dumb) Pig and their pals--includes commentary from the author.

Follows the escapades of self-centered Rat and kindly (but dumb) Pig and their pals, with commentary from the author.

In the series finale, Timmy Failure and his class create a hilarious film about his life — just in time for the holidays. Though I, Timmy Failure, have solved many notorious crimes and now wish to enjoy my retirement, my fans have begged me to turn my memoirs into a movie, an ode to my greatness. I am, however, beset by enemies, the worst of whom is Tom John John, the buffoonish movie director. What’s more, my father is in town, working at a bar, which is obviously just a cover for our father-son crime-fighting partnership. And my dim-witted polar bear business partner, Total, wants to be reunited with his family. I should have known it would end like this. I expected more.

"These strips appeared in newspapers from February 28, 2011, to December 4, 2011" -- verso.

Now an original film on Disney+ “An endearingly pathetic antihero with delusions of greatness. . . . Seldom has failure been so likable — or so funny.” — The Wall Street Journal Take Timmy Failure—the clueless, comically self-confident CEO of the best detective agency in town, perhaps even the nation. Add his impressively lazy business partner, a very large polar bear named Total, and what you have is Total Failure, Inc. From the offbeat creator of Pearls Before Swine comes an endearingly bumbling hero in a hilarious caper accompanied by a whodunit twist. With perfectly paced visual humor, Stephan Pastis gets readers snorting with laughter, then slyly carries the joke a beat further—or sweetens it with an unexpected poignant moment—making this a comics-inspired and New York Times best-selling story that truly stands apart from the pack.

"Pearls Before Swine" is the hilarious new comic strip tale of two friends--an arrogant Rat who knows it all, and a slow-witted Pig who doesn''t know any better. Together they offer caustic commentary on humanity''s quest for the unattainable. Illustrations.

This Little Piggy Stayed Home continues the adventures of Rat and Pig, two characters who couldn''t be more different-or more surprising. Rat is your typical Every Rodent: scheming, self-centered, and more than occasionally manipulative. By contrast, Pig is sensitive, kind, and-even on his best days-just plain stupid. Together with Zebra and Goat, they confront the strange and wonderful world around them, a place that looks suspiciously like our own.

A collection of the comic strip Pearls before swine, specially chosen for young readers.

Collection of previously published comic strips.

Collection of previously published comic strips.

Lock up your valuables. Stockpile your ammunition. Sandbag your bunker. The familiar foursome of Rat, Pig, Goat, and Zebra-joined now by the fraternity of Zeeba Zeeba Eata crocodiles are here to storm the ramparts of humor in The Ratvolution Will Not Be Televised. In this fourth collection from the award-winning comic strip Pearls Before Swine, Stephan Pastis deploys all the weapons of his comic arsenal in an all-out attack on the animal (and human) imperfections he sees around him. The result is a collection jam-packed with the sharp-edged humor that has made Pearls Before Swine one of the most successful comic strips running in newspapers today. Just remember: As The Ratvolution Will Not Be Televised makes clear, Pearls Before Swine takes no prisoners. We warned you.

Now look what you''ve done: Timmy Failure and his polar bear sidekick, Total, are about to crack the biggest case of his generation, a school competition to find a stolen globe.

[No. 2] The clueless self-confident kid detective returns to crack the biggest case of his generation: a school competition to find a stolen globe.

Meet Timmy Failure, the founder, president, and CEO of the best detective agency in town, probably the nation. And his lazy sidekick, total, a 1,500-pound polar bear.