Frazz: Live at Bryson Elementary [Paperback]

Jef Mallett (Author)

Book Description

Series: Frazz | Publication Date: September 1, 2005

One of the last places you'd expect to find fun is in an elementary-school janitor's cleaning closet. Creator Jef Mallett has given life to Renaissance man / janitor Edwin Frazier, better known as "Frazz," who took the job at Bryson Elementary School when he was a struggling songwriter. He then surprised everyone by sticking around after selling his first hit song; the school will never be the same. Frazz: Live from Bryson Elementary features the diverse cast of charming characters Frazz readers have come to love. There's eight-year-old budding genius Caulfield. He's a constant thorn in the side of burned-out third-grade teacher Mrs. Olsen, who still remembers having Frazz in her class more than 20 years ago. Caulfield needs Frazz to challenge him as he remarks, "School would be OK if it didn't interfere so much with my education." Hilariously naive Principal Spaetzle wants to be like Frazz, and first-grade teacher (and first-rate babe!) Miss Plainwell is getting to know him better. And the kids at Bryson Elementary can't get enough of him!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Frazz appears in 125 newspapers worldwide, including the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, Rocky Mountain News, and Detroit Free Press. Frazz won the Wilbur Award from the Religion Communicators Council for excellence in communicating values and ethics in 2003 and 2005.

While in high school, Jef Mallett produced a daily comic strip for the Pioneer in Big Rapids, Mich. He later worked as a graphic artist for the Grand Rapids Press and Flint Journal, and then as the art director and editorial cartoonist for Booth Newspapers' Capital Bureau. Jef wrote and illustrated the children's book Dangerous Dan and has illustrated books for other authors, including best-seller Mitch Albom. He lives with his wife/letterer and too many pets in Lansing, Mich.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (September 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0740754475
• ISBN-13: 978-0740754470
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #294,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

While in high school, Jef Mallett produced a daily comic for the Pioneer in Big Rapids, MI. He later worked as a cartoonist, and as an art director and an editorial cartoonist for a chain of eight midsize dailies. He has written and illustrated the children's book Dangerous Dan, and has also served as an illustrator for other authors, including best-seller Mitch Albom. Jef is also a contributing editor for Inside Triathalon magazine. He lives in Lansing, MI. (www.comics.com/comics/frazz/)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best, smartest comic strip since "Calvin and Hobbes"!, September 21, 2005

By 

winterhawk (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frazz: Live at Bryson Elementary (Paperback)

I don't remember anymore how I discovered "Frazz"--I think it was when somebody was speculating that Bill Watterson has come out of retirement and is drawing a new strip. It's hard not to believe that of "Frazz" (actually by Jef Mallett)--the art style is evocative of C&H, and so is the smart, insightful and slightly off-kilter writing. The character Frazz, a successful songwriter who keeps his job as a janitor because he likes the kids, even resembles a grown-up Calvin (but no Hobbes is in evidence--in fact, Frazz occupies a role similar to that of Hobbes: a wise but still cool and fun friend to all the kids at Bryson Elementary, while the Calvin role is neatly filled by Caulfield, the bright eight-year-old who finds learning fun but school hopelessly boring.)

What impresses me most about "Frazz" as a strip is the sheer *intelligence* of the writing: some of these strips you have to *think* about for a few seconds after you read them, and that *aha*! moment is something I don't see nearly enough in comic strips these days. You might even learn something while reading "Frazz," but you won't even notice because you'll be too busy chuckling. This first collection is great and I look forward to collecting many more.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gotta Love Frazz, January 9, 2007

By 

Tim Rosborough "pbgs select" (Edmonton, Alberta Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Frazz: Live at Bryson Elementary (Paperback)

If you are not familiar with Frazz (or Mr. Frazier) the Janitor at Bryson Elementary School, let me take a moment to introduce you. Frazz is a triathlete, a song writer, a poet, a literary buff and, surprisingly, a janitor at an elementary school. He is into healthy living, good food, good fun, and loves a good battle ball/eraser fight. He is the shining star of Bryson and is loved by all the kids there. He is a better teacher than some of the other paid staff at the school.

I sometimes think that Frazz is a grown up Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbs)

I really love Frazz. This collection allowed me to catch up on a lot of the old Frazz cartoons. Mr. Mallett's drawing style is very consistent from beginning to end. His humour is always gentle, loving caring, thoughtful and morally sound. The lessons Frazz provides to the kids of Bryson elementary school are deep, valuable, honest, socially responsible, healthy and usually indirect and subtle. If I take the time, I even learn new words from Mr. Mallett.

My teens also love Frazz. Then again, they like Garfield a lot too, so there is no accounting for taste.

My family and I will be reading and re-reading this collection of Frazz cartoons over and over again in the coming weeks.

Gotta love Frazz!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Classic Comic Strip, October 20, 2005

By 

A. J. Lane (Duke City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Frazz: Live at Bryson Elementary (Paperback)

Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes, the Far Side...and Frazz. This one is a multi-dimensional keeper. Jef Mallett puts you in the playground of his wonderful characters and lets you and your imagination join in the fun. His humor is sometimes subtle and sometimes overt. I've been a convert to the strip for quite a while now. I'm ordering this book for my library and for my friends. If you like your comics cute, smart and sweet, Frazz will satisfy everytime.