Cartoonist Patrick McDonnell’s syndicated comic strip Mutts has had a special place in the hearts and minds of millions of readers–myself included–over the years, with fans falling in with and being entertained by the adventures of Mooch the cat and Earl the dog and what fun and mischief they find. (That’s why we were so please an proud to share an exclusive excerpt of Breaking the Chain: The Guard Dog Story last year.)

 

 

And today, fans of the comic have reason to bark with joy as the long-awaited The Gift of Everything is on sale now from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. The highly-anticipated follow-up to The Gift of Nothing two decades ago, in The Gift of Everything, Mooch is searching for a gift holiday perfect enough for his best friend Earl. However, in this quest, Mooch realizes that everything is perfect and that living with those you love is the best gift of all. (The premise is so sweet that I’m getting teary-eyed just typing about it.) As the press release for the book explains it:

In The Gift of Nothing Mooch the cat desperately wants to get his friend Earl the dog a gift for the holidays, but Earl already has everything he needs. “What do you give a guy who has everything?” Mooch wonders. Then it dawns on him: nothing! But it turns out nothing is harder to find than you’d think. This perennial favorite sends a heartfelt, timeless message about the priceless value of love and friendship.

Fans of Mutts can also now pick up The Gift of Nothing Anniversary Edition to accompany its rhyming companion of The Gift of Everything.

 

 

We’re so delighted to be able to give you an exclusive reveal of the new stickers and The Gift of Everything bookmark that Mutts is releasing to celebrate these two phenomenal books!

 

 

 

Both The Gift of Everything and The Gift of Nothing Anniversary Edition are on sale now from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

From the official press release for The Gift of Everything:

Award-winning MUTTS creator Patrick McDonnell’s The Gift of Nothing has been inspiring readers of all ages with its heartfelt message about the power of friendship since the seminal book was published two decades ago. Now the bestselling cartoonist is back with The Gift of Everything, the eagerly anticipated follow-up starring Mooch, the curious cat, and Earl, the ever-trusting dog. Both The Gift of Everything and The Gift of Nothing Anniversary Edition will be published on October 7, 2025 from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

McDonnell is the author of several New York Times bestselling picture books, including The Gift of Nothing, and the Caldecott Honor-winning Me…Jane, both of which have been adapted as musicals for the Kennedy Center stage. His other children’s books include Hug Time, A Perfectly Messed-Up Story, The Monsters’ Monster, and Thank You and Goodnight. McDonnell’s beloved and award-winning comic strip, MUTTS, has appeared in over 700 newspapers across 20 countries for 30 years and drawn praise from the likes of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, The Simpsons creator Matt Groening, and Jane Goodall. McDonnell’s most recent book, Breaking the Chain: The Guard Dog Story, debuted on the USA Today bestseller list.

In The Gift of Everything, Mooch the cat is searching for the perfect gift for his best friend, Earl the dog. But what, wonders Mooch, is perfect? Mooch soon discovers the answer: Everyone… Everywhere… Everything! As he sees the world around him with new eyes and a fresh feeling of gratitude, Mooch is delighted that he has just the right person to share it all with! In this joyful rhyming companion to The Gift of Nothing, the stars of the beloved comic strip MUTTS discover and celebrate the precious gift of being alive.

“I’ve always loved the holiday season—a magical time of grace, giving, and gratitude,” said McDonnell. “In The Gift of Everything, I wanted to capture the joy and wonder that children feel during their favorite time of year. It tells the playful story of Mooch the cat as he discovers that the whole world is our Secret Santa.”

In The Gift of Nothing Mooch the cat desperately wants to get his friend Earl the dog a gift for the holidays, but Earl already has everything he needs. “What do you give a guy who has everything?” Mooch wonders. Then it dawns on him: nothing! But it turns out nothing is harder to find than you’d think. This perennial favorite sends a heartfelt, timeless message about the priceless value of love and friendship.

“This anniversary edition of The Gift of Nothing is a celebration of my first picture book—a story that seemed to write itself,” said McDonell. “I love its simplicity, its joy, and its timeless holiday message: the most precious gift we can give is ourselves. More than presents, it’s presence.”