Minivanity

Brian draws funny, and he writes well. The depth of feeling he pours into a look of total exasperation, the piercing stare of an embittered mate, the self-righteous sneer of an eight-year-old tells me he's been there--and lived --Lynn Johnston, creator of For Better or For Worse

Poor Adam has to face facts: With three rambunctious kids, the harried househusband needs a minivan. But to actually be seen in an overgrown, kid-moving station wagon? No way

Cartoonist Brian Basset is in rare form in Minivanity, trailing his hapless hero as he slinks into a minivan support group. It's only the latest adventure for the creatively challenged Adam Newman, who stays home to care for Clayton, Katy, and Nick while wife Laura goes to work. From paying his kids to clean the bathroom to setting his schedule according to TV Guide, Adam handles the household with aplomb.

Yet Adam, the comic strip, is much more than a funny look at a stay-at-home dad. With on-the-mark writing and a drawing style that says it all, Adam captures the delights and distresses of parenthood. Readers of both genders--whether they work outside or inside the home--identify with the Newmans' routines and responsibilities, and appreciate Basset's ability to make it all seem humorous.

Brian Basset is a multitalented cartoonist who has produced Adam since 1984. Like Adam collections, Adam, Life in the Fast-Food Lane, and Life Begins at 6:40, Minivanity epitomizes the fun and foibles of the balancing life.