Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Genre: Comics / Humor / Children's

Book Review:
Get ready for some sticky situations! Dennis the Menace is back in ''Happy Lickin','' a deliciously funny collection of comic strips featuring everyone's favorite troublemaker and his adventures with all things sweet and tasty.

Dennis Mitchell has a simple philosophy: if it looks good, eat it. If it tastes good, share it (whether the recipient wants it or not). If it's messy, even better! ''Happy Lickin''' captures the chaos that ensues when Dennis gets his hands on ice cream cones, lollipops, candy, and any other treat that comes his way.

Watch as Dennis tries to share his ice cream with the family dog—with predictable results. See him attempt to save his lollipop for later in increasingly creative (and disastrous) ways. Observe as his simple desire for something sweet turns into a full-scale disaster involving sticky floors, angry parents, and a very frustrated Mr. Wilson.

Mr. Wilson, Dennis's long-suffering neighbor, is the frequent victim of Dennis's sweet-toothed adventures. A simple request to borrow sugar can lead to chaos. A friendly offer to share a treat inevitably ends with Mr. Wilson wearing it. Their relationship continues to be comedy gold.

What makes this collection so enjoyable is its focus on universal childhood experiences. Every parent has dealt with the aftermath of a toddler with ice cream. Every adult remembers the desperate desire to save a favorite treat. Dennis simply takes these experiences to their logical—and hilarious—extreme.

Ketcham's artwork is simple but brilliantly expressive. Dennis's innocent joy, his parents' weary resignation, and Mr. Wilson's exasperated despair are all captured perfectly.

This collection is part of a series that includes other Dennis adventures like ''The Little Bully,'' ''Taking The Lead,'' ''Upside Down,'' and many more.

''Dennis the Menace: Happy Lickin''' is perfect for readers aged 7 and up, as well as adults who appreciate classic comic humor. It's a sweet, sticky, and utterly delightful collection that will leave you smiling. Highly recommended.