Frazz by Jef Mallett follows the adventures of an unexpected role model: an elementary-school janitor who's also a Renaissance man. While he's sweeping the hall, he's whistling Beethoven. Or Lyle Lovett. He paints the woodwork in the classrooms; he paints a Da Vinci on the cafeteria wall. He's a trusted authority figure who is every kid's buddy. He took the janitor's job while he was a struggling songwriter, and when he finally sold a hit song, he decided to stay on at school. Frazz appears in 200 newspapers worldwide, including the Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune and Detroit News. "A few years back, I wrote and illustrated a children's book," says Mallett. "When I was traveling around reading it at school assemblies, I noticed that often, the most respected, best-liked grown-up in the building was the janitor. And I thought, 'Hmm, there's a comic strip in that.'" Often praised for its intelligent wit, gentle spirit and effortless diversity, Frazz won a Wilbur Award from the Religion Communicators Council in 2003 and 2005 for excellence in communicating values and ethics.
© Jef Mallett - All Rights Reserved.
Frank & Ernest by Thaves
Fred Basset by Alex Graham
Comments (26) (Please sign in to comment)
Pacopuddy said, 3 months ago
I didn’t know Frazz had a dog – a rescue greyhound by the look of it. Good on you, Frazz!
Nabuquduriuzhur said, 3 months ago
Looks more like a minature reindeer/caribou.
fusilier said, 3 months ago
Not Frazz – Jane Plainwell, his girlfriend. (Hope she doesn’t take off for spelling!)
rshive said, 3 months ago
Certainly not her memory. What kind of dog is that?
vwdualnomand said, 3 months ago
but, then, you can get all your work done, your lesson plan done, and decorate the room done.
Tacopielvr said, 3 months ago
@Pacopuddy
That is Frazz’s girlfriend Jane. Yes, that is a rescued dog.
annieb1012 said, 3 months ago
@rshive It’s a greyhound Jane got from a rescue group. His name is Mario, and he’s totally mellow until he sees a squirrel, and then he takes off like a shot.
USAFMSGT said, 3 months ago
@Tacopielvr
The dog is Jane, Frazz’s girlfriend?
bigpuma said, 3 months ago
Oh, to live in Frazziland! That nice place where people say the most insulting things, right to each others’ faces. And it’s fine! All you have to do is say, “Well, I was just being honest …”
The Wolf In Your Midst said, 3 months ago
Greyhounds are sweet dogs! Some of them (especially the rescues) can be high-strung, but with a lot of gentle firmness and guidance, they turn into relaxed pooches who love everybody. They specialize in the “greyhound lean” for the people they REALLY like!
annieb1012 said, 3 months ago
@bigpuma “people say the most insulting things, right to each others’ faces.”
>>>>
Is somebody insulting someone here? Mrs. Olsen is being self-deprecating because she’s embarrassed, but Jane is lauding the work ethic that brings Mrs. O. to school even when she isn’t supposed to be there. At least, that’s how I read it.
annieb1012 said, 3 months ago
annieb1012 said, less than a minute ago
@bigpuma Ah. I get your point. It was midmorning before she noticed no one else was there. Still not sure that’s Jane’s point, though; she always seems to me to be looking at the bright side of things!
Kimberly Cox said, 3 months ago
@The Wolf In Your Midst
Actually, retired racing greyhounds are not high strung at all. You’re thinking of Whippets and Italian Greyhounds. We have had three retired racers over the years and from day one they have all been the most mellow, laid-back dogs we’ve ever met. Wonderful family pets!
bigpuma said, 3 months ago
Ms. Plainwell is saying, “Mrs. Olsen, you pay so little attention to doing your job well that you don’t even notice when the kids aren’t there.” I could be wrong, though. After all, who can claim to know the minds of comic strip characters?
Scott S said, 3 months ago
What’s “mid-winter break?” Nothing I ever had in school. I know about spring break, but that’s not for another month.