Night Shift: Baby Blues Scrapbook 23 (Volume 27)

In Night Shift, Kirkman and Scott offer a funny, but scarily realistic commentary on what it means to be a parent in the 21st Century. The book focuses on Hammie and Zoe growing up and becoming more self-aware (and therefore all the more frustrating) by the day. Baby Wren - the newest Baby Blues character - adds a fresh dynamic to the strip and shows just how far Wanda and Darryl have come in their parenting. While they showed anxiety over things like leaving Zoe with a babysitter or allowing Hammie to put a dirty pacifier in his mouth, they are much more relaxed with Wren. Night Shift also focuses on the toll that parenting has taken on Wanda and Darryl's relationship. Through the use of flashbacks to Wanda and Darryl's "pre-kid" days, to illustrating their hilarious attempts at finding quiet moments to themselves, Kirkman and Scott show that parenting is no easy feat. But honestly, much of the book is so precise at showing what really happens to spouses and parents that it borders on depressing. While Night Shift still has the humor that makes Baby Blues so loveable, the serious element of parenting and childrearing makes it seem lackluster compared to previous volumes. But it is a definite must for anyone who likes Baby Blues, or for anyone who might be looking for some lighthearted solace in knowing that they are not alone in the struggles they might encounter when trying to be a good parent.

For someone who has never been blessed with children, I've enjoyed this book - and all of the Kirkman/Scott books - immensely. Just delightful!

The books release date was later than they first anticipated but kept me updated with the new dates, I appreciated that. Thanks.